TRACHICHTHYS PRETIOSUS. 61 



also very strong and distinct, with a broad web between each ; the last is free, or 

 not connected to the body by a web behind. 



The dorsal fin begins a little behind a line with the base of the pectorals, just 

 on the highest part or middle of the back ; and extends back to the end of the oval 

 part of the body, or commencement of the fleshy root of the tail. The length of its 

 base is nearly double its greatest height or breadth at the commencement of the 

 soft-rayed part, and is from one third to one fourth of the whole length of the fish. 

 The spinous fore-part is shorter than the hinder soft-rayed portion ; but its spines, 

 though few, and striate longitudinally, are not crowded, as in Bert/x, but suffi- 

 ciently remote as usual, and separated by a distinct connecting web, which is 

 deeply notched* between them. They gradually increase in length, proceeding 

 backwards ; and owing to the sublateral attachment of the web, so frequent in 

 the Sparidce, one or two of the spines, which are six in number, appear much 

 stronger on alternate sides than the rest, viz. the third and fifth on the left 

 side, and fourth and sixth on the right. The soft part is composed of thirteen 

 rays, and is abruptly higher in front ; the four first rays being the longest, and 

 of nearly equal length. The following rays are gradually shorter ; the two last 

 again a little longer than those immediately preceding ; the last of all, or thir- 

 teenth, being free behind, and deeply forked or double. 



The anal fin is short, and rather broad, or about twice as long as deep, con-e- 

 sponding in extent with the soft-rayed portion of the dorsal fin, and ending at the 

 opposite point. The three spines are strong, and longitudinally striated or groov- 

 ed : the first is very short ; the third is three or four times the length of the second. 

 The nine soft rays are of nearly equal length, and about one quarter longer than 

 the third spine ; the last is free behind, and double, or deeply forked to the base. 



The caudal fin is very large and deeply forked ; its forks are nearly equal, long 

 and broad, more rounded at the tips than usual, and furnished at the base out- 

 side, like Beryx, with six or eight short, stout, striate, glassy spines. The next 

 two rays inside these are simple, but articulated and not pungent ; the innermost 

 of them reaches to the tips of the forks. The scales terminate abruptly at the 

 base of the fin ; not running up between the rays. 



The spines of all the other fins are also glassy towards their tips. 



The whole of the fins, like the head with the slight exception before mentioned, 

 are entirely naked or free from scales. The base of the dorsal and anal fins is 

 seated in a shallow gi'oove. The soft rays of all the fins are finely echinulate or 

 rough ; but the spines are smooth, and unarmed with spinules or prickles. 



The whole body is covered up to the point of the throat with remarkably rough 

 and scabrous, deep but short, and close-set scales : those of the lateral line are 

 very large and conspicuous, scutellate, and raised or bossed in their middle. The 

 lateral line itself is raised and prominent throughout, but not more so on the flanks, 

 or sides of the tail, than forwarder. It begins at the superscapulary spine, at 

 about one fourth part of the whole depth below the back ; and, following the cur- 

 vature of the back, descends gradually to the middle of the body at the end of 

 the dorsal or anal fins, whence it continues straight to its end. It is composed of 

 twenty-eight or twenty-nine scales. 



One of these scales of the lateral line, taken below the origin of the dorsal ,fin, 

 is found when removed from the body, to be narrow, but excessively produced 

 upwards and downwards into two long obtuse wings. The middle part is lobed, 

 or prominent at the front and hinder margins ; and has a curious superimposed 

 miniature model of the whole scale itself, similarly winged, fonning the upper 

 vault of a wide bullate. tube, which perforates the scale obliquely in its middle, 



* The accompanying figure errs in this respect. 



