118 SCORP.ENID.E. 



base of the caudal fin, though not extending up between the rays. In their 

 arrangement they resemble those of the Cameiro. 



The dorsal and anal fins, both in their soft and spiny parts, are wholly free from 

 scales. But the pectoral fins are scaled up a little way in a semilunar manner at 

 their base. 



This fish is very sparingly and variably furnished with laciniaj. Sometimes a 

 few are visible about the head, over the eyes and nostrils, and along the suborbitary 

 ridge, whilst none can be discovered on the body : in other individuals none are 

 discernible about the head, whilst some are distributed sparingly either along the 

 whole course of the lateral line, or only towards its termination, at or near the root 

 of the caudal fin. But in all cases they are inconspicuous. 



The whole fish is of the brightest scarlet : and with the fins, especially the 

 caudal, the soft part of the dorsal, and the anal, is spotted all over with distinct 

 small yellow or olive-yellow, sometimes brownish, spots : the head is rather 

 streaked or mottled than spotted with the same : the throat and under jaw are 

 pale, and like the ventral fins, immaculate. The iris is golden, with patches of 

 brilliant orange-red. The inside of the mouth is white, with a large red patch 

 above and behind, quite at its back or at the entrance of the gullet. 



The mass of viscera is small : the stomach of moderate size, but with its coats 

 extremely thick and muscular. The pylorus has fom* large palmate cceca, of equal 

 size and length. The liver is large, with one lobe more especially elongated : the 

 gall-bladder is free, distinct, and large. The intestine is of considerable diameter, 

 and makes two bends, or one volution. The air-bladder is rather large, quite 

 simple, and globose, or short and oval : it has no communication with the oeso- 

 phagus, but is fastened to the fore part of the stomach, and attached firmly all its 

 length to the spine, from which, however, owing to the strength and toughness of 

 its coats, it can be separated without rupture. The stomach is white : the liver, 

 ccuca^ and intestine pale. The air-bladder in a fish nine inches long was one inch 

 in diameter. 



The first of the nine abdominal vertebrse is partially ossified and bent at an 

 angle with the sphenoid bone of the skull : the two next vertebrae are very short : 

 the four last are furnished with dilated or broadly winged apophyses beneath, 

 which in the three last vertebrae become successively more connate, uniting in the 

 last (ninth) vertebra into a single strong bone, notched merely at the tip, yet 

 giving off two slender ribs, attached each to one of the two points of the tip. The 

 first of the fifteen caudal vertebrae is known by its perfectly simple apophysis, 

 without notch at the tip. 



Tlie usual average of size in the Requeime is not more than eight or 

 ten inches : and tlie largest I have seen were only from twelve to fifteen 

 inches long. One measuring in length twelve inches and three-quarters, 

 weighed one pound and a quarter. 



This is a somewhat better fish for eating than the Carneiro ; and is 

 more delicate, not only in consistence, but in flavour. The best method 

 of preparing it for the table is by frying. It does not vary much through- 

 out the year, but is, perhaps, most in season for the table in the month 

 of January. Yet, under any circumstances, it is but a secondary sort 

 of fish, held by the Portuguese in little estimation, and considered in- 

 ferior to the Carneiro. It is said to live in deeper water than the Car- 

 neiro {Scorpanu Scrofa, L.) : being caught with lines of from one 



