200 



POLYPRION. 



A SERBiTED border to the first gill-cover, a strongly-ridged spine 

 high on the second gill- cover, and a rough crest above, with rough- 

 ness over the bones of the head. Firm scales over the body, cheeks, 

 and mustache. A single dorsal fin, in two portions; the second, with 

 the anal fin, much developed. 



STONE BASS. 



Wrechfisli, Transactions of Linna3au Society, vol. xiv, p. 81. 



Scorpcena Massiliensis, Risso ? 



Pohjprion cernium, Cuviee. 



Couch's Serranus, Yarrell's British Fishes, vol. i. 



" " GuNTHER; Cat. British Museum, vol. i, p. 169. 



It is remarkable that this large and well-marked fish should 

 be among those which have remained unknown to naturalists 

 until very recent times; although, if the reference made by 

 Dr. Gunther to Risso, as given above, be correct, it is far from 

 being rare in the Mediterranean, where it is held in esteem 

 for the table. 



With us, on the south and west coasts of the kingdom, it 

 is well known to fishermen, and especially as coming under 

 extraordinary circumstances. It may not have been noticed for 

 several years; but when a mass of wood or fragment of wreck, 

 covered with Bernacles, (Lepades,) is driven into our waters 

 from the direction of the Atlantic, a considerable number of 

 these fishes is often found to accompany it, as if it were a 

 special point of attraction to them; for in the most sportivb 

 manner they gamble round it or over it as it rolls by the 

 action of the waves, so that I have known their tails excori- 

 ated by rubbing against its substance; appearing to chase each 

 other as they feed on the small fishes or crabs which have 



