Dr. E. Crisp on the Structure of the Wolf-fish. 463 



of the fruit showing the projections into its cavity, to the posterior 

 of which the seeds are attached. 



Fiff. 16. The dorsal aspect of the ovary of Brunia lanuginosa, the limb of 

 the calyx having been removed; 1/. the sutm-al aspect; and 

 18. the same as seen laterally, showing also the placentation. 



Fiff. 19. A pei-pendicular section of the ovary of Morus nigra; and 20. a 

 transverse section of the same : — a, the thickened side to which 

 the ovule is attached. 



Fig. 21. A perpendicular section of a young fruit of Elatostemma montana ; 

 and 22. a transverse section of the same : — a, the thickened side 

 to which the seed is attached. 



Fig. 23. An ovary of Parietaria officinalis. 



Fig. 24. A transverse section of the ovary of Cannabis: — a, the axillary or 

 posterior side. 



Fig. 25. A caryopsis of Casuarina equisetifolia in longitudinal section : — 

 a, its anterior angle. The seed (which fills the cavity) haviag 

 been removed, its attachment with another which is immature is 

 seen at the upper part ; the perfect seed having become pendu- 

 lous and half anatropal during its growth to maturity. 



XLIV. — On some points relating to the Structure and Mechanism 

 of the Wolf -fish (Anarrhichas Lupus). By Edwakds Crisp, 

 M.D.* 



I AM desirous of bringing before the Members of the Society- 

 some facts relating to the organization of tbis singular animal, 

 wbich, as far as I know, bave not yet been especially noticed by 

 comparative anatomists. 



The character and habits of the fish are so well known that it 

 would be loss of time to dwell upon them ; indeed the external 

 form of the head, large mouth, and the peculiarity of the dental 

 apparatus, are at once indicative of the nature of its food and of 

 the ferocity of its disposition. 



Although not unfrequently taken on the British coast, it is 

 supposed that the Anarrhichas seldom attains its normal size on 

 our shores. In the North of Europe they are sometimes found 

 6 or 7 feet in length, but here they rarely exceed 3 or 4 feet. Of 

 five specimens that I have examined (all taken near the British 

 coast) the length (from the nose to the root of tail-fin) was as 

 follows : — 



1st. 3 feet 2 inches. 3nd. 3 feet 1 inch, 3rd. 3 feet. 



4th. 2 feet 9 inches. 5th. 2 feet 7 inches. 



The dental apparatus of this fish, I believe, differs from that 

 of all others that we are acquainted with. Hunter alluded to it 

 in 1774, and Mr. Andre in the 'Philosophical Transactions' 



* Communicated by the Author, having been read before the Zoological 

 Society of London, March 8th, 1853. 



