224 FISHES OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 



trals, but of the same falcated forms ; tail lunated ; lateral line com- 

 mencing over the operculum, taking a high curve under the first ray 

 of the dorsal, from thence passing obliquely down for half its length, 

 then straight to the base of the tail ; jaws without teeth ; tongue 

 rough ; preoperculum produced behind, smooth, and entire. Num- 

 ber of fin rays — 



D. 53 ; P. 26 ; V. 10 ; A. 24 ; C. 30. 



Examples of this fish have been recorded, as taken at se- 

 veral different periods on the British coast. The first was 

 found by some fishermen at Leith, and described by Dr 

 Mortimer in the Philosophical Transactions in 1750, and 

 the specimen was exhibited at a meeting of the Royal So- 

 ciety of Edinburgh. Since then it has been seen in the 

 Firth of Forth at six different times. The last was found in 

 July 1835, washed ashore on some rocks to the west of 

 North Queensferry ; its length was five feet, weighing, 

 as nearly as the men could compute, eleven stones. The 

 head of it I preserved ; the body was cut up, taken away, 

 and eaten by the fishermen, who stated that the flesh was 

 red, remarkably good, equal to that of the salmon, and 

 very much of the same flavour. They said they only wish- 

 ed they had more of them. Another was seen at the same 

 time and place, but, in consequence of the weather being 

 very stormy, they were unable to procure it. 



Mr Yarrell states, on the authority of Professor Rein- 

 hardt, that within the last thirty years three specimens have 

 been taken on the coast of Denmark, and, what is remark- 

 able, they were all caught very near the same spot. 



Family VII. MUGILIDtE. — Body covered with large 

 scales ; dorsals two, widely separate ; ventrals placed be- 

 hind the pectorals ; branchiostegous membrane with six 

 rays ; tail forked or lunated ; caeca two ; intestine long and 

 folded. 



