THE SEA-DEVIL. 253 



the eye to the first dorsal fin ray double that of the dis- 

 tance from the point of the nose to the eye ; the lateral line 

 much less distinct, and the mouth only half as deeply di- 

 vided.'" In addition to these characters I may add, that 

 in C. lyra the first ray of the first dorsal fin always reaches 

 beyond the last ray of the second dorsal fin ; and the last 

 ray of the second dorsal fin is twice as long as the first ray 

 in the same fin ; whereas in C. dracunculus the first ray 

 never reaches beyond the sixth ray of the second dorsal and 

 the last ray of the second dorsal is seldom longer than the 

 first ray in the same fin. 



Family IX. LOPHIADiE.— Carpal bone elongated in 

 order to form a kind of arm, which supports the pectorals ; 

 body without scales ; skeleton semi-cartilaginous. 



Genus LOPHIUS. — Head broad, depressed ; excessive- 

 ly large in proportion to the rest of the body ; dorsal fins 

 two ; ventrals placed before the pectorals, and of a glove- 

 like form. 



LoPHius PiscATOKius.* — The Sea-Devil. 



Specific Characters. — Head with three long filaments, two of which 

 are placed close behind the upper lip. 



Description. — From a specimen two feet in length. Head large, 

 broad, depressed, about one-third of the entire length, caudal fin 

 included ; body tapering rapidly from behind the pectorals, becoming 

 rounded towards the base of the tail ; covered with a thin loose skin, 

 very smooth, without scales. Colour of the head, back, and dorsal 

 fins uniform brown, jjcctoral and caudal darker ; under the throat and 

 belly pure white ; anal fin dusky ; occasionally the whole bod}^ is 

 marked with large white spots very much resembling white paint. 

 First dor.sal fin small, placed in a line with the base of the pectorals ; 

 the last ray about one-third the length of the first. Second dorsal 



• Lophius piscaioriiis, Linn., Cuv., Yarr., .Ten., Penn. Fishing-frog, 

 Angler, Wide Gape, Dcvil-Jish, Mir ring. 



