254 FISHES OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 



remote from the firsts and mucli more conspicuous ; of a rounded 

 form, the middle ra^ys being rather the longest ; the last ray connect- 

 ed to the base of the tail by a membrane which passes off from its 

 whole length ; anal fin corresponding in form to the second dorsal, 

 but rather smaller, commencing under the fourth ra}', and ending a 

 little behind the last ray of the second dorsal ; tail rather small, 

 rounded at the end ; ventrals small, very much resembling a glove in 

 form, placed a little in advance of the pectorals. In front of the eyes, 

 a little behind the upper lip, are two long slender filaments nearly 

 the length of the head, the anterior one is furnished on the summit 

 with a small triangular piece of skin, of(en of a sappharine appearance, 

 which the fish uses as a bait for its prey ; on the occiput is another 

 filament nearly of the same length, connected at the base with a small 

 membrane, which greatly limits its freedom. Eyes rather small, 

 placed high on the head ; orbits on the upper and posterior borders 

 with four or five bony tubercles, having in front of the two first a 

 number of small bony granulations ; snout in front of each eye, also 

 with two bony tubercles ; occiput and cheeks with scattered pro- 

 cesses of a similar kind. Teeth long and slender, capable of easy 

 flexion inwards, but not outwards, placed in two rows in each jaw, 

 those in the outer row being about half the length of the inner ones ; 

 palate and tongue also furnished with teeth with their points direct- 

 ing inwards. Mouth large, allowing of great expansion ; under jaw 

 the longest ; chin, vmder the cheeks, down the sides to the base of the 

 tail, furnished with a row of short prolongations of the cuticle. 

 Branchial opening under the pectorals, in which situation there is a 

 large sack or pouch from twelve to fourteen inches deep, where the 

 young are supposed by some writers to take refuge in time of dan- 

 ger. Number of fin rays — 



1st D. 8 ; 2d D. 11 ; P. 23 ; V. .5 ; A. 10 ; C. 8 ; B 6. 



This fish, or the Angler, as it was first named by Pen- 

 nant, is sometimes taken the length of five feet, but the 

 more common size is from two feet and a half to three in 

 length. The great resemblance it bears to a frog in the 

 tadpole state, and the peculiar mode in which it procures 

 its food, had suggested the name of Fishing-frog to the 

 earliest writers. It is said by authors to be found in 

 all the seas in Europe ; it is, however, a common fish all 

 round the British coasts, and has been found as far north 

 as off the coast of Norway. According to Mr Couch, " it 



