200 



SILVERY HAIRTAIL. 



four silvery liairtails at one time in my dissecting-room 

 in Albany Street. They were presented by Mr. Clegg, 

 of Looe ; Mr. Matthias Dmni, of Mevagissey ; Mr. 

 Charles, fishmonger, of Arabella Row ; and Mr. Frank 

 Gosden, fishmonger, of Exeter. These fish averaged 

 2ft. or 2ft. Sin in length. I have fully described the 

 Silvery Hairtail, in Land and Water, Dec. 17, 1870. 



SILVERY H.VIKTAIIi, 



In general appearance the hairtail is not unlike the 

 common gorebill or gar-pike, if the reader can imagine 

 this fish to be flattened out at the broadest part. It is 

 2 inches in width. The total length is 2 feet 4 inches. 

 There is a fin like a perch's crest running down the 

 whole of the back. This is 1 foot 5 inches in length, 

 and about an inch wide at the broadest part. The 

 colour is a beautiful silver, and there do not appear 

 to be any scales. At about two-thirds from the head 

 the body begins to taper, and gradually runs off until 

 it becomes almost as fine as a horsehair, hence its 

 name, irichiurus, from two Greek words signifying 

 "hair" and "tail." The mouth, in general api3earance, 

 is not unlike that of a mackerel. The lower jaw pro- 

 jects considerably beyond the upper jaw, and the ux)per 



