232 ACANTHOPTERYGII. FAMILY OF 



near the gills : there were no ventral nor anal fins 

 but the thin edge of the belly was closely muricated 

 with small hard points, which, though scarcely 

 seen, were plainly felt. Both sides of the fish were 

 white, with four longitudinal bars of a dark ear 

 colour ; the one under the dorsal being about two 

 inches broad, the others three-quarters of an inch ; 

 the lateral line was straight along the middle/' 

 From these details, little doubt can remain that this 

 was a Trichiurus; but from its great size, which 

 could not have been less than fourteen feet, the 

 position of the lateral line, and other differences, it 

 is scarcely safe to conclude it was any of the 

 Trichiuri already described. The fish being quite 

 fresh, a cut of it was boiled, and found to be excel- 

 lent. 



A fish supposed to be similar, but likewise muti- 

 lated, had been cast ashore two years before, and 

 also fell under the observation of Mr. Hoy, who 

 described it in the same Memoir as the other. The 

 differences, however, are so great, that it probably 

 belonged to a distinct species, if not genus ; and for 

 further particulars, therefore, we must refer to the 

 source already indicated, and to Mr. Yarrell's and 

 other systematic works. 



We proceed to the SECOND SECTION of this 

 Family, in which three genera have been included, 

 and nearly a score of species; but of which the 

 British Fauna has but two representatives. The 

 organization of this group of fishes is altogether 



