194 PISCES (CARTILAG.) ACANTHORR. [CHIMERA. 



Pennant mentions one, taken in the Esk, which weighed four hundred 

 and sixty pounds. Arrives at a still larger size abroad, according to 

 Bloch and othqr authors. Feeds principally upon the smaller fish. Flesh 

 much esteemed. The well, known article of food termed Caviar is pre- 

 pared from the roe. 



ORDER VII. ACANTHORRHINI. 



GEN. 72. CHIMERA, Linn. 



183. C. monstrosa, Linn. (Sea-Monster.) 



C. monstrosa, Linn. Syst. Nat. torn. i. p. 401. Bloch, Ichth. pi. 124. 

 Turt. Brit. Faun. p. 114. Don. Brit. Fish. vol. v. pi. 111. Flem. 

 Brit. An. p. 172. Galeus Acanthias Clusii, Will. Hist. Pise. p. 57. 

 tah. B. 9. f. 6. Northern Chimsera, Penn. Brit. Zool. (Edit. 1812.) 

 vol. in. p. 159*. La Chimere arctique, Cuv. Reg. An. torn. n. 

 p. 382. 



LENGTH. From two to three feet. Cuv. 



DESCRIPT. (Form.) " Body compressed : head blunt; the snout sub- 

 ascending, blunt : a narrow crenulated grinder on each side in the lower 

 jaw, and a broad tubercular one corresponding above: nostrils imme- 

 diately above the upper lip, contiguous, each with a cartilaginous com- 

 plicated valve : branchial openings in front of the pectorals : eyes large, 

 lateral: lateral line connected with numerous waved anastomosing grooves 

 on the cheeks and face : on the crown, in front of the eyes, a thin osseous 

 plate, bent forwards, with a spinous disk at the extremity on the lower 

 side : the first dorsal fin above the pectorals, narrow, with a strong spine 

 along the anteal edge: second dorsal arising immediately behind the first, 

 narrow, and continued to the caudal, where it terminates suddenly : pec- 

 torals large, subtriangular : ventrals rounded ; in front of each a broad 

 recurved osseous plate, with recurved spines on the ventral edge: claspers 

 pedunculated, divided into three linear segments, the anteal one simple, 

 the retral ones having the opposite edges covered with numerous small 

 reflected spines : a small anal fin opposite the extremity of the second 

 dorsal : caudal fin above and below, broadest near the origin, gradually 

 decreasing to a linear produced thread." FLEM. (Colours.) " The whole 

 body dark brown above, varied with yellowish brown and silvery; the 

 lower parts of a bright silver colour : eyes green, with silvery irides, and 

 very brilliant, or shining with phosphoric splendour." DON. 



Found principally in the northern seas of Europe, and but rarely met 

 with in those of Great Britain. The above description was taken by 

 Dr. Fleming from a specimen captured in the Zetland seas, where it is 

 said to be known by the name of Rabbit-Fish. Food, according to Bloch, 

 medusae and crabs. 



