EXPERIMENTAL WORK. 247 



" D. 13, A. 11, P. 14, V. 9, L. lat. 118, L. trans. 28, 26. 

 Caec. pyl, normally 60-80. Vert. 59. 



" Largest specimen observed, 21 inches; female mature at a 

 length of inches. 



" Head well proportioned in its shape, and rather small when 

 compared with the body ; body much less stout than in S. fario. 

 The posterior point of junction of operculum and sub-operculum is 

 nearer to the lower anterior angle of the sub-operculum than to the 

 upper end of the gill-opening. PraBoperculum generally with a 

 very indistinct lower limb. Snout of moderate length, conical, 

 not much produced in the male sex, in which a mandibular hook has 

 never been observed. Maxillary much longer than the snout, but 

 much narrower and more feeble than in S. fario (see p. 6). In speci- 

 mens 1 3 inches long it extends to below the hinder margin of the 

 orbit, and at no age does it reach much beyond it. Teeth moderately 

 strong. The head of the vomer is triangular, a little broader than 

 long, with a transverse series of two or three teeth across its base. 

 The teeth of the body of the vomer form a single series, and are 

 persistent throughout life. Fins well developed, not rounded ; the 

 pectoral is pointed, and in specimens of more than 12 inches in 

 length its length is less than one-half of the distance between its 

 base and that of the ventral. The caudal fin always has the lobes 

 pointed, is marginate, and appears truncate only when stretched 

 to the utmost extent. In specimens 13 inches long, the middle 

 caudal rays are not quite half as long as the outer ones, and in 

 older ones they are half as long. The hind part of the body is 

 rather slender. There are from thirteen to fourteen scales in a 

 transverse series, descending from behind the adipose fin forwards 

 to the lateral line. 



" Upper parts brownish or greenish olive ; sides of the 

 head with round black spots ; sides of the body with more or 

 less numerous X-shaped, sometimes rounded, brown spots ; 

 dorsal and adipose fins with numerous small brown spots ; ex- 

 tremity of pectoral light blackish ; dorsal and anal without black 

 or yellow margin. 



