222 



THE CARTILAGINOUS FISHES 



and devouring the herrings it has gained its popular name of 

 " King of the Herrings " ; while from the rather peculiar shape of 

 its head and mouth it is sometimes called the " Rabbit Fish." 



The Harriott a are small, remarkable-looking fishes, distinguished 

 by their long, tapering snout, which has something the appear- 

 ance of a bird's beak, the long, spine-like tail, and large, wing- 

 like pectoral fins. These quaint fishes are mostly dwellers in deep 

 water, and very little is known as to their habits. They are exceed- 

 ingly rare, and, from the fact that their egg-cases, which are of a 

 horny consistency, are occasionally dredged up from considerable 

 depths, it is concluded that they breed in deep water. 



