OBSERVATIONS ON FISHES. 



RUFFE.* 



Two specimens of a singular variety, or rather 

 monstrosity, of this fish are preserved in the Museum 

 of the Cambridge Philosophical Society. In these 

 individuals, the head is, as it were, truncated in 

 front of the eyes ; the profile being exactly vertical, 

 and presenting a remarkable bull-headed appearance. 

 The eyes are very large and prominent, and project 

 more in front than behind, which causes them to 

 have a somewhat backward direction. The mouth is 

 small and contracted, with the lower jaw longest. 

 In all other respects they resemble the common 

 kind. Some of these peculiarities are probably due 

 to a malformation of the intermaxillary bones, such 

 as may occasionally be met with in other species, f 



The above specimens were taken in the Cam, in 

 which river this species of fish is far from uncom- 

 mon. With us it is generally called a pope. 



* Acerina vulgaris, Cuv. et Val. 



t See a vignette in YarrelFs British Fishes, vol.i. p. 110, represent- 

 ing the head of a sea-bream, in which the intermaxillary bones 

 are entirely wanting. 



