136 GENERA AND SPECIES. 



Serranus. Plate i. PERCID&. 



4. cabrilla, COMBER. Orange, with several bluish stripes. 



5. gigas, DUSKY PERCH. Reddish brown, without stripes. 



The Comber has 10 spines and 14 rays in its dorsal, 3 spines and 

 7 or 8 rays in its anal, 15 rays in its caudal, 15 in its pectorals, and a 

 spine and 5 rays in its ventrals. The dorsal rays are higher than the 

 spines, the first being about double as high as the tenth spine. In the 

 lateral line there are from 80 to go scales. The hinder edge of the 

 prasoperculum is serrated ; the male has 2 spines on the gill cover, 

 the female only one. The mouth extends to the middle of the eye, 

 the tongue is small and free, the teeth in both jaws are large in the 

 outer row, and the lower jaw is the longer. In colour this sea perch 

 is an orange yellow, striped longitudinally with more or less greyish- 

 blue, the fins being yellowish, some of them having blue spots. In 

 length it reaches about a foot. It feeds on fishes and other animals 

 of the sea, is never found in shoals, and frequents rocky ground in 

 deep water. 



The Dusky Perch has n spines and 15 or 16 rays in its dorsal, 3 

 spines and 8 or 9 rays in its anal, 17 rays in its caudal, 16 or 17 rays 

 in its pectorals, and a spine and 5 rays in its ventrals. The spinous 

 part of the dorsal is fairly level, and the rayed portion is not much 

 higher, and only slightly curved. In the lateral line there are from 

 120 to 130 scales. The prasoperculum is serrated. The lower jaw is 

 the longer. In colour this fish is reddish brown, with no stripes 

 beyond two faint streaks on the gill-covers. It reaches a yard or 

 more in length, and is very rare in British waters. 



Siphonostoma. Plate xv. SYNGNATHID&. 



114. typhle, BROAD-NOSED PIPE-FISH. Body ridged, upper caudal 

 ridge continuous with lateral ridge, dorsal ridge extending 

 only to dorsal fin. 



In the dorsal there are from 38 to 46 rays ; the anal is absent ; in the 

 caudal there are 9 or 10 rays, in the pectorals 15, in the ventrals 4. 

 The dorsal begins about half way; it stands on 10 or 12 rings, and 

 is longer than the snout. The snout is compressed, and the mouth 

 almost upright. The lateral line joins the upper caudal ridge. 

 From the head to the vent there are from 17 to 19 plates, thence to 

 the tail there are from 36 to 42. The male is broader in the abdomen 

 than the female, owing to the pouch in which the ova are carried. 

 In colour this Pipe-fish is dark brown, with light spots on the under 

 parts. In length it is about 13 inches. 



Solea. Plate xxi. PLEURONECTID&. 



162. vulgaris, SOLE. Nostrils alike. Pectorals on both sides, 7 ; 



caudal 16. Brown, with blotches in rows. 



163. lascaris, SAND SOLE. Nostrils not alike. Pectorals on both 



sides, 10; caudal 15. Orange, dotted and blotched. 



164. variegata, THICKBACK. Pectorals 4 or 5 on one side, 2 or 3 on 



the other ; caudal 15. Chestnut brown, with 5 dark 

 bands. 



