110 



RECENT CHIM&ROIDS 



Chimaera, the third genus of the recent forms, is well 

 represented in the commoner form, C. monstrosa (Fig. 1 19, 

 A, B). This species is widely distributed in the Mediter- 

 ranean and Atlantic, taken usually in deep water; it is the 

 largest of the living species, often attaining a yard in 

 length. Its occurrence is usually erratic : in a favourable 

 locality, as at Messina, months often elapse before one is 

 taken ; at other times many will be brought in in the 

 course of a few days. The Portuguese species, C. affinis, 



Fig. 119. The sea-cat, Chimcera monstrosa, 

 snout. B. Front view of head. (After GARMAN.) 



X 5. A. Ventral view of 



is said to be numerous in the deep fishing grounds ; the 

 writer has seen it in the Lisbon market, where from its 

 low price it evidently ranks with the sharks as a food fish. 

 The smaller Pacific C. colliei (Fig. 104), rarely half a yard 

 in length, differs sharply from the other species, and is 

 therefore often given rank as a distinct genus, Hydro- 

 lagus, Gill. The writer learns from his friend Dr. Bean 



