MAY 123 



occipital crest as resembling peacocks' feathers. It 

 consists of two parts, the first composed of five long 

 rays, projecting rather forward like the comb of a 

 Greek helmet, the second composed of nine to twelve 

 rays, each tipped with a fluttering crimson tag, which 

 may be intended as a bait to tempt small fish within 

 reach of a pair of hungry jaws, like a similar apparatus 

 in the hideous angler or fishing-frog (Lophius). These 

 rays are merely prolongations of the anterior rays of 

 the dorsal fin, which contains besides many hundreds 

 of shorter rays, forming what has been described as 

 ' the mane ' of the sea-serpent. Still more extraordinary 

 is the prolongation of the rays of the ventral fins. 

 Each of these fins, situated close under the throat, 

 consists of one ray, without any membrane, several 

 feet long, terminating in a crimson foliate tag. The 

 only conceivable use for these long rods is that of 

 angling. They have been likened to oars, whence 

 the name of oarfish, but cannot be of the slightest 

 service in propelling the ribbon-like body of the 

 fish. 



Altogether, Regalecus, apart from the peculiar 

 arrangement of the foremost fin-rays, is a creature of 

 simple design in both form and colour. Except its 

 black forehead and crimson fins, the smooth, tapering 

 body is uniformly covered with shining silver. The 

 specimen taken at Dunbar on a Saturday was exhibited 

 in the Corn Exchange Hall, where crowds of people 

 paid a small sum to see it. Mr. William Evans, F.R.S.E., 

 luckily heard of the capture in time to prevent the fish 

 being carted off on Monday morning for exhibition in 



