

DEVIL FISHING. OD 



eminence at the base of the frontal appendices. 

 Branchial apertures narrow, linear, varying from 

 one to two feet in length, with valvular coverings. 

 Tail long, slender, sub-compressed, terminating in 

 a slender extremity. 



" The dorsal fin small, triangular, with thirty-six 

 rays, and placed over the base of the tail between 

 the ventrals ; a short, serrated spine, just anterior 

 to it. Pectorals much elongated, pointed, arched 

 in front, concave behind, the frontal appendices 

 projected on each side of the mouth, and used as 

 instruments of prehension ; they are two feet and 

 a half long, and a foot wide. Ventrals broad, 

 short, deeply emarginated and rounded behind, 

 continuous in front with the pectorals. 



" Color. Blue-black above ; dusky, varied with 

 large opaque white clouds, beneath. 



" Length to the base of the tail, 10 feet ; to the 

 end of the tail, 16 feet ; width across the tips of the 

 pectorals, 17 feet. 



" This is one of those large monsters of the deep, 

 which are occasionally captured along our shores. 

 It was first noticed by Catesby, on the coast of 

 Carolina, where it appears to be more frequent than 

 further north. The next notice is by 'Dr. Mitchell, 

 cited above, from a specimen captured at the mouth 

 of Delaware Bay. Another individual was taken 



