105 



SEIUIANUS. 



Tnrs genus lias a single dorsal fin, alUiough two classes of rays 

 support its two divisions. Hays of tlic f^ili mcnibranc seven in 

 number. First gill-cover serrated, llie hindmost Avith one or more 

 points or spines. Covering of the jaws smooth. 



COMBEK. 



SMOOTH SEliUAMS. 



Serraniia Cahrilla, Cuviek. 



" " Yareell; Br. Fislics, vol. i, p. ]1. 



" " GuNTUEK; Cut. Br. Museum, vol. i, p. 106. 



Channe, Josston; Articulus 8. 



Channa, Willoughby, p. 327. 



Perca Cahrilla, Linnjeus. Jenyns; Manual, p. 332. 



Solocentre serran, Eisso. 



Perca channus, Loudon's Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. v, p. 20. 



This is a common fish in the A\cst of the kingdom, and 

 probably also along the south coast of Ireland; but it "was 

 long overlooked by naturalists, and supposed to be confined 

 to the Mediterranean, where it appears to have been con- 

 founded, under the name of Sea Perch, with another species 

 which it much resembles both in appearance and habits, — the 

 Serrmius scriba, a species that has not been fouiul in Britain, 



The Comber usually keeps in rocky ground at a small dis- 

 tance from land, and is well known to fishermen, -s^ho often 

 find it in their wicker crab-i)ots, which it enters for the sake 

 of the baits that are hung up to entice the crabs and lobsters; 

 but the result is that they become the bait they sought to 

 devour. They are seldom brought to the market, and \>\\vn 

 caught on the line are usually converted into bait for other 



