200 NORTHERN CHIMERA. 



properties of the salt, and is lastly packed in little barrels for sale. The caviare made 

 on the Caspian is considered the best. In England it is not much eaten, but in Russia 

 it forms a large item in the national consumption, probably on account of the great 

 number of fasts observed by the Greek Church. The roes of several other fish are 

 employed in the same manner, and in Italy, a substance called " botargo " is prepared 

 from the roe of a species of mullet. 



The common Sturgeon has sometimes, but not very often, been found in our rivers, 

 and whenever it is captured in the Thames within the jurisdiction of the Lord Mayor, 

 it is termed a royal fish, and becomes the property of the Crown. It is not unfre- 

 quently taken near our shores, more especially on the eastern coast, and most persons 

 are familiar with the occasional appearance of one of these fine fish on a fishmonger's 

 stall. The flesh of the Sturgeon is held in some estimation, and in the olden English 

 days, it was always reserved for the table of the king. Some very fine specimens have 

 sometimes been caught in our rivers, the largest on record having weighed four hun- 

 dred and sixty pounds. The size of this specimen may be imagined from its weight, 

 as another individual which weighed only one hundred and ninety pounds measured 

 eight feet in length. 



The body of the Sturgeon is elongated, and slightly five-sided from the head to the 

 tail. Along the body run five rows of flattened bony plates, each plate being marked 

 with slight grooves in a radiating fashion, and having a pointed and partly conicaF 

 spine on each plate, the points being directed towards the tail. The plates along the 

 summit of the back are the largest. 



THERE are many species of Sturgeons, and among the most remarkable are those 

 which are shown in the accompanying illustration, both being natives of the rivers of 

 North America. 



The two smaller figures represent the SHOVEL-FISH, so-called from the curious form 

 of its head, which is flattened, rounded, and really not unlike the implement from 

 which it derives its popular title. The two figures are given in order to show the dif- 

 ferent aspect of the adult and young. The reader will doubtlessly remark the large 

 size and conspicuous arrangement of the bony scales along the body. 



THE central figure represents the SPOONBILL STURGEON, sometimes called, in allu- 

 sion to the singular shape of the head, the PADDLE-FISH. This creature is remarkable 

 for several reasons. In the first place, the uncommonly elongated and flattened snout 

 is sufficiently conspicuous to arrest the attention of even the most casual observer, and 

 in the second place, the body is quite smooth, and wants those bony plates which 

 generally form so characteristic an adornment of the Sturgeon. Several specimens of 

 this remarkable fish are now in the British Museum, and were taken from the Ohio and 

 Mississippi. 



THE very singular family of the Chimaeridae contains a few but remarkable species. 



Both these creatures are sufficiently quaint and ungainly in aspect ; but as the 

 NORTHERN CHIMERA has sometimes been found on our coasts, that species has been 

 chosen for the illustration. It is also known by the title of RABBIT-FISH, probably on 

 account of its general aspect, and KING OF THE HERRINGS, because it follows the 

 shoals of those fishes during their wonderful migrations, and makes great havoc among 

 their numbers. The appendage to the top of the head is also looked upon by the 

 Norwegians in the light of a kingly crown, and has contributed towards its royal title. 

 It is known in some localities under the name of SEA CAT. 



This species is mostly found in the Northern seas, and is, when living, a most 

 beautiful creature, its body glowing with golden brown variegations upon a white 

 ground. The title of Gold and Silver Fish is sometimes given to the Northern Chimera 

 in consequence of this gorgeous coloring. The pupil of the eye is green, and the iris 

 is white. It feeds mostly upon the smaller fish, but finds much of its subsistence 

 among the various molluscs, crustaceans, and other inhabitants of the ocean. The 

 flesh is not considered good, being hard and coarse. 



