N 



^4 Mr. PecPs account of four remarlalk Yijldcs. 



which, from the 99th to the i i6thiiichifive are very fliort, 

 curved backward, and pointed ; the reft are foft and branch- 

 ed. The pectoral fins are rounded and contain XX flrong 

 branched rays. The ventral fins are placed under t^e throat 

 and contain III rays. The anal fin extends from the anus to 

 the extremity of the tail where it is united with the dorfal, and 

 contains CXXIII branched rays. The caudal fin is fo united 

 with the dorfal and anal that it is difficult to feparate them ; it 

 is therefore divided equally between them. The laft rays are 



fo minute that they cannot be enumerated without removing 

 the ikin. 



In the internal economy, as well as in feveral external par- 

 ticulars, it refembles the catfifli. The ovarium is fingle ; 

 and like other fifhes which refide at the bottom, it has no air 

 bladder. = 



It feeds principally on echini and afleri:^ of feveral Ipecies. 

 To colle^l its food, it is neceflary that it fliould frequent rocky 

 places, and to this it muft be owing, that in the larger indi- 

 viduals, the ventral fins are entirely obliterated, except two 

 fmall cicatrices ; fo that at firfl view they appear to be a fpe- 



r 



cies of Anarhicas.* It is therefore from the younger fifh only 

 that die claflical chara(5ler can be determined. From the re- 

 femblance above mentioned it has probably obtained the 



name 



• Lupus marmus of authors. Anarhicas Lupus of Linne, called here catfifh, 

 and wolf fi.fli, or catfiOi in Dr. CuUea's catalogue of the Mater, medic. 



