5HE URANOSCOPUS. fj^ 



Genus XXII. 'I'he Uranofcopils *. 



Of this genus there is but one fpecies, a fifb about nine 

 inches in length, with a large, flat, and circular head* 

 The lower jaw projefts beyond the upper, and is turned 

 upwards at the end 5 the eyes are fmall, prominent, and 

 almoft contiguous. The face is flat, and has the appear- 

 ance of conftantly flaring upwards. Both the jaws are 

 armed with fliarp teeth, as is alfo the palate and whole 

 infide of the mouth. The whole face, but particularly 

 the covers of the gills, are rough and unequal with tu- 

 bercles, the bafes of which are furrounded with fpines j 

 and at the extremity of each of the opercula, where the 

 head unites with the body, there are two pointing back- 

 wards, remarkably fliarp and large. The uranofcopus 

 has two dorfal fins ; that nearefl; the head is fmall, of a 

 black colour, and fupported by three ftiarp rays : The 

 fecond is higher and broader, and contains fourteen rays : 

 The ventral fins in this fpecies are placed far before the 

 peftoral, and feem direftly under the eyes : It is fre- 

 quently caught in the Mediterranean, and is faid to be a 

 delicious morfel f , 



* Trachinus, Artedi Uranofcopus. Aldrov, 

 f Gefner dc pifcib. 



