9366 Fishes. 
Maigre off the Land’s End.—On the 18th instant a “ Scizna” (Couch) or “ maigre” 
(Yarrell) was taken off the Land’s End. The fish was observed floating on the water, 
almost lifeless. A lump of sea-weed had got entangled in the gills, so that the fish 
could not close its gill-covers, and it was thus, in fact, drowned. It was captured by 
the fishermen who found it, with a gaff. It measured 5 feet 6 inches, all over, being, I 
believe the largest recorded British specimen. Its skin has been successfully saved, and 
is now in course of stuffing for the Penzance Museum. I have nothing to add to 
my former observations on this fish, except that, in this specimen, the membrane 
connecting the first and second dorsals was almost, but not altogether, obliterated, and 
that there was no trace of serration on the posterior edge of the preopereulum. The 
teeth in the gullet were most distinctly developed. I had a portion of the fish dressed, 
by stewing, and its flesh proved to be firm, white and flaky, but insipid, suggesting the 
idea that the fish was out of condition. 1 have now seen three specimens of this fish, 
and of very various sizes (5! 6", 4' 6" and 1/10”), and I find that, in all, the greatest 
depth, just under the first dorsal, is, to its length, over all, as one to five. Both Couch 
and Yarrell figure the fish as having a depth, to its length, of one to four, and, conse- 
quently, make it appear a stouter fish than it really is. It may be that my fish have 
all been out of condition, and that their figurings are correct, but the difference is 
worth notice.— Thomas Cornish ; October 25, 1864. 
New British Fishes. By Tuomas Epwarp. 
THE first, so far as has been, and possibly can be, ascertained, until 
more specimens be procured, one only as yet having been got, is con- 
sidered by the best authorities whom we have on these matters to be 
quite a new species, and hitherto unknown. One gentleman to whom 
the fish was submitted for examination says he has a figure of one 
something similar, but a good deal larger, and not exactly the same. 
The only other instance where anything at all like a near approach to 
it can be found is in Cuvier and Valenciennes’s large and beautiful 
work, in which there are one or two plates bearing in some measure a 
pretty strong resemblance. But those represented here have spinous 
rays on the dorsal, ventral and anal fins. Our specimen has none of 
these. Besides, the fishes figured by Cuvier are said to be natives of 
New Guinea. Now, allowing that, and admitting for the time that 
there is nothing impossible, still we are very much inclined to think 
it as hardly probable that such small things as these could ever, under 
any circumstances, find their way from those distant seas and be found 
on the coast at Banff. Nay, we believe rather that its home is on our 
own coast, although not previously detected. We believe, also, from 
what we already know, and hesitate not to say so, for sure we are that 
none in the least way acquainted with the wonders and inexhaustible 
