434 A CORNISH FAUNA. 



7!^iVX^Z)^.— (ScABBAUD Fishes). 



The Scabbard fish. {Lepiclopus Argi/reus), liare. 



Silvery Hairtail. {Triehiurus lepturus). I^ot uncommon of late 

 years. Remarkable for its barbed teeth and enormous gape. 

 Couch (see British Fishes, vol. II, p. 63) was apparently 

 misled as to this latter fact by having seen only specimens 

 which had been dead for some time, and which were conse- 

 quently stiff. 



Banks Oarfish. {Regalecus Banlcsii). Hawkins' Grymnetrus. 

 Occurred at Newlyn in Mount's Bay once, at some date 

 between 23 February, 1788 and 1796. The confusion has 

 arisen from the existence of several copies of a sketch of it, 

 bearing different dates, but which are evidently copies of 

 one original. There is a trace, but not a record, of its 

 occurrence once subsequently at Marazion. This is the 

 " Ceil Conin," and the '"' King of the Herrings." 



Red Bandfish. {Cepola rubescens). Red Snakefish. Couch 

 (Fauna; speaks of it as " not uncommon." I have heard of 

 its capture, on competent authority, off the coast of Corn- 

 wall, but I have never seen a specimen, and curiously enough 

 Couch, though (British Fishes) he speaks of it as common 

 in the south and west of England, does not record a capture 

 of it in Cornish waters. 



MUGILID^.— (The Mullets) . 



Grey Mullet. [Mugil ca/pito). Common. The object of large 



fisheries in many parts of Cornwall. 

 Lesser Grey Mullet. {Mugil clielo). Thicklipped grey mullet. 



Rare. 

 Atherine. {Atlierina presbyter). Sand Smelt. A frequent visitor 



in autumn in large shoals. It takes a bait readily and is 



excellent eating. It is said never to frequent waters in 



which the smelt ( Osmerus eperlanus) is to be found. 

 Boiers' Atherine. {Atherina Boieri). Large shoals of this rare 



fish occurred at Polperro in 1846. 

 Longfinned grey mullet. {Mugil Auratus). Golden mullet. A 



specimen was captured in Mount's Bay about 1865. 

 Trumpet fish. {Centriscus scolopax). Bellows fish. Has been 



recorded as having occurred three times in Cornwall. 



