ADDITIONS TO THE FAUNA OF CORNWALL. 157 



the outline ; a shallow depression running backward from it along 

 the border of the gill-covers, and continuous with it a depression 

 on the side, in which the pectoral fin may be received. Gill-covers 

 smooth, firm, shutting close, the hindmost border elliptical, and 

 not reaching to the root of the pectoral fin. Above the falling in 

 of the front the outline rises steeply in a circular form, and is 

 carried back in a moderately thin ridge to the dorsal fin, which is 

 behind the middle of the body, and opposite the anal. The line 

 of the belly is also firm and thin ; the vent far forward from the 

 anal fin and under the pectoral, where it is covered with a valve 

 which moves on a hinge. Behind the dorsal and anal fins the body 

 becomes narrow and broader ; and on each side of this, near the 

 root of the tail, is a prominent carination, and slightly beyond 

 this a lower elevation on each side of it, resembling what is found 

 on the tail of the Mackerel. The termination of the body is a 

 little expanded, and at the insertion of the caudal fin slightly 

 crenated. The dorsal and anal fins have each thirteen stout rays ; 

 the pectoral, whose origin is at a foot from the front, measures 10 

 inches in length, narrow towards the end, with twenty rays, of 

 which the lower are short and slight ; caudal fin forked, with 

 twelve rays above and below, and between these portions a pair 

 widely apart and more fan-shaped. 



Colour along the upper line of the head and body dark, with 

 a cast of blue ; all besides bright silvery ; and I was informed 

 that when first obtained, as the sun shone upon it, the brilliancy 

 was such as to dazzle the eyes. Pectoral fins, caudal, and for the 

 most part the anal, brilliant red, the first ray with its membrane 

 of the latter thicker than the others ; the dorsal also a brilliant 

 red, but the first three rays of this fin, with their membrane, 

 firmer and redder than the others ; the membrane between the 

 other rays of this fin bordered with dark. The ujjper pharyngeal 

 bones were numerous, hooked, slender, sharp, projecting, in, as 

 usual, two pair of beds. Air-bladder large. Nothing in the 

 stomach ; but its inner surface studded over Avith projecting fleshy 

 processes. I was not able to ascertain the weight of this fish • 

 but while, by the fisherman who obtained it, it was judged to be 

 about forty pounds, by others it was believed to be at the least 

 double that weight. 



In the account which Eafinesque gives of his examjDle of this 



