218 FISHES OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 



fourth of the whole length, including the caudal fin ; body fusiform, 

 of a quadrangular shape at the base of the tail ; eye large, placed 

 half-way between the point of the upper jaw, and the origin of the 

 lateral line, equal nearly to one-half the depth of the head ; preoper- 

 culum rounded, entire ; operculum rather small, tapering to a point 

 below, half-way down the inner margin of the suboperculum. Colour 

 of the body above the lateral line dark-olive, with a greenish gloss ; 

 below silvery, with waved reflections ; on the posterior margin of the 

 operculum above the base of the pectoral fin, a large black mark. 

 First dorsal fin of a triangular form, commencing in a line a little be- 

 hind the origin of the pectorals, all its rays spiny and slender ; when 

 unexpanded scarcely perceptible, being lodged in a groove ; the third 

 ray the longest, the last extremely short ; the base of the fin about 

 equal to its height ; at the base of the first ray a short strong hori- 

 zontal spine, placed in a depression, with the point directed towards 

 the nose ; second dorsal fin commencing immediately at the termi- 

 nation of the last, and ends at a short distance from the base of the 

 caudal fin ; the anterior rays longer than the terminating ones, all 

 soft and branched, except the first which is short and spiny ; anal 

 fins similar to the last in form but somewhat shorter, commencing in 

 a line under the end of the pectoral rays and terminating in a line 

 with the last ray of the second dorsal ; the first ray strong and spiny, 

 not half the length of the second which is soft and flexible, as well 

 as the remaining rays in that fin ; in front of the anal fin are two stout 

 spines, connected together by a fine membrane, concealed in a de- 

 pression when laid down ; ventrals placed under the base of the pec- 

 torals ; the sixth ray of the pectorals the longest, reaching as far as in 

 a line under the seventh ray of the second dorsal, and nearly twice 

 the length of the ventrals. Under jaw the longest ; both jaws, fur- 

 nished with very fine and slender teeth, as well as the vomer and pa- 

 latines ; the teeth are distinctly seen in the dried specimen, particu- 

 larly on the lower jaw. Lateral line commencing behind the upper 

 and posterior margin of the operculum taking its course parallel to 

 the curvature of the back to the commencement of the second dorsal 

 fin, then taking an oblique line downwards until in a line over the 

 first ray of the anal fin, from thence passing straight to the base of 

 the tail ; composed of seventy-four scaly laminae closely compacted ; 

 the greater part of the anterior scales are neither keeled nor pointed ; 

 the last thirty-eight are strongly keeled, and ending in sharp points 

 directed towards the tail ; those in a line with the last rays of the 

 anal fin, to the base of the long rays of the caudal fin are the highest 

 and strongest, becoming smaller as they approach the base of the 

 middle caudal rays, where they terminate. Body covered with small, 

 oval, entire, scales, very deciduous ; tail deeply forked, the middle 



