402 FISHES OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 



Description. — " From three to four feet in length. Form oblong, 

 approaching orbicular, truncated behind ; sides very much com- 

 pressed, the dorsal and ventral lines presenting a sharp edge ; depth 

 behind the pectorals about two-thirds of the entire length ; thickness 

 rather more than one-third of the depth. Head not distinguishable 

 from the trunk; mouth small; jaws exposed; the lamellated sub- 

 stance undivided ; eyes moderate, about equidistant from the cor- 

 ner of the mouth and the branchial aperture, which last is of an oval 

 form, and situated immediately before the pectoral fin. Skin desti- 

 tute of scales, but everywhere very rough with minute granulations ; 

 no lateral line ; dorsal placed at the further extremity of the body, 

 short, but very much elevated, its height equalling two-thirds or 

 more of the depth of the body, terminating upwards in a point ; rays 

 very much branched ; anal opposite, and exactly similar, to the dor- 

 sal ; caudal, with the posterior margin slightly rounded, very short, 

 but its depth (or breadth, measured vertically), nearly equalling that 

 of the body, extending from the dorsal to the anal, with both of 

 which fins it is connected ; pectorals small, rounded, attached ho- 

 rizontally ; ventrals wanting. Number of fin rays" (Jenyns) — 



" D. 17 ; A. 16 ; C. 14 ; P. 13."- Block. 



The Short Sun-Fish is not of unfrequent occurrence on 

 the British coast ; it has been observed several times on the 

 coast of Scotland, and on the English coast as far south as 

 on the shores of Cornwall. Colonel Montagu mentions 

 one that was caught at Salcombe, in July 1799, that 

 weighed three hundred pounds. They have been known 

 to weigh as much as four hundred or five hundred pounds. 



Mr Couch says " the Short Sun-Fish is migratory, keep- 

 ing probably at the bottom, and feeding on sea-weeds in 

 its ordinary habits ; but in calm weather it mounts to the 

 surface, and lies, perhaps asleep, with its head, and even 

 its eyes, above the water, floating with the tide. 11 Seven or 

 eight examples have occurred in the Firth of Forth. Dr 

 Neill says "a specimen was brought to him by the fishermen, 

 who informed him that when they observed it, it was swim- 

 ming along sideways, with its back fin frequently above water. 

 It seemed to be a stupid, dull fish ; it made little or no at- 



