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Lesser Fork-heard, or Tadpole Fish. Eaniceps trifurcatus 

 (Turton.) By George Bolam, F.Z.S. 



Two specimens of this rare fish occurred in the spring 

 of 1899. The first was caught by a line boat ofE Berwick, 

 on 22nd February, the other about a month later, and 

 both were exhibited in Mr Holmes' shop, in Bridge Street, 

 the first mentioned afterwards finding its way into our 

 Museum. 



When I examined the specimen caught in February, a 

 few hours after it had been landed, it was of a dark rich 

 brown colour, deepening almost to black, the white skin 

 of the inside of the lips and gill-coverts showing most 

 vividly where exposed ; underneath it was rather paler in 

 colour. It measured 10^ inches in extreme length, and 

 across the thickest part of the body, just behind the head, 

 about 2^ inches, as it lay. It was in plump condition, hard 

 to the touch. The curious ventral fins (if fins they can be 

 called) were very smaU, and the slender thread-like rays 

 issuing from them were quite white. The fish being fresh 

 when I saw it, the tubercles were not visible. 



The second specimen was slightly less than the first, but 

 was otherwise similar. The late Dr George Johnston 

 recorded a Tadpole fish from Berwick, in 1832, and the 

 sketch of it, which he forwarded to Yarrell, and which is 

 given in the latter's "British Fishes" (Vol. ii., p. 208), is 

 much better than the plate given in Dr F. Day's work. 



