20 . ACANTHOPTERYGII. 



Dentex, Couch, Fisli. Brit. Isles, i, p. 203, pi. xlv. 



B. vi, D. ii:-H P. 15, V. 1/5, A. |, c. 17, L, I, 60-65, L, tr. 8/17, Coec. pyl. 5, 

 Vert. 10/14. 



Length of head 3f to 3f , of caudal fin 5 to 5^, height of body 3i to 3^ in 

 the total length, ^ye — comparatively much larger in the young than in the 

 adult, 4ij to 5f diameters in the length of the head, 1-j to 2i diameters from the 

 end of the snout, and 1 to 1^ diameters apart. Jaws of about the same length 

 anteriorly, the maxilla reaches to beneath the front edge of the eye. Nostrils 

 patent, the posterior the larger. Preorbital large, its height in the young 

 equalling about 1 diameter of the orbit, but in the adult from If to even 

 2 diameters : it is about 1/4 longer than high. Bones of the head entire. 

 Teeth — 4 large curved canines in either jaw, the outer pairs much the strongest, 

 while there is an inner row of small teeth : laterally a row of pointed ones : 

 none on the tongue, vomer, or palatine bones. Fins — spines of dorsal weak, 

 increasing in length to the 4th or 5th which equals half the length of the head 

 and rather exceeds that of the longest ray. Pectoral nearly as long as the head. 

 Third anal spine rather longer than the second. Caudal forked. Scales — finely 

 ctenoid, 8 rows between the eye and the angle of the preopercle, which likewise 

 has a few scales, irregularly placed, along its limb. Colours — it may be beautifully 

 varied, being silvery interchanged with light blue on the back and some blue 

 spots on the sides. On the front of the head wavy lines of gold, silver, and 

 purple : eyes blue with a golden iris. Dorsal fin bluish-yellow, pectoral and 

 caudal reddish. One form of colour, which may be due to age, is the existence of 

 a large yellow spot at the base of the opercle, and extending over the interopercle. 

 The variety, D. cetti, was examined by M. Laurillard at Nice, and he found the 

 spot well marked in the adult, but absent from the immature. 



Names and their origin. — Gynodon or " dogs' teeth " refers to its large canines, 

 the terra four-toothed gilt head has a similar origin. 



Haiits. — Exceedingly voracious and a rapid swimmer. During the winter it 

 retires to the deeper water, but about June seeks the shallower places, approaching 

 the mouths of rivers where it deposits its ova between the crevices of stones and 

 rocks. 



Means of capture. — Large fisheries of the Dentex are carried on in the warmer 

 European climes. 



As food. — Palatable and wholesome when fresh, while it salts well. It is 

 prepared by cutting in slices and packing in barrels with vinegar and spices : 

 thus treated it keeps for months. 



Habitat.— 'From the south coast of England to the Mediterranean and the 

 Canary Isles. 



Edward has mentioned an example from Troup Head in Banffshire. The first 

 example obtained in this country was received by Pennant from Billingsgate, it 

 had been captured at Hastings, April 9th, 1805, and weighed 16 lb. Mr. Cocks 

 recorded two more in Couch's work, one of which was 32| inches in length, which 

 he purchased in the fish-market at Falmouth in November, 1846 : the second was 

 obtained from the same place in August, 1851, and measured 56 inches. 



This fish attains a large size. Duhamel observes that it may weigh 70 lb. 

 For the example figured, life-size, I am indebted to Professor Peters, Director of 

 the Berlin Zoological Museum. 



