CARANGID^. 135 



ttem: rays of the second dorsal low, those in the last portion of the fin 

 highest. Ventral spine strong, its outer edge and also those of the rays being 

 exceedingly rough, the fin is inserted beneath the base of the pectoral, which 

 latter is about half the length of the head. Anal spines weak. Caudal rounded. 

 Scales^sma,]!, very rough, having small spinate points directed posteriorly, those 

 on the head with less distinct spinate elevations : this makes the body feel quite 

 rough when the hand is passed from behind forwards, which sensation is not 

 experienced when stroking the fish from the head towards the tail. A roughened 

 ridge along the bases of the second dorsal and anal fins. Lateral-line — ascending 

 from opposite the eye to nearly the basQ of the first dorsal fin, when it bends 

 downwards, forming a semi-circle, being lost below the base of the second dorsal. 

 Gxcal appendages — three rather large ones in all I have examined. Colours — 

 of an orange-red, with a rather darker band over the base of the tail, while the 

 outer edge of the ventral is darker than the remainder of the fin. In one 

 example the body had numerous narrow white vertical bands : in another, a row 

 of small black spots along the base of the dorsal fin. Some which were placed 

 in a darkish tank in an Aquarium, June 18th, 1880, became as follows on 

 July 12th : — They all seemed in good health, were lively, but strangely altered in 

 colour. They may be described as of a straw colour, with broad dark vertical 

 bands of a deep brown hue. The first passed over the head : the second from 

 the first dorsal fin down to the outer third of the ventral : the third from the 

 second dorsal curved downwards and rather backwards to the anal fin : while the 

 fourth band was over the free portion of the tail, the outer edge of which tin was 

 white. Looking from above down upon these fish the bands were seen to meet on 

 the back, while after death they almost entirely disappeared. On August I3th, 

 two still survived, but the water was rather clearer, while the weather had been 

 brighter, and the intensity of the dark bands had decreased, while the red was 

 a little more apparent. Mr. Dunn tells me that after spawning he observed the 

 bands decrease in intensity. Tarrell mentions an example with se\'en transverse 

 orange coloured bands ; he also refers to a specimen belonging to Mr. Thompson, 

 which had a bright silvery patch with a scarlet border in the middle of its 

 side. 



Names. — From the shape of its snout, which is capable of being greatly 

 protruded, it has obtained the designation of boar-fish, it is also said to grunt, but 

 this appears doubtful, however, it has been stated to emit an odour the reverse 

 of agreeable, but which I could not discover. At Plymouth it is sometimes 

 known as cuckoo-fish and cook-wrasse. At Lossiemouth it has been termed 

 sun-fish. Le capros sanglier, French. 



Habits. — These are but little known, but it appears to prefer moderately deep 

 water in the vicinity of rocks. Along sandy coasts they are frequently cast up 

 dying or dead, especially after strong gales of wind, or else left on the shore as 

 the tide recedes, and have sometimes been found entangled in seaweed. In an 

 aquarium they do not try to conceal themselves, and Mr. Dunn found that they 

 readily consumed pieces of pilchards. Small crustaceans, also molluscs, have 

 been found in their stomachs. Wounds from their spines are somewhat dreaded 

 by fishermen as being rather poisonous or perhaps very irritant. 



Breeding. — July 20th, 1880, Mr. Dunn observed that many of these , fish had 

 spawned in his tank: ; the spawn all floated in the water just below the surface, and 

 seemed to be of the same specific gravity as the sea water. The tank being 

 beneath the surface it all floated away. Some taken in March, 1879, off Dorset- 

 shire, were found to contain spawn. Mr. Baker took one full of spawn in 

 the Bristol Channel, in May, 1850. Risso observed that in the Mediterranean 

 it deposited its spawn in April. 



As food. — They cannot be of any importance, having so little to eat upon 

 them, but Mr. Penney, who had some fried, reported them as delicious, their 

 flesh possessing a creamy whiteness and a delicate flavour (Land and Water, 

 April 5th, 1879). Mr. Couch, who tasted some, did not recommend them, neither 

 4id Risso. 



Habitat. — Mediterranean during the spring and autumn, but are not 



