334 ME. T. EDWARD ON THE OCCURRENCE OF 



On the Occurrence of the Norwegian Argentina silus* on the 

 Shore of the Moray Firth, Banffshire. By Thomas Edward, 

 A.L.S. 



[Eead April 21, 1881.] 



The present being one among the few instances of the capture of 

 this species in the British seas, the writer presumes that a notice 

 of the fact, with an account of the fish itself, may not be uninter- 

 esting to the members of the Linnean Society. 



The fish alluded to was taken about the end of October, 1879, 

 nearly thirteen miles west from the town of Banff, and was sent 

 to me for examination, as none of the fishermen had seen one of 

 the same kind before. It was also new to me. With the aid of 

 two friends, Professors Trail and Ewart, of Aberdeen University, 

 I was enabled definitely to identify it as here named in the title 

 of the paper, though previously to this Dr. Griinther had hinted 

 by letter that it might be Argentina silus. 



Description of the Fish. — Length 85 inches. Height of body 

 near shoulders (where the fish is deepest) about 1 inch. Cir- 

 cumference at same place over 2 inches, near the tail scarcely 1. 

 Length of head If inch, which tapers considerably towards the 

 mouth, which is very small and gives the head a most remarkable 

 appearance. Breadth behind the eye 1 inch. Length of tail 

 (which is deeply forked) 1| inch. Dorsal fin in front nearly 1| inch 

 in height and pointed, the first ray being the longest, the others 

 shortening as they go backwards. Adipose fin about | inch in 

 height, is rather boomerang-shaped, and placed only •§- inch from 

 the root of the caudal, its insertion being in direct line with the 

 centre of the anal. Pectorals rather pointed and over 1 inch in 

 length. Ventrals nearly an inch, and broadish at their tips. 

 Anal fin at its commencement f of an inch, but lessens towards 

 its extremity, which is within \ inch of the tail. The dorsal fin 



* When this paper was written and forwarded to the Society I was under 

 the impression that the species had not hitherto been obtained on the British 

 coasts. My isolated position did not enable me to consult books or museums, 

 and a copy of the Society's Journal containing Dr. Francis Day's paper " On 

 the Hebridal Argentine " (Journ. Linn. Soc. vol. xv. p. 78, pi. iv.), not having 

 then reached me, I was unaware of the most recent notice of the fish in 

 question, and of its determination with the Argentina sphyrcena, Linn. I 

 would gladly have withdrawn my paper on learning of Dr. Day's ; but the 

 Council of the Society have thought fit to print it, as an additional record of a 

 fish whereof only three British specimens have previously been taken. 



