24 ANACANTHINL 



size of its mouth, as well as to its living at depths where only large hooks are 

 tried. It is often captured off Cornwall with the beam trawl. 



Breeding. — Risso observes that in the Mediterranean it is very prolific. 



As food. — It is not of sufficient size to be of use for the table. 



Habitat. — From the coast of Norway to those of Great Britain and Ireland, 

 also through tbe Mediterranean, in which last locality it is tolerably abundant. 



Off Banffshire it is very scarce (Edward) : Devonshire not common (Parfitt) : 

 but has been recorded from Plymouth (Hanmer) and Weymouth (Jenyns) : off 

 Cornwall Mr. Cornish observed that it is not common and considers it a variety 

 of the "carter:" one example appears to have been obtained at Swansea 

 (Dillwyn). 



In Ireland an example was taken off the Galway coast by Mr. Todhunter, 

 September, 1848, which is now in the Dublin University Museum. Has also been 

 taken off tbe coast of Cork (Ball) : and several from Dingle Bay in 25 fathom 

 water (Yarrell). "Was trawled abundantly off this (Dublin) coast last winter 

 and sprins:. I saw some hundreds used for baiting crab-pots in the spring " 

 (H. Blake-Knox, Zool. 1866, p. 508). 



Couch has recorded one 6f inches in length, and observes that it attains to 

 7 inches. 



