18 ACANTHOPTERYGIL 



the base of the caudal and between the rays. Gcecal appendages — in the example 

 figured they were numerous, three or more springing from one root and soon 

 dividing ; Valenciennes states that there are only two, one of which is very short 

 and the other very long, but I found upwards of seventy in the single example I 

 dissected. Colours — of a grayish-brown or stone colour, irregularly marbled or 

 with large light blotches, which become less visible in the adult. Fins dark, 

 almost black, while the caudal in the adult has a light outer edge. 



Names and their origin. — Schneider gave Americanus as the specific name of this 

 fish, which was described and figured from a drawing sent him by Dr. Latham, 

 who stated the native habitat was America. It is called in Devonshire, Wreck fish, 

 because it follows floating timbers. The term Stone-bass employed by Couch 

 was originally given by Sloane to a Pagrus from Jamaica adverted to by Ray 

 (p. 132) : Lowe states it to be called Jew-fish by the English in Madeira, where 

 the natives term it chernotte if small, cherne when large. 



Habits. — This appears, as a rule, to be a fish living in deep waters, and Couch 

 observes that when a piece of timber covered with barnacles, Lepades, is brought 

 by the currents from the more southern regions which these fish inhabit, 

 considerable numbers of them sometimes accompany it. In the Mediterranean it 

 is found to be solitary, frequenting deep waters having a rocky bottom. Mr. 

 Holdswoith observed " the crew of the ' Providence' smack found a large log of 

 mahogany in Start Bay, covered with long barnacles and surrounded by a shoal 

 of these fish. They jigged (i.e., caught with a pole having a barbed hook at the 

 end) 4 or 5." Ships having foul bottoms in water where they abound and 

 covered with barnacles, are followed by shoals of these fishes when becalmed. It 

 feeds on molluscs and small fishes. Valenciennes found sardines in the stomach 

 of one he dissected. 



Means of capture. — Couch says that when a mass of wreck floats in sight of a 

 ship in the northern part of the Atlantic, and the weather is favourable, a boat is 

 often despatched to obtain some of these fish, which is effected by piercing them 

 with a spear known as grayns. As many as 35 have been secured at one time by 

 a single boat on our own coast. 



Breeding. — In the summer in the Mediterranean according to Risso. 



Hermaphroditism. — Professor Rolleston showed me at Oxford an example which 

 had the roe white in its superior two-thirds, while in its lower third it was of a 

 brown colour and distinct from the upper. The appearance externally was such 

 as might be anticipated in a hermaphrodite, but the microscope failed to prove it 

 to be one. 



Diseases. — Risso states that this fish is tormented with numerous filiform 

 parasites of a reddish colour, which inhabit its intestines, causing it to possess 

 an insatiable appetite. 



As food. — Reputed to be excellent, the flesh being white, tender, and of a good 

 flavour. 



Habitat.— From the seas of Norway to the British Isles, and the coasts of 

 France and Portugal to the Mediterranean, where it remains through the whole 

 year. It is common at Madeira, extending to the Cape of Good Hope, and the 

 Island of St. Paul's, in the Southern Indian Ocean. It has also been recorded by 

 Forster as Perca prognathus, locally termed patb-terd, from Queen Charlotte's Isle 

 on the western shores of North America. 



It was first obtained in British waters by Couch, who observes that on the south 

 and west coasts of England it is well known to the fishermen. It is occasionally 

 found in deep water off Cornwall : is not uncommon in the Bristol Channel (Baker 

 of Bridgewater) or on the Devonshire coast (Holdsworth). In the year 1845 it was 

 reported as common between the Scilly Isles and Land's End. It has been taken 

 at Dingle Bay in Ireland where it was captured August 2nd, 1847, in a floating 

 meal-barrel (Moore). 



This fish attains to over 6 feet in length. Mr. Cornish (Zool. p 424) obtained 

 one at Penzance, August 24th, 1878 more than 20 inches long. The largest seen 

 by Couch weighed 20 lb. The specimen figured is 1\ inches long, and I am 

 indebted for it to Professor Hubrecht of Leyden. 



