TRICHIURIDyE. 157 



caudal fin, it is of miicli the same height throughout, being nowhere more than 1/3 

 of that of the bocty, its rays are simple, unarticulated, and but little flexible. Pec- 

 toral situated in the lower third of the depth of the body, its lower rays the longest, 

 and equal to half the length of the head. Ventral in the form of a pair of scales 

 situated below the middle of the pectoral. Anal fin in the form of minute spines 

 more or less visible, and which become distinct rays in the last portion of its 

 extent, but do not extend so far as the base of the caudal fin, the latter being 

 deeply forked. Only the rays of the pectoral and caudal fin are branched. 

 Lateral-line — at first forms a slight arch reaching the middle of the body just 

 beyond the middle of the pectoral fin and is so continued to the centre of the base 

 of the caudal. Anus situated at about the centre of the length of the body and 

 having a small movable scale a little distance behind it. Colours — sides and 

 abdomen like burnished silver ; fins of a light gray dashed with yellow. 



Varieties. — Risso considered that a second form existed with a larger head, 42 

 rays in the anal fin and a black spot at the anterior portion of the dorsal which 

 had 100 rays, the adults do not exceed 15 inches in length ; that it approaches 

 the shore in January and March, while its flesh is soft and but little esteemed. 

 Rafinesque also remarks on a smaller species as existing in Sicily, and which he 

 terms Scarcina punctata. 



Bonnaterre while figuring Lepidopus argenteus, Linn., refers in the text to 

 Lephtrus argenteus, Linn. Mus. Ad. Frid. 1754, p. 76, pi. xxvi, fig. 2, which is a 

 Trichiurus. 



Names. — Scabbard fish ; scale-foot. Jarretiere, French. 



Habits. — Montagu's first specimen was said to have been seen swimming with 

 great velocity, its head being above the surface of the water ; it was killed by a 

 blow from an oar. Other observers have confirmed the statement as to its rapidity 

 of movement. Valenciennes remarked that in April and May it approaches the 

 shores, but that it generally lives at great depths and is not gregarious, probably 

 only leaving its usual habitat under some exceptional circumstance. It appears to 

 be very voracious, and Dr. Moreau took six fishes from the stomach of one of small 

 size, and it could contain no more, the last one being still at the commencement of 

 the oesophagus. 



It is termed Hilcu or " Frost-fish " in New Zealand, where Mr. Robson states 

 that it comes on shore deliberately, and not in pursuit of prey or to rid itself of a 

 parasite. 



Breeding. — In the spring in the Mediterranean. 



Diseases. — It appears to be much tormented by internal parasites. 



Habitat. — This fish appears to have been first described by Professor Gouan, 

 of Montpellier, in 1770. It is found through the seas of Central and Eastern 

 Europe, not being uncommon in certain parts of the Mediterranean, as Nice, and 

 along the east coast of Sicily, from Messina to the Gulf of Catania, where it 

 is taken from May until September. Wanderers also have occurred along the 

 south coast of Great Britain, while it becomes more frequent through the warmer 

 portions of the Atlantic, and though in diminished numbers, is found so far as the 

 Cape of Good Hope. It has been recorded from New Zealand and Tasmania. 



The first British specimen was captured in the summer of 1787 at Dawlish, 

 and notes and drawings of it were taken by Mr. T. Wallcott. The next 

 was 5^- feet long, obtained June 4th, 1808, in Salcombe Harbour, Devonshire. 

 Another at Shapton Bay in February, 1810, and is still in the British 

 Museum, being only lU inches in length, it gave rise to the supposi- 

 tion that it had been bred not far off. Two were taken in Mount's Bay, 

 one of which was sent to the Linnean Society, the other to the Penzance 

 Natural History Society. Mr. Lukis informed Tarrell of one taken in Guernsey 

 early in 18 18. Cocks, 1. c, remarks upon a specimen 53| inches long taken at 

 Gwyllyn Vase, being in the possession of Dr. Bullmore in 1869. Couch stated 

 that he possessed records of four taken in Cornwall, one of which he figured ; 

 it was 64 inches long, and was captured twenty miles from land. 



One recorded from Ireland (Louch) may refer to a specimen of TricJiiurus (see 

 p. 155). Ball recorded one from Dublin Bay. It attains to 6 feet in length. The 

 one figured is from a specimen in the British M\iscum. 



