1976 Fishes. 



ruer-headed shark has been taken in Mount's Bay by a mackerel 

 boat, and the skeleton is preserved in the museum of the Penzance 

 Natural History Society, but whether it be the Malleus or not I can- 

 not determine, not having had an opportunity of examining it in 

 a recent state. 



Angel Fish, Squatina angelus. This strange looking fish, be- 

 side bearing the name of angel fish, is frequently called a " monk," 

 and still more commonly a " sea-devil." This strange contrariety of 

 names is unaccountable, unless, indeed, we suppose that the original 

 name was sea-monk, which from its hooded appearance might be the 

 case ; and that one set of religionists might have named it " angel " in 

 compliment to this resemblance, and another " devil," from opposite 

 views ; the odium theologicum being quite capable of extending to 

 the two extremes. It is a very voracious fish ; feeding on sandy soils; 

 its chief food is the smaller flat fish inhabiting such localities. In the 

 sandy spots about the Land's End, where the sand is granitic and 

 shelly, they are of a much lighter colour than when taken in Mount's 

 Bay and other parts of the Channel. 



Cramp Ray, Torpedo nobiliana ? Six specimens taken within a 

 very short time at the eastern side of Mousehole Island Mounts ; four 

 of which I had an opportunity of examining. All the specimens 

 examined did not at all answer to the description of the Torpedo vul- 

 garis of Fleming. The specimen selected for description, measured 

 three feet three inches from the snout to the end of the tail ; and two 

 feet two and a half inches in its greatest breadth. The colour varied 

 in the different specimens, but the general tint in the whole was 

 a darkish purple or neutral tint, variously clouded, but without spots. 

 The eyes are approximated, and about three inches from the median 

 point of the snout ; the temporal orifices are crescentic in form, larger 

 than the eyes, immediately behind which they are situated, they con- 

 verge posteriorly and have plain margins. Dorsal fins, two, near the 

 caudal ; the anterior one the largest. The caudal fin is large, being 

 about eight inches in its transverse diameter. The body is very 

 thick, fleshy, solid, and composed of two portions or lobes on each 

 side, the largest being the most anterior. The skin is smooth 

 and slimy ; the under surface is white, uneven, and variegated with 

 deep pink. The mouth is small, crescentic, two inches and a half 

 from angle to angle. Teeth small, numerous, and conical. 



Compared with Mr. Yarrell's figure (p. 410, first edition), all the 

 specimens examined were wider in proportion to the length, and the 

 form of the pectoral fins more irregular. The eyes are smaller, tern- 



