1826 Fishes. 



the dead. While at the surface, they eagerly seek the shelter of any 

 floating object, and hence are destroyed by the buoys of nets, or in 

 the taking of sea-weed. 



In its characters it undoubtedly belongs to Motella, and especially 

 in the delicate membranous and vibratory character of the first dor- 

 sal fin and the ciliated appendages to the jaws ; but in its habits it 

 seems to be totally different. Unlike the other species of this genus, 

 it is a high swimmer, never protecting itself beneath stones near the 

 shore ; and it appears to be not a ground feeder, in the same sense as 

 its congeners ; and, unlike them, is instantly destroyed on being 

 taken from the water, so that with the configuration of a Motella it 

 has the habits of a Clupea. 



Hake's Dame, Phycis furcatus. Common during the autumnal and 

 winter months. I have seen five specimens at one time exposed for 

 sale in the fish-market of Penzance, and during the last autumn 

 scarcely a week passed in which several were not trawled up. It pre- 

 fers a sandy and muddy bottom. 



Lesser Forkbeard, Tommy Noddy, Raniceps trifurcatus. I have 

 obtained several specimens of this fish in Mount's Bay, from the 

 trawlers. In some specimens there are tubercles, posterior to the pec- 

 toral fins, which in others are not observable till the animal has been 

 out of water for some hours. All possess them, but they are not 

 equally visible in each. It spawns in July. 



Flat-Fishes. 



Plaice, Platessa vulgaris. Common. Though these notes are in- 

 tended only to refer to the habits and migrations of fish on the west- 

 ern shores of Cornwall, yet they do not entirely preclude an occa- 

 sional reference to other particulars. All the flat-fish, whether Pleu- 

 ronectidae or Raiidae, have a very remarkable development of the iris. 

 In the race about to be described, the superior and middle portion of 

 the iris forms a rounded prolongation, which hangs as a curtain over 

 the pupillary aperture. In some specimens it is more apparent than 

 in others, depending on the localities and depth of water in which 

 they have been taken. The iris in the Pleuronectidae, as well as 

 sharks and rays, has a distinct action. In the turbot, as well as in 

 the sharks, &c, I have on many occasions watched the movements, 

 and measured the pupillary aperture. In the rays, the curtain is very 

 peculiar, being developed into a serrated festoon. This serration is 

 so great, that the blind may be said to resemble a glove with spread 



