Class IV. COMMON WOLF FISH. 205 



in the mouth by aid of the grinders. The body 

 is long, and a little compressed sideways ; the 

 skin smooth and slippery. The pectoral fins 

 consist of eighteen rays, are five inches long, 

 and seven and a quarter broad ; the dorsal fin 

 extends from the hind part of the head almost 

 to the tail ; the rays in the fresh fish are not 

 visible ; the anal fin extends as far as the dorsal 

 fin ; the tail is round at its end, and consists of 

 thirteen rays. The sides, back, and fins are of 

 a livid lead color ; the two first marked down- 

 wards with irregular obscure dusky lines ; these 

 in different fishes have different appearances. 

 The young are of a greenish cast, resembling 

 the sea wrack, which they reside amongst for 

 some time after their birth. 



We think ourselves much indebted to Mr. 

 Trams, Surgeon, at Scarborough, for his inge- 

 nious remarks on this fish, as well as on several 

 others that frequent that coast, being a gentle- 

 man much skilled in ichthyology, and extremely 

 liberal in communicating his knowledge. 



