114 NORTHERN ZOOLOGY. 



is lined by a thick, gelatinous, light-red membrane, which rises anteriorly into two uvula-like 

 eminences. A furrow which commences between these is closed at the back of the palate by 

 a large pulpy cushion, against which the branchial arches can be pressed. This cushion 

 conceals a number of small bones and cartilages that lie between the extremities of the 

 branchial arches. Attached to the posterior part of the cushion there is a white, firm, cor- 

 diform substance, which lines an irregular cribriform plate projecting from the basilary pro- 

 cess of the occipital bone. There are no teeth, but their place is supplied in the following 

 manner. The two inferior pharyngeal bones have, when united, the form of a horse's hoof, 

 and go nearly two-thirds round the pharynx. From the edge of each bone thirty-six pro- 

 cesses spring in a pectinated manner; they are compressed laterally, somewhat chub-shaped, 

 a little worn on their summits, and gradually diminish in size as they recede from the median 

 line : two or three of the lowest and largest project through the very soft lining membrane, 

 exhibiting narrow crowns of a very compact texture resembling enamel : the smaller pro- 

 cesses are tipt with soft pulpy rakers, having the form of those on the branchial arches. A 

 strong muscular apparatus surrounding the pharynx, serves to press these parts against the 

 cordiform cushion above mentioned with sufficient force to bruise the substances on which the 

 fish preys. There are no superior pharyngeal bones, unless the irregular expansion of the 

 basilar process may be so denominated. The rakers consist of a double row of thin and 

 rather rigid crests, with scolloped edges springing from the inner margins of each branchial 

 arch. 



Fins.— Br. 3—3; P. 17; D. 12 to 14; V. 10; A. 7 or 8 ; C. 18f. 



The gill-membranes are united to each other by a plicated skin, destitute of scales and 

 separated from the integuments of the abdomen by a transverse superficial furrow. They 

 contain on each side three broad flat rays. The pectoral fins are elliptical, and contain seven- 

 teen crowded rays, of which the first is the strongest, its articulations being scarcely percep- 

 tible towards its base, and the fifth or sixth is the longest, the more posterior ones diminishing 

 rapidly in length and strength. The ventrals, placed a little nearer to the gill -openings than to 

 the caudal fin, have an obovate outline : their second ray is the strongest ; the first, which is 

 half the length of the second and closely applied to it, appears upon a cursory examination to 

 be spinous ; but when it is divested of integument, some articulations may be perceived with a 

 lens. The anal, extending to within its own length of the caudal, contains eight, or some- 

 times only seven, thick rays, the first short and scarcely perceptibly articulated ; the others 

 divided at the tips. When this fin is turned backwards its tip reaches the base of the caudal. 

 The caudal has eighteen rays, with three short ones above and below : its margin is slightly 

 crescentic. The dorsal is nearly quadrangular, and contains generally thirteen rays, though 

 some specimens have one over or under that number : the second ray, about half as long as 

 the succeeding one, appears to be spinous, or, at least, its articulations are not perceptible 

 even through a lens : the first is so short as not to be readily discovered, and is closely 

 applied to the second; the other rays are distinctly articulated, except at their bases, and 

 divided twice or thrice at their summits, which spread slightly. 



Colour. — Back and sides bluish-grey with considerable lustre, the back being darkest, and 



