104 



The lowest group shows also a high head, less obtuse, and three 

 free articulated rays on the pectorals, small scales, and a distinct 

 lateral line. To this section belong Prionotus and Trigla. 



The genus Peristetkus, which connects both groups, has only two 

 articulated rays before the pectorals ; and before the commencement 

 of the small furcated caudal are three carinated scales, of which 

 there are two only in Dactyloptera. The strongly-armed body is 

 without a lateral line. 



From these characters, this genus is more allied to the last than 

 the first group. As in Trigla lyra, the snout is furcated, and along 

 the dorsal line is a series of elevated thorns, by which the dorsals 

 are placed in a more or less deep furrow. 



If we see marks enough to connect Peristetkus with one or 

 the other group, there is also a series of characters by which this 

 genus differs from all the others. Peristetkus shows no trace of 

 teeth in either jaw ; and the symphysis of the lower jaw has fringed 

 skin- flaps, more or less moveable, hanging downwards. The head 

 is long and very compressed, with two fork-shaped prolongations on 

 the end of the snout. Every part of this fork is rough on the mar- 

 gins, and on its lower part are four cavities covered with a thin 

 transparent skin. The long head is only three times the length of 

 the body ; and the body has a pyramidal form with eight sides. All 

 the scales are connected one with another, and have in the middle a 

 thorn directed backwards. The pectorals are of middle length, not 

 quite reaching the ventrals, and show only two free fingers. The 

 over-breast and belly are of two shields, with a serrated suture in the 

 middle, and elevated on the margins ; the first shield is larger and 

 longer than the second, which is rarely separated in two. 



The dorsal commences on the second ring of the body and reaches 

 not quite to the end of the body. The males are distinguished by 

 the first rays of the dorsal being thin, filiform, and elongated. This 

 is the case in the European species ; and the others are no exception. 

 The anal commences next the anal ring, and is as long as the second 

 dorsal. 



The colour is red ; but this colour changes after death to a dirty 

 ochreous-yellow. 



The flesh of the smaller species is very dry and is not used. The 

 Mediterranean species is not rare, but the fishermen take it only as 

 a curiosity. The cavities in the two branches of the fork make 

 it very weak and fragile ; and most examples of these fishes have lost 

 one or both parts of their fork. 



In quite perfect specimens we never find the fork longer than an 

 inch ; therefore the horned fish of Pliny must be distinct from the 

 Mediterranean fish. This horned fish of Pliny had horns of 

 18 inches in length, and is, according to the opinion of Cuvier and 

 Valenciennes, the Cepkaloptera, which Rondelet has never, seen or 

 described. 



It is, in fact, curious, that the old authors never mention the 

 Cataphr actus, — the reason probably being its rare appearance, its 

 smallness, and its bad flesh. 



