5960 



Fishes. 



viands very palatable. But I must tell j'ou soinething more about this centre dish of 

 mine. I have said that it is a rare one ; it is so, in so far that it is entirely new to 

 this quarter, and if I am not mistalien is not to be found in Yarrell ; in Gosse, however, 

 I think you will find him, under the name of Noiidanus griseus. But I will give you 

 his dimensions as near as I can, with a few words as to his appearance; and if you 

 are in any way versed in these matters you will then in some measure be able to judge 

 for yourself. Well, then, first as to his head: it is in length 1 foot 2^ inches; lower 

 jaw 11 inches; from the head to the dorsal (there is only one) 5 feet 5 inches; from 

 the fore to the back part of the dorsal, which reaches the tail, 11 inches; height of 

 dorsal 7 inches ; tail 3J feet ; pectorals 17 inches by 12 ; ventrals 14 by 5 ; anal 9 

 by 5 ; distance of ventrals from anal 7 inches ; breadth of caudal at commencement 

 of tail 6J inches ; this, however, gradually narrows until it reaches within a few inches 

 of the end of the tail, when it again expands to about 5 inches, and then forms a sort 

 of lobe ; for about half its length, too, the caudal is very rough and warty. Vent from 

 the mouth 5 feet 9 inches ; length from the snout, which is blunt and roundish, to the 

 mouth 7 inches ; nostrils to the mouth 4 inches ; ditto to the eye 4 inches ; circumfe- 

 rence of eye 2^ inches by Ij. The pupil of the eye is of a most beautiful and 

 changing green colour ; the iris is of a very deep iron-gray, which with its large size 

 gives the animal a most terrific and appalling look. Spiracles six, the last one open- 

 ing close to, or rather on the base of, the pectoral. Girth round the head 45 inches ; 

 before pectorals 54 inches, behind 55, middle 57 ; before ventrals 47 inches, behind 32; 

 tail, where broadest, 20 inches, and in shape flat rather than round. Teeth in two 

 rows ; those of the upper jaw with three longish and very sharp points ; those of the 

 lower jaw, except the centre one, which is wedge-shaped, very much serrated, having 

 each from nine to ten deeply jagged points. Gape from 20 to 24 inches. Colour of 

 the upper parts of an irony or reddish gray, inclining to leadish on the belly. The 

 skin, when stroked downwards appears, and in fact is, perfectly smooth ; but 

 reverse the action, and then it feels and becomes remarkably rough and prickly, and 

 very painful to the hand. The ridge of the tail, which is of a flesh-colour, is very 

 thickly set with pretty large, sharp, prickly tubercles, of an oblong form. Now as to 

 his appearance: — At first sight you would almost, if not altogether, take him for a 

 specimen of the fox shark {Alopias vulpes) ; but the broad, pointed tail, in having but 

 one dorsal, and the broad, bull-like head, soon convinces you that he has nothing at 

 all to do with foxy. He was taken on Tuesday last, on a hook baited for haddocks, 

 and landed at a place called Whitehills, about two miles from this. He is to be 

 preserved for the Banff* Museum, for which he has been bought. — Tkomaa Edivard ; 

 Banff, Ja7iuary 1, 1858. PS. — I have just been into the stomach of the Notidanus, 

 where the fishermen who took him assured me that I should find at least one corpse, 

 and perhaps two. This, however, has not been my luck, for it was perfectly empty, 

 save that there were about thirty leech-like worms either moving about on or adhering 

 to the bare walls. These I have secured in a bottle, and as long as the stock lasts I 

 shall be most happy to send specimens to any one who may wish for them, reserving 

 one or two for myself and friends here. — T, E, ; January 2. 



