Specimen of the Rhombus hirtus. 



213 



II. (1.) Note of a Specimen of the Rhombus hirtus (Yar) ; Mullers 

 Top-Knot, recently taken in the Firth of Forth. By John Alex. 

 Smith, M.D. (The Fish was exhibited.) 



This fish was taken in a crab-pot, off Newhaven, on the 

 30th June 1804. 



It is short, oval, or rounded in shape. The specimen 

 measures 8 inches in length. The head to angle of oper- 

 culum 2f inches, length of body 4| from angle of operculum 

 to base of caudal rays ; caudal rays 1 inch in length in middle 

 of tail. Greatest breadth of body about middle, 3J inches, 

 not including fins ; across fins also, behind large central 

 black spot, nearly 5 inches. 



The upper and left side of the body is of a brown or wet 

 sand-like colour, spotted all over with darker brown, prin- 

 cipally at the outer margins ; there is one large and very dis- 

 tinct dark spot a little behind and above the pectoral fin. 



This surface of the body is rough, felt especially by the 

 finger when drawn from the tail towards the head. 



The lateral line curves upwards at its commencement, 

 and passing through the black spot runs straight towards 

 the middle of the base of the tail. 



The whole of the under or right side of the body is white 

 and smooth. 



The upper eye extends about half the breadth of the 

 orbit behind the lower. Teeth thickly set in both jaws. 



The fins round the margin of body of fish are of a reddish 

 brown colour. The ventral and anal fins are united ; the 

 dorsal and ventral become membranous at their extremities, 

 and pass below the root of the tail towards the mesian line of 

 the under side, and are separated from each other by a space 

 about a quarter of an inch in length. The first ray of the 

 dorsal fin is not longer than the others, and the dorsal, as 

 well as the anal fins, gradually increase in length until 

 within an inch of the base of the tail ; from this point they 

 rapidly shorten to the membranous portion of the I'm. 



Of the pectoral fins, the left or upper fin is larger, and 

 longer than the right or lower pectoral fin — Ufl or nj>/>tr lin 



