156 



It is only of late that this species has been recognized as 

 British : the first on record having been taken in Mount's 

 bay. Another has come to my knowledge, that was pur- 

 chased in the market at Falmouth in 1841 ; but in July 1844, 

 on the first adventure to sea of a trawl vessel from the 

 port of Penzance, a very considerable number of this fish 

 was taken. My Son, who was present, counted aod ex- 

 amined sixty of them; and the fishermen informed him that 

 they had thrown some overboard, as worthless. The 

 following description was taken from some of those spe- 

 cimens, and compared with others. Length varying from 

 five to seven inches. In one of the latter size, depth in 

 front of the first dorsal spine three inches, girth seven 

 inches. Snout prolonged, and capable of still greater ex- 

 tension, to the length of seven eighths of an inch. Above 

 the eye it is narrow, and it then is arched concavely upward 

 and backward, in a waved form to the origin of the first 

 dorsal, which is the highest point; from whence it slopes 

 backward to the stalk of the tail. The eye large, round, 

 five eighths of an inch in diameter, and the same from the 

 snout when the month is closed. When extended the snout 

 is membranous, and surrounded anteriorly with a rim of 

 bone, forming the jaws ; on the upper part of which is a 

 long stout bone which passes into a conspicuous socket 

 between the eyes; and anteriorly it expands on each side 

 like two wings, which terminate in two horns. From the 

 orifice of the socket posteriorly a small slight bone passes 

 obliquely downward and forwards to meet another from the 

 rim of the mouth: thus forming a nearly equilateral triangle 

 %vith the base above. The rim of the lower jaw is attached 

 loosely to the anterior side of the triangle; and when the 

 mouth is closed the whole of this mechanism resembles a 

 moustache. Teeth small. Scales numerous, large, finely 

 serrated and ciliated ; so that the surface has a beautiful 

 silky appearance. Passing the hand backward it feit smooth, 

 but rough in the reverse. The lateral line, though not well 

 marked, was very apparent through the first third of its 

 length, and might be traced throughout. It arose about the 

 fourth of an inch behind the eye, arching upwards near the 

 dorsal fin, and then bending down. Origin of the dorsal, 

 ventral and pectoral fins nearly in a straight line, that of the 

 latter being rather in advance. First ray of the first dorsal 

 very stout, very short, and almost unconnected with the 

 others. Second ray five times as long as the first, and 

 curved posteriorly, as are all the others. The third is the 

 longest, all the remainder growing shorter. All the rays are 

 stout, and with the exception of the first three, are stoutest 



