NORTHERN CHIMERA. 367 



spots and patches : the fins are yellowish brown, 

 varied with darker shades : the first dorsal fin is 

 triangular^ and fiirnished at its origin with an ex- 

 tremely strong and sharp spine, projecting some- 

 what beyond the finny part : the second dorsal fin 

 commences at a small distance beyond the first, 

 and is shallow, soft-rayed, and continued to a great 

 distance : the third, which is o£ similar appearance, 

 commences immediately after this, and is continued 

 to the end of the tail, being gradually lost in the 

 terminal filament : the pectoral fins, which are very 

 large, and of a subtriangular shape, are situated 

 beneath the first dorsal : the ventral are of similar 

 shape, but much smaller, and placed at about the 

 middle distance from the head to the end of the 

 tail : at the base of each, in the male, is a lengthen- 

 ed, subcylindric process, roughened by numerous 

 sharp prominences in a reversed direction : these 

 organs, as appears from the examination of Dr. 

 Bloch, are analogous to the lengthened processes 

 observed in the males of Sharks and Rays. 



The Chimaera is observed seldom to approach 

 the shores, except during the breeding-season; it 

 is also said to swim chiefly by night, and to prey 

 on young herrings, cod, and other smaller fishes. 

 Its flesh is considered as coarse and uneatable, re- 

 sembling that of most of the Shark tribe, but the 

 Norwegians are said to use the eggs in the com- 

 position of their pastry; and from the liver is 

 drained an oil, which is considered as of singular 

 efficacy in disorders of the eyes, and as an embroca- 

 tion for bruises and wounds ; while the long process 

 V. y, p. II, 25 



