96 
« 
into irregular jDortions,'^' and there was no kind of anterior dorsal 
fin.d The fin was of a most marked and beautiful colour, which 
may be reproduced by giving a band painted with vermilion a 
glazing with crimson-lake ; the colour of arterial blood might be 
taken as a fair resemblance. There was a small fin at P of your 
drawing, | and two singularly rounded fins at V (ventral). The 
distance of the vent from the head rvas unfortunately not 
measured, but it was close to the gills. The caudal fin was placed 
eccentrically, as in your sketch ; this remarkable configuration was 
sjrecially noted at the time. The fish figured in Couch’s ‘ Pishes 
of the British Islands’ is not the fish caught by the Wells fisher- 
men, in my humble opinion. § There Avas a most remarkable 
arrangement of elastic tissues about the muzzle and buccal cavity 
permitting easy and extensive elongation of the snout and mouth 
several inches, and possibly of dilatation also.” 
When I first saw the fish, or rather its skin, the colour Avas 
quite gone ; and all the beautiful silvery pigment, Avhich readily 
detached itself on handling, Avas rubbed off the body. The 
delicate membrane of the dorsal fin, Avhich Avas four inches high 
in the centre, had given Avay betAvecn the spines in several places, 
producing the apjAcarance presented in Pleniing’s figure ; it had 
also become detached along the margin of the back, leaving a 
lialfmoon-shaped space betAveen the base of one spine and the 
next. This Avas doubtless the result of the drying of the mem- 
brane, as it Avas not noticed by hlr. Bump Avhen the fish Avas in a 
fresh condition. The process shoAvn at h in Pleming’s figure Avas 
certainly not present in this specimen. 
The caudal fin Avas too imperfect to give any indication of its 
form. Its remains consisted of seven broken spines, three inches 
long, directed upAvards. The ventral fins mentioiAed by Mr. Bump 
had disappeared. The “ furroAA^,” mentioned by Fleming, at the 
top of the head Avas conspicuous ; but the “ elastic tissue” had 
* As shown in Fleming’s figure, ‘ Magazine of Natural History,’ vol. v. 
p. 21G. 
t Sec Coucli’s figure, vol. ii. p. 246, Avhere the front portion of tlie 
dorsal fin is shown as separated and more elevated. 
X Pectoral ; referring to a sketch of Yarrell’s figure sent in my letter. 
§ Mr. Napier expresses the same opinion. 
