102 
I tave only seen one freali specimen of tins sort ; it measured 
fifty-seven inches long, and twelve and one-fifth in height. The 
head alone weighed eighteen pounds ; the first dorsal had nine 
spines, and the second dorsal one, and twenty-seven rays ; the anal 
two spines and seven rays ; the caudal seventeen long rays, and 
three shorter ones on each side ; the pectorals seventeen rays. 
This fish is very scarce, and sometimes two or three years 
elapse without one single specimen being caught; it is con- 
sidered a great delicacy, and in consequence sells at a high price ; 
the specimen I mention brought two pounds ten shillings. The 
remarkable edible qualities of this fish seem to be equal to those 
of the Mediterranean sort, which was considered by the Romans 
of the Middle Ages to be the most delicious of all food ; and of 
which the learned Cuvier relates many curious anecdotes. 
At the Cape of Gfood Hope, where Aquila is so common (at least 
Dr. G-unther considers that it belongs to the same sort), the young 
specimens only are eaten fresh, and the large ones, being hard 
and dry, are salted like cod, and exported to the Mauritius. 
The Australian fish seems an accidental visitor in the Straits 
of Bass, as it appears exclusively in the cold months, and only 
very large specimens have ever been seen. 
At the Cape of good Hope the young specimens are common 
in the warm months, and the large ones in the Antarctic winter. 
TEICHIUEID^. 
“ Body elongate and compressed ; naked or with 
minute scales ; eye lateral; cleft of tlie mouth 
wide, with several strong teeth on the jaws, or on 
the palate ; the spinous and the soft portions of the 
dorsal and the anal elongate and many rayed ; tail 
sometimes with finlets ; ventrals thoracic, some 
rudimentary, or entirely absent ; no prominent 
papilla near the vent, gill-opening wide ; seven or 
eight hranchiostegals ; pseudohranchise ; an air- 
