156 
It is only of late that this species has been recognized a* 
British: the first on record having been takon in Mounts 
hay. Another lias come to my knowledge, that was pur- 
chased in the market at Falmouth in 1 B4 1 ; but in July 18-14, 
on the first adventure to sea of a trawl vessel from the 
port of Penzance, a very considerable number of this fish 
was taken. Mv Son, who was present, counted and 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 •'* 
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 fir* 1 
dorsal, which is the highest point; from whence it slope 3 
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 °* 
bone, forming the jaws; on the upper part of which is 8 
long stout bone which passes into a conspicuous socket 
between the eyes; and anteriorly it expands on each sid® 
like two wings, which terminate in two horns. From til® 
orifice of the socket posteriorly a small slight bone passe 3 
obliquely downward and forwards to meet another from th® 
rim of the month : thus forming a nearly equilateral triangl® 
with the base abovo. The rim of the lower jaw is attache 1 * 
loosely to the anterior side of the triangle; and when th® 
month is closed the whole of this mechanism resembles 8 
moustache. Teeth small. Scales numerous, large, finejy 
serrated and ciliated ; so that the surface has a beaulilj* 
silky appearance. Passing the hand backward it felt smooth* 
but rough in the reverse. The lateral line, though not wcl 
marked, was very apparent through the first third of * l * 
length, and might be traced throughout. It arose about th® 
fourth of an inch behind the eye, arching upwards near th 
dorsal fin, and then bending down. Origin of the dors* 1 > 
ventral and pectoral fins nearly in a straight line, that of th® 
latter being rather in advance. First ray of the first dors 8 
very stout, very short, and almost unconnected with th 
others. Secoml ray five times as long as the first, 
curved posteriorly, as are all the others. The third i 3 
longest, all the. remainder growing shorter. All the ray s ar t 
stoul, and with the exception of the first three, are sto® tes 
