PLATE XXXVIL 
have reason to believe that our specimen is the only one of 
species that has been found on the British coasts since the year 
^*681 ; aijj jf jjg allowed to judge from the figures given 
Ray, is far more complete than his was at the time his drawing 
taken. The execution of his figure, however bad, is certainly 
excusable, when we consider the state of the imitative arts in this 
Country at those days in which he lived ; but there are several misre- 
presentations in the character of the fish itself that can only be ac- 
r^eiinted for by supposing the specimen in his possession had sustained 
^etisiderable injury. For example, the dorsal and anal fins are 
divided into a number of smaller fins, or rather tufts in a whimsical 
rrtanner ; a mistake that seems to have arisen from the mutilated state 
the fins, the membranes of which were most likely split in various 
places, and might suggest to the artist the idea that they were really to be 
®hewn as distinct fins : all the scales with which the fins are imbricated 
®^^rn to have been rubbed off, and the spinous rays are also wanting. 
omission of the lateral line may be an oversight : the teeth 
P^rtiaps were mutilated, or at least are very carelesly expressed : they 
Appear perfectly setaceous, and at the same time the two teeth which 
larger than the rest in the under jaw, are entirely omitted, Iti 
^finnant’s figure, which seems to be an improvement upon that of 
the divided portions of the dorsal and anal fins are connected 
a proper manner, they are slightly imbricated with scales, and the 
'^'taine teeth are represented, but still the lateral line is wanting, 
This species has been captured on the coast of France as well as 
^^gland ; in the former it is observed to be scarcely more frequent 
-with us. Duhamel, in his history of fishes, delineates it, as 
also Bonaterre, but the drawing of the latter is confessedly a 
'^“Py from Pennant’s. The figure of Duhamel is defective, wanting 
