126 
POMPILUS. 
a little beyond three inches, and a little less than four inches 
at the beginning of the dorsal fin. This fin is situated on an 
elevated ridge, and begins at four inches and a half from the 
snout, ending opposite the termination of the anal fin, twelve 
inches from the forehead, which is blunt and rounded, flatter 
on the crown; mouth moderate, teeth in the jaws fine, tongue 
rather large; nostrils double, that one nearest the eye large and 
open. Eye prominent and bright. Membrane of the first gill- 
cover soft, but with a free edge that is a little cut in or 
serrated. Body compressed, with very small scales, which, 
when dry, appear curiously striated. Lateral line bent at its 
commencement. Vent six inches and a half from the point of 
the lower jaw. Bays of the dorsal fin fleshy at the base. 
Pectoral fins pointed; ventrals bound down by a membrane. 
Tail moderately forked. Colour all over black, the fins intensely 
so, scarcely lighter on the belly; a little bronzed at the origin 
of the lateral line. While employed in taking a figure, the 
side on which it lay changed to a fine blue. The larger specimen 
weighed nearly fourteen pounds; and the skin was found to be 
so tough as to be stripped from the body like that of an eel. 
No air-bladder was found. The taste was delicious. 
The colom-s (as described by Eisso) of a fish of the Medi- 
terranean are, numerous dashes of blue, varied with slender 
bands of yellow; anal fin deep blue; pectorals yellow; dorsal 
fin with thirty-eight rays, pectoral fins with eighteen, ventrals 
six, anal twenty-four, caudal eighteen. It is said to come near 
Nice in spring and autumn. 
