SAIL FLUKE. 
165 
probable that where the same method of fishing is employed, 
it is not rare along the south and eastward coasts of England 
and Ireland. Mr. Thompson found small fishes in the stomach 
of Whiffs caught on the east coast of the last named country. 
The Sail Fluke grows to the length of about twenty-three or 
four inches, but that one which we select for description 
measured only seventeen inches and a half. The other example 
sent with it exceeded this a little in length, but in form and 
proportions they were otherwise closely alike; The greatest 
breadth or depth of the body was seven inches, exclusive of 
the fins, the body plump and thick. The head from the snout 
to the border of the gill-covers a little more than a third of 
the length of the body to the insertion of the caudal rays; 
the breadth of the body is equal to the length from the snout 
to the angle of the curve of the lateral line. Gape of the 
mouth wide, opening obliquely downward; under jaw protruding 
beyond the upper, with something like a chin; teeth in both 
jaws; the front end of the vomer bent down into the form of 
a protuberance, which is armed with teeth of which the 
points are directed backward. The tongue free, narrow, firm, 
and pointed. Eyes large, oval, the lowest smaller than the 
other and more advanced, coming near to the mystache, which 
is long, reaching to the middle of the lower eye; a ridge 
between the eyes, curved upward posteriorly. Above the 
point or symphysis of the upper jaw is a prominence, close 
behind which there is a depression from which the outline 
rises again to the back. Lateral line arched, rising at first 
and then sinking behind the border of the pectoral fin, from 
whence it makes a sharp turn towards the tail. Scales on 
the gill-covers, head, and body, more prominent on the lateral 
line, their edges finely ciliated, the largest towards the tail. 
The dorsal fin begins close behind the prominence on the 
snout, and, as does the anal becomes widest near its termi- 
nation near the tail the root of the tail spreading wider as 
it ]noceeds from the ending of the dorsal and anal fins; first 
rays of the dorsal slender, lengthened their extremities free, 
the whole number ninety-two In one example the ventral fins 
had five rays, in the other six, near the throat, rising on the 
body posteriorly, and in the space left between them rose the 
first rays of the anal fin in front of which was the vent. 
