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bloch’s topknot. 
there is some reason to suppose also that Bloch’s Topknot 
sometimes inhabits deeper water, as it has been taken from 
the stomach of a Ling which was caught at a depth of more 
than thirty fathoms. Mr. Thompson, of Weymouth, has informed 
me of an example that was ornamented on the lateral line, 
near the tail, with a black spot, which had an orange-coloured 
spot in its centre; and it was also marked with several puce- 
coloured spots along the base of the dorsal and anal fins. 
In regard to the relative dimensions of this species Dr. 
Gunther says that the height of the body is nearly one half 
of the total length without the caudal, and the length of the 
head two parts out of seven; but in these proportions there 
appears to be an occasional variety, unless we are to suppose 
that a third species occurs on our coast. Mr. Thompson, of 
Belfast, obtained a specimen which, with a length of six 
inches and a half, was only two inches and seven lines in 
breadth, and I possess the note of an example which was 
brought to me that was six inches long, and two inches and 
a fourth in width. Another also, which was mutilated when I 
saw it, appeared to be of a length greater than the generality 
of these fishes. It seemed much flatter in form, the colour 
not dark, and the possessor, who had removed the lower 
surface before I saw it, assured me that the dorsal and anal 
fins ended in a line with the tail, without passing to the 
lower surface. The number of the fin rays was, — dorsal 
eighty-eight, anal sixty-eight, ventral six, pectoral ten, the 
caudal fifteen. It remains yet to be seen whether either of 
these was the Rhombus cardina of naturalists. 
