POLYPEIOK. 
A PKUHATED border to tbe first gill-cover, a strongly-ridged spine 
High on tbe second gill-covor, and a rough crest above, with rough- 
ness over the bones of the head. Firm scales over the body, cheeks, 
and mustache. A single dorsal fin, in two portions; the second, with 
the anal fin, much developed. 
STONE BASS. 
Wrechfisli, 
Scorpwna Massiliensis, 
Polyprion cemium, 
Couch’s Serranus, 
<1 « 
Transactions of Linnaean Society, vol. xiv, p. 81. 
Eisso? 
OnviER. 
Tabkell’s British Pishes, vol. i. 
Gckther; Cat. British Museum, vol. i, p. 169. 
It is remarkable that this large and •well-marked fish should 
he among those which have remained unknown to naturalists 
until very recent times; although if the reference made hy 
Dr. Gunther to Kisso, as given above, be correct, it is far from 
being rare in the Mediterranean, where it is held in esteem 
for the table. 
With us, on the south and west coasts of the kingdom, it 
is well knovm to fishermen, and especially as coming under 
extraordinary circumstances. It may not have been noticed for 
several years; but when a mass of wood or fragment of wreck, 
covered with Bernacles, (Lepades,) is driven into our waters 
from the direction of the Atlantic, a considerable number of 
these fishes is often found to accompany it, as if it were a 
special point of attraction to them; for in the most sportive 
manner they gambol round it or over it as it rolls by the 
action of the waves, so that I have known their tails excori- 
ated by rubbing against its substance; appearing to chase each 
other as they feed on the small fishes or crabs which have 
