204 
DENTEX. 
destructive enemy. It has been classed amongst British fishes 
£-om the circumstance that Donovan, when engaged in publishing 
his “Natural History of British Fishes,” had the good fortune 
to obtain a specimen which had been caught near Hastings, 
and of which he has given a characteristic figure. To the 
present time this has been the only record of its having 
wandered so far to the north as our coasts; and therefore it 
is with pleasure I am able to report the occurrence of two 
other examples, for the knowledge of which we are indebted 
to the vigilance of W. P. Cocks, Esq^., of Falmouth. 
Eisso appears to convey the impression that in its native 
climes it is common only for two or three months in summer; 
and the rarity of its occurrence with us shews how little it is 
accustomed to wander, at least northward, from its usual 
haunts. Willoughby found it in the market both at Borne 
and Venice. 
We obtain our figure of the conspicuous front teeth of this 
fish from a preserved skin in the British Museum; but never- 
having had a recent example to refer to, I prefer to copy the 
description from the “Icthyologie” of Bisso, coupled with the 
“History of Fishes” by WiUoughby, both of these having- 
been derived from examination of recent specimens; but I am 
assisted further by notes from observations made on the last- 
named British examples by William P. Cocks, Esq. 
The Cornish specimen, fii'St referred to, was two feet eight 
inches and a half in length, five inches in breadth, and between 
seven and eight inches in depth, and was purchased in the 
market at Falmouth by J. Vigors, Esq., in November, 1846. 
The second, which came to the same mai-ket in August, 1851, 
was still larger, and measured four feet eight inches in length, 
and therefore probably was an old fish of the full size it evar 
reaches, the four long, conicaT and projecting front teeth 
being much worn and discoloured. Du Hamel is quoted as 
having known it to weigh thirty-eight pounds, and Bisso gives 
about forty inches as the usual length. In its general aspect 
it bears a resemblance to the Becker or Common Sea Bream, 
but the proportions are described as rather longer and more 
solid. The back is also elevated and thinner, and the lower 
jaw rather longer The teeth are in a single row, and the 
front teeth so prominent as to afford a distinctive character 
