FILEFISH. 
371 
becoming gradually shorter j all broad at the root, flattened, 
with a sepa'’ate point or projection on their hindmost edge. 
Besides the pairs in front I could only count three others on 
each side. 
Opening of the gills formed of a linear slit immediately 
above the root of the pectoral fin; and close behind it, above 
the root of the pectoral, a stout flat bone with a wing on its 
lower portion. The first dorsal fin slightly in front of the line 
of the base of the pectoral, situated in a channel, with three 
stout rays; the first two inches and a fourth in height, slightly 
curved, along its front studded with rough points; the next 
ray much shorter, its root close to the first ray; the third ray 
short and far behind. The second dorsal three fourths of an 
inch behind the end of the first; broad at first, third and fourth 
ray the longest; then narrower, but not reaching the tail; 
twenty-eight rays; anal fin shaped like the second dorsal, and 
beginning at about opposite the si.xth ray of that fin, ending 
opposite each other. In front of the anal fin is the vent; and 
close before it obscure marks of rays as of a fin sunk in the 
border of the surface; forward from which is a firm structure, 
as of a sunken shield; but there was no appearance of a 
projecting spine and raised fin, as represented by AV'illoughby, 
nor of a prominence as shewn by IMr. Yarrell. But when 
an attempt was made to set up this example these projections 
appeared, and not until then. Willoughby also shews the 
membrane of the first dorsal as joined to the second, which is 
not the case in the present instance ; nor is the chink continued 
backward beyond the fin itself. A curious flat and narrow 
border passes along the root of the anal and second dorsal 
fins. The body becomes wider (or deeper) at the root of the 
tail, and ends heart-shaped. The tail wide at its upper and 
lower border, where it is carried out to about twice the 
length of the middle rays; but those immediately in the middle 
are more extended than such as are on each side of them; 
caudal rays thirteen in number, stout; one on each border 
simple and stoutest of all. 
The colour of this example is for the most part a dull pale 
yellow, dark on the back and top of the head, more dusky 
towards the tail; pectoral fins with a tinge of yellow; the other 
fins dark. In its more native element in the Mediterranean 
