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£33 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


PRESENTED  BY 

PROF.  CHARLES  A.  KOFOID  AND 
MRS.  PRUDENCE  W.  KOFOID 


OUR  COUNTRY'S  FISHES 


AND 


How   TO    KNOW  THEM. 


H  (Bufoe  to  all  tbe  ffisbes  of  Great  Britain, 


BY 


W.    J.    GORDON, 

AUTHOR  OF  "  OUR  COUNTRY'S  FLOWERS,"  "  OUR  COUNTRY'S  BIRDS, 
"  OUR  COUNTRY'S  BUTTERFLIES  AND  MOTHS," 
"OUR  COUNTRY'S  SHELLS,"  ETC. 


WITH  EVERY   SPECIES  ILLUSTRATED  IN  COLOUR, 
AND   MANY  SKETCHES   IN   OUTLINE 

BY 

A.      LAMBERT. 


LONDON : 

SlMPKiN,  MARSHALL,  HAMILTON,  KENT  &  CO.,  LIMITED. 


©ur  Country's  Series. 

By  W.  J.  GORDON. 

Eat  h    with  33  coloured  plates  and  other 

illustrations.     Crown  8vo,  6/-  each. 

Also  in  a  leather  binding. 

Our  Cnun  rv's   F  owers  and  How  to 

Kit  nv    Trie   i.      A    complete    Guide 

to  tne  Flivvers   and  F^  rns  of  Great 

Britain. 
Our  Ci'untry's    Birds    and   How  to 

Know  Them.     A  Guide  to  all  the 

Birds  of  Great  Britain. 
Our     Country's      Butterflies     and 

Moths    and  How  to    Know  Them. 

A   Guide     to     the     Lepidoptera    of 

Great  Biitain. 
Our   Country's   Shells   and   How   to 

Know    Them.         A    Guide    to    the 

British  Mollusca. 
Our  Country's    Fishes   and   How  to 

Know  Them.    A   Guide  to   all  the 

Fishes  of  Great  Britain. 


INTRODUCTION. 


THIS  handbook  is  on  a  different  plan  to  that  of  any  other  of 
the  very  numerous  books  on  fishes  and  fishing.  Its  object 
is  the  ready  identification  of  our  native  species,  whether  sea- 
water,  fresh-water,  or  estuarine,  the  method  being  similar  to  that 
of  the  other  volumes  of  the  series,  of  which  this  is  the  fifth.  As 
the  number  of  species  found  in  British  waters  is  not  large,  space 
has  been  found  for  a  series  of  short  notes,  as  in  the  case  of 
Our  Country's  Birds,  which  not  only  confirm  the  identification 
but  may  prove  useful  to  net  and  line  fishermen  of  every  degree. 
The  tabular  chapters  include  a  long  index  of  local  names,  a 
systematic  table  of  all  the  species,  and  a  series  of  keys  to 
the  sub-classes,  orders,  families,  genera,  species,  and  note- 
worthy varieties,  arranged  in  such  a  way  that  the  task  of  finding 
out  the  fish  can  be  begun  at  any  point,  the  full  description 
being  obtained  by  combining  the  distinctive  characteristics  given 
at  each  step.  The  orders  of  the  fishes  are  not  difficult  of  recog- 
nition, the  families  soon  become  familiar,  and  in  ordinary 
practice  the  fish  it  is  desired  to  identify  is  not  unlike  another 
that  is  known,  so  that  in  most  cases  all  that  is  needful  is  to 
refer  to  the  specific  or  generic  distinctions  without  having  to 
traverse  the  whole  of  the  ground  ;  and  of  these  only  such  are 
given  in  tabular  form  as  are  readily  observable  om  the  spot. 
The  concluding  chapter  contains  an  alphabetical  list  of  specific 
names,  including  many  now  going  out  of  use,  so  that  the  book 


iv  INTRODUCTION. 

liay   serve   as    a    companion   to    the    important    works    of    Day, 
Couch,  Yarrell,  and  others. 

The  classification  of  the  fishes  is  still  under  revision,  and  is 
likely  to  remain  so  for  a  considerable  time,  but  the  system  herein 
is  based  on  the  most  recent,  and  was  adopted  as  convenient  for  the 
purposes  of  the  book.  The  list  contains  the  usual  number  of 
species  included  on  the  strength  of  one  occurrence  only  in  the 
hope  of  more,  but  there  seemed  to  be  enough  of  these  single 
specimen  claims  without  recording  the  very  latest  which,  though 
interesting,  are  certainly  beyond  the  scope  of  a  compact  manual 

as  this. 

W.  J.  G. 


CONTENTS, 


CHAP. 

I.     LOCAL  AND   POPULAR   NAMES 


II.     THE   COLOURED   PLATES     ...... 

Plate  I.,  figures  i  to  7. 
PERCID.E. 

Plate  II.,  figures  8  to  16. 

MULLID.E,    SPARID^E. 

Plate  III.,  figures  17  to  23. 

SPARID^:,       SCORP^NID^:,       SCLENIDJE, 
XIPHIID.E,   TRICHIURID.E. 

Plate  IV.,  figures  24  to  30. 

CARANGID^:,   CYTTID.E,   STROMATEID^. 

Plate  V.,  figures  31  to  35. 

STROMATEID.E,    CORYPH^NID^. 

Plate  VI.,  figures  36  to  43. 
SCOMBRID^:. 

Plate  VII.,  figures  44  to  53. 

SCOMBRID.E,     TRACHINIDJE,     LOPHIID^), 
COTTID^E. 

Plate  VIII.,  figures  54  to  62. 

COTTID^:,     DACTYLOPTERID^E,     CYCLOP- 
TERID^. 

Plate  IX.,  figures  63  to  74. 

CALLIONYMIDyE,    CEPOLID^E. 


Plate  X.,  figures  75  to  84. 

BLENNIID.E,    ATHERINID^. 

Plate  XL,  figures  85  to  90. 

MUGILID.E,   SCOMBRESOCID^E. 


VI  CONTENTS. 

THE   COLOURED    PLATES  —  Continued. 

Plate  XII.,  figures  91  to  98. 

GASTEROSTEID^i,   CENTRISCID^E. 

Plate  XIII.,  figures  99  to  105. 

GOBIESOCID^:,       TRACHYPTERID^,       LA 
BRID.E. 

Plate  XIV.,  figures  106  to  113. 
LABRID.E. 

Plate  XV.,  figures  114  to  124. 

SYNGNATHID.E,       BALISTID^E,       DIODON- 


Plate  XVI.,  figures  125  to  129. 
GADID.E. 

Plate  XVII.,  figures  130  to  135. 
GADID.E. 

Plate  XVIII.,  figures  136  to  144. 
GADID.E,    OPHIDIID.E. 

Plate  XIX.,  figures  145  to  151. 

MACRURID.E,     PLEURONEC- 


Plate  XX.,  figures  152  to  157. 
PLEURONECTID^E. 

Plate  XXI.,  figures  158  to  165. 
PLEURONECTID^:. 

Plate  XXII.,  figures  166  to  173. 

CYPRINID^E. 


Plate  XXIII.  ,  figures  174  to  184. 
CYPRINID.E. 

Plate  XXIV.,  figures  185  to  194. 

ESOCID.E,    SCOPELID^:,    STERNOPTYCHID^), 
CLUPEID^E. 


CONTENTS.  V1J 

THE   COLOURED    PLATES — Continued. 

Plate  XXV.,  figures  195  to  201. 
SALMONID.E. 

Plate  XXVI.,  figures  202  to  212. 

SALMONIM;. 

Plate  XXVII.,  figures  213  to  221. 

SALMONID^E,      ACIPENSERID^E,      CHIM^E- 
RID.E. 

Plate  XXVIII.,  figures  222  to  226. 
CARCHARIID^:,    LAMNID.E. 

Plate  XXIX.,  figures  227  to  230. 

LAMNID.E,   NOTIDANID^,    SCYLLIID^. 

Plate  XXX.,  figures  231  to  234. 
SCYLLIID^,    SPINACID^B. 

Plate  XXXI.,  figures  235  to  240. 

SPINACID.E,    SQUATINID^:,   RAIID^E. 

Plate  XXXII.,  figures  241  to  246. 
RAIID.E. 

Plate  XXXIII.,  figures  247  to  252. 

RAIID^,    TORPEDINHXE,     MYLIOBATID^E, 
TRYGONID^: 

PAGE 

III.  SORTATION 17 

IV.  TABULAR   SCHEME 45 

V.     IDENTIFICATION        .        .        .        .        .        .        .        .51 

VI.  SUB-CLASSES  AND   ORDERS 53 

VII.  ORDERS   AND   FAMILIES  .......  55 

VIII.  FAMILIES   AND   GENERA 63 

IX.  GENERA  AND   SPECIES 71 

X.  SPECIFIC   NAMES      .         ^        .         .t        ^        .         .         ,  145 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 

-H--34- 

PAGS 

FINS  OF  PERCH     .  .  .  .  .  .  .19 

LATERAL  LINE      .......        20 

BRANCHED  RAY     .......        21 

SCALE  OF  THORNBACK      .  .  .  .  .  .21 

UPPER  JAW  OF  MALE  THORNBACK          .  .  .  .21 

CTENOID  SCALE     .  .'  .  .  .  .  .22 

CYCLOID  SCALES   .......        22 

CARDIFORM  TEETH  ......        25 

HOMOCERCAL  TAIL  ......        25 

HETEROCERCAL  TAIL       ......        25 

SHIELD   OF  STURGEON     ......        26 

TEETH   OF  ANGLER          ....  .29 

HINGED  TOOTH  OF  ANGLER      .  .  .  .  30 

HEAD   OF   BARBEL  ......        31 

THORACIC  VENTRALS        ......        32 

ABDOMINAL  VENTRALS     ......        33 

TEETH   OF   HAKE  ......        34 

TEETH   OF   CAT-FISH       .  -35 

TEETH   OF   BALLAN  WRASSE      .  .  <  .  -37 

UPPER  JAW   OF  PIKE       ...  -3^ 

DENTARY   OF  PIKE  ...  39 

LOWER   PHARYNGEAL  TEETH   OF   CARP  .        39 

SKULL   OF   PERCH  ......        42 

PREMAXILLARY,  MAXILLARY,  AND  DENTARY  OF  SALMON          .        43 
GILL   ARCHES       ...  .43 

OTOLITH   OF   CODFISH     ......        44 


CHAPTER   I. 


LOCAL  AND  POPULAR  NAMES, 


T^HIS  list  contains  all  the  names  commonly  borne  by  the 
British  fishes.  It  will  be  noticed  that  some  fishes  have  many 
names,  and  many  have  the  same  name,  so  that  to  be  sure  of 
the  fish  it  would  be  as  well  to  refer  to  all  the  numbers  in 
cases  where  two  or  more  are  given,  The  numbers  refer  to  the 
coloured  plates,  and  are  those  adopted  throughout. 


Albacore,  27 

Bass,  Stone,  6 

Blens,  127 

Ale-wife,  193 

Bastard  Rig,  225 

Blick,  182 

Allis  Shad,  193 

Bastard  Turbot,  152 

Blin,  127 

Anchovy,  189 

Bearded  Loach,  184 

Blob-Kite,  136 

Ancient  Wife,  106 

Beardie,  184 

Bloch's  Topknot,  154 

Angel  Shark,  237 

Becker,  18 

Blockin,  131 

Angler,  47 

Bergylt,  19 

Blue  Back,  13] 

Argentine,  188 

Bib,  127 

Blue  Cap,  196 

Armed  Gurnard,  59 

Bil,  131 

Blue  Lump,  60 

Atherines,  83,  84 

Billet,  181 

Blue  Poll,  197 

Axillary  Bream,  16 

Billiard,  isi 

Blue  Roach,  174 

Azurine,  174 

Black  Bream,  10 

Blue  Shark,  222 

Baggie,  178 

Blackfish,  31 

Blue  Skate,  238 

Baggit,  178 

Black  Jack,  131 

Boarflsh,  28 

Ballan  Wrasse,  104 

Black  Nun,  131 

Boger,  13 

Banestickle,  91—95 

Black  Pollack,  m 

Bogue,  11 

Banny,  178 

Blacksmith,  149 

Bollen,  104 

Banstickle,  91-95 

Bladefish,  22 

Bone  Dog,  233 

Barbel,  172 

Blain,  127 

Bonetickle,  91  -95 

Barbott,  136 

Blaze,  182 

Bonito,  41 

Barce,  91—95 

Bleak,  182 

Bonito,  Belted,  42 

Barmy,  91-95 

Bleck,  131 

Bonito,  Plain,  43 

Barncock,  151 

Blennies,  75-82 

Bonnet  Fleuk,  152 

Barse,  1 

Blenny,  Butterfly,  79 

Bottling,  175 

Barwin,  14 

Blenny,  Montagu's,  77 

Bounce,  231 

Base,  i 

Blenny,  Smooth,  78 

Boyer's  Atherine,  84 

Basking  Shark,  228 

Blenny,  Viviparous,  82 

Bragay,  127 

Bass,  2 

Blenny,  Yarreil's,  80 

Braise,  174 

LOCAL  AND  POPULAR  NAMES. 


Braize,  18 
Brassie,  127 
Bream,  Axillary,  16 
Bream,  Black,  10 
Bream,  Couch's  Sea,  12 
Bream,  Lake,  ISO 
Bream,  Ray's,  32 
Bream,  Sea,  14 
Bream,  Spanish,  15 
Bream,  White,  181 
Bream,  Yellow,  ISO 
Briabot,  47 
Brill,  152 
Broad-nosed  Pipe  Fish, 

114 

Brown  Shark,  229 

Bubalis,  50 

Bullhead,  48 

Bullhead,  Sea,  49 

Bull  Huss,  231 

Bull  Knob,  43 

Bull  Trout,  198 

Buntlings,  196 

Burbolt,  136 

Burbot,  136 

Burton  Skate,  240 

Butterfish,  81 

Butter  Gunnel,  81 

Callig,  132 

Captain,  Long-finned,  57 

Carf,  33 

Carp,  14,  169 

Carp  Bream,  180 

Carp,  Crucian,  170 

Carp,  Golden,  171 

Carter,  155 

Cat,  75 

Catfish,  75,  142,  231 

Cat,  Sea,  75 

Centrolophus,  Cornish,  so 

Chad,  13 

Char,  Alpine,  206 

Char,  American,  212 

Char,  Cole's,  211 

Char,  Gray's,  210 

Char,  Killin,  209 

Char,  Welsh,  207 

Char,  WUlughby's,  208 

Char,  Windermere,  203 

Chars,  206-212 


Chevin,  175 

Chimsera,  221 

Chub,  175 

Coalfish,  131 

Coalsey,  131 

Cock  Paddle,  60 

Cock  Peddle,  GO 

Cod,  125 

Codling,  125 

Codpole,  48 

Colmey,  131 

Comber,  4 

Conger,  167 

Conner,  2,  los 

Cony  Fish,  136 

Cooth,  131 

Corkwing,  109 

Cornish  Salmon,  133 

Cornish  Sucker,  99 

Cottus,  Four-horned,  51 

Couch's  Sea  Bream,  12 

Craig  Fluke,  159 

Croonack,  55 

Crooner,  55 

Crowger,  170 

Crutchet,  1 

Cuckoo,  107 

Cuckoo  Gurnard,  53 

Cuckoo  Ray,  247 

Cuckoo  Skate,  247 

Cudden,  340 

Cull,  48 

Culls,  Tom,  48 

Dab,  160 

Dab,  Lemon,  158 

Dab,  Long  Rough,  150 

Dab,  Pole,  159 

Dab,  Smear,  158 

Dace,  176 

Dace,  Salmon,  2 

Dace,  Sea,  2 

Daddy  Ruffe,  4 

Dare,  176 

Dart,  176 

Darwin  Herring,  193 

Deal  Fish,  102 

Dentex,  7 

Derbio,  27 

Devil,  Sea,  49 

Dog,  Ray-mouthed,  225 


Dog  Fish,  233 

Dog  Fish,  Black-mouthed, 

232 

Dog  Fish,  Large  Spotted, 

231 

Dog  Fish,  Picked,  233 
Dog  Fish,  Spotted,  230 
Doggar,  233 
Dory,  29 

Dragonet,  Sordid,  73 
Dragonets,  72,  73 
Dusky  Dragonet,  72,  73 
Dusky  Perch,  5 
Dusky  Skulpin,  72 
Eagle  Ray,  250 
Echiodon,  Drummond's, 

144 

Eckstrom's  Topknot,  153 

Eel,  166 

Eel  Pout,  82,  136 

Eel,  Sand,  145—147 

Egling,  1 

Electric  Ray,  248 

Elleck,  53 

Faap,  87 

Father  Lasher,  49 

Fiddle-Fish,  237 

Fiddler,  237 

Fiery  Flaw,  252 

File  Fish,  121 

Finscale,  177 

Fire  Flare,  252 

Fishing  Frog,  47 

Flair  Tinker,  238 

Fleck,  161 

Fleuk,  Long,  150 

Flounder,  161 

Fluke,  Craig,  159 

Fluke,  Pole,  159 

Fluke,  Sail,  155 

Flying  Fishes,  89,  90 

Forkbeard,  Greater, 

134 

Forkbeard,  Lesser  141 

Forked  Hake,  134 

Fox,  72 

Fox  Shark,  227 

Frasling,  i 

Freshwater  Herring,  215 

Friar,  61 


LOCAL    AND    POPULAR    NAMES. 


Friar  Skate,  240 
Frog  Fish,  Gl 
Fuller's  Ray,  242 
Gape  Mouth,  2 
Gaper,  4 
Garfish,  87 
Gar  Pike,  87 
Garrick,  87 
Gedd,  185 

Gemmeous  Dragonet,  72 
Gillaroo  Trout,  204 
Gillerow,  204 
Gilpin,  131 
Gilthead,  is,  108 
Glassan,  131 
Glissaun,  131 
Globe  Fish,  122 
Glosong,  131 
Gobies,  63-71 
3oby,  Black,  65 
Goby,  Four-spotted,  69 
Goby,  One-spotted,  GG 
Goby,  Painted,  68 
Goby,  Rock,  65 
Goby,  Speckled,  67 
Goby,  Spotted,  67 
Goby,  Transparent,  70 
Goby,  Two-spotted,  G3 
Golden  Carp,  171 
Golden  Maid,  108 
Goldfish,  171 
Goldsinny,  108 
Goldsinny,  Jago's,  no 
GorebUl,  87 
Gosnick,  88 
Gowdie,  55 
Gowdnock,  88 
Grayling,  218 
Greater  Flying  Fish,  89 
Greenback,  87 
Greenbone,  87 
Green  Cod,  131 
Greenftsh,  132 
Greenland  Shark,  235 
Greenling,  132 
Green  Pollack,  131 
Green  Wrasse,  100 
Grey  Mullet,  85 
Grilse,  195 
Ground  Gudgeon,  134 


Groundling,  65,  184 
Guard  Fish,  87 
Gudgeon,  173 
Gudgeon,  Ground,  184 
Gudgeons,  Sea,  63-71 
Gundie,  49 
Gunnel,  Butter,  81 
Gunnel,  Spotted,  81 
Gunner,  14 
Gurnard,  Armed,  59 
Gurnard,  Grey,  55 
Gurnard,  Lanthorn,  57 
Gurnard,  Red,  53 
Gurnard,  Rock,  52 
Gurnard,  Sapphirine,  54 
Gurnard,  Shining,  57 
Gurnard,  Streaked,  52 
Gurnard,  Swallow,  54 
Gurnards,  52—59 
Gwyniad,  215 
Hackle,  91-95 
Haddock,  126 
Haddock,  Jerusalem,  33 
Haddock,  Norway,  19 
Hairtail,  22 
Hake,  133 
Hake,  Forked,  134 
Hake's  Dame,  134 
Halibut,  149 
Halion,  88 
Hammerhead,  224 
Harbine,  131 
Hardhead,  55 
Hautin,  214 
Headed  Dace,  175 
Hebridal  Smelt,  219 
Herling,  196 
Herring,  190 
Hobrin,  231 
Hoe,  233 

Hog-backed  Trout,  205 
Holibut,  149 
Homelyn,  244 
Hook  Nose,  58 
Hornbeak,  87 
Horned  Ray,  251 
Homer,  145 
Hornfish,  87 
Horse  Mackerel,  24 
Hound,  Nurse,  231 


Hound,  Rough,  230 
Hound,  Smooth,  225 
Hull  Cock,  225 
Hurling,  1 

HUSS,  2.30 

Huss,  Bull,  231 

Huss,  Robin,  230 

Jack,  185 

Jack  Barrel,  178 

Jack  Ruffe,  4 

Jack  Sharp,  178 

Jago's  Goldsinny,  no 

John  Dory,  29 

Kelt,  195 

King  of  the  Breams,  18 

King  of  the    Herrings, 

221 

King  of  the  Mullets,  2 
King  Fish,  33 
Kingston,  227 
Kite,  152 
Knoud:  55 
Kuth,  131 
Laithe,  132 
Lake  Bream,  180 
Lake  Trout,  203 
Lant,  145 
Lantern,  155, 156 
Lanthorn  Gurnard,  57 
Latchet,  54 
Launce,  Larger,  145 
Launce,  Lesser,  146 
Launce,  Smooth,  147 
Launces,  145—147 
Lee  Loach,  184 
Leeat,  132 
Leet,  13-?. 
Lemon  Dab,  153 
Lemon  Sole,  150,  155,  158, 

163 

Lesser  Grey  Mullet,  86 
Ling,  135 
Little  Sole,  165 
Livery  Fish,  107 
Loach,  184 
Loach,  Bearded,  18* 
i  Loach,  Lee,  184 
Loach,  Spined,  183 
Lob,  175 
Loche,  184 


LOCAL    AND    POPULAR    NAMES. 


Logge,  Tommy,  48 
Loggerhead,  i"5 
Long-finned  Captain,  57 
Long  Nose,  87 
Long-nosed  Skate,  241,242 
Long  Rough  Dab,  150 
Loych,  184 
Luce,  185 
Lul,  185 
Lump  Fish,  60 
Lump  Sucker,  60 
Lythe,  132 
Mackerel,  36 
Mackerel  Guide,  87 
Mackerel,  Horse,  24 
Mackerel  Midge,  137—140 
Mackerel  Scout,  87 
Mackerel,  Spanish,  38 
Mackerel,  Speckled,  37 
Maid,  194 
Maigre,  20 
Manta  Fish,  251 
Monkfish,  237 
Mary  Sole,  155 
Maties,  190 
Matties,  190 
May  Skate,  240 
Meagre,  20 
Meaker,  178 
Megrim,  156 
Mengy,  178 
Mennad,  178 
Mennam,  178 
Mennard,  178 
Mennot,  178 
Mennous,  178 
Menuse,  178 
Merry  Sole,  155 
Miller's  Dog,  223 
Miller's  Thumb,  48 
Muller's  Topknot,  154 
Mill  Skate,  250 
Minim,  178 
Minnis,  178 
Minnon,  178 
Minnow,  178 
Monkflsh,  47,  237 
Morgay,  230 
Moulrush,  331 
Mullet,  Grey,  85 


Mullet,  Lesser  Grey,  80 
Mullet,  Red,  8 
Mullet,  Striped  Red,  9 
Mullet,  Unbearded,  52 
Mullet,  White,  2 
Mursena,  168 
Murry,  168 
Nass  Fish,  47 
Needle  Fish,  115 
Ness  Hound,  231 
Noggle-head,  48 
Northern  Chimsera,  221 
Norway  Haddock,  19 
Norwegian  Carp,  19 
Nurse  Dog,  231 
Nurse  Hound,  231 
Oblong  Sunflsh,  124 
Ocean  Pipefish,  lie 
Old  Ewe,  106 
Old  Wife,  10,  87,  106 
Opah,  33 

Ophidium,  Bearded,  143 
Owl,  Sea,  60 
Ox  Ray,  251 
Ox  Sole,  155 
Paddock,  141 
Paganellus,  64 
Painted  Ray,  245 
Pandora,  18 
Par,  195 
Parr,  195 
Pearl,  152 
Peer,  178 
Pelamid,  42 
Penny  Dog,  223 
Perch,  i 
Perch,  Dusky,  5 
Phinoc,  196 
Pickeral,  185 
Pickerell,  185 
Pickey,  131 
Pike,  185 
Pike  Dog,  223 
Pike,  Gar,  87 
Pike,  Saury,  88 
Pike,  Sea,  87 
Piked  Dog,  233 
Pilchard,  191 
Pilot  Fish,  26 
Piltock,  131 


Pincher,  219 

Pink,  178,  195 

Pipe  Fish,  Broad-nosed, 

114 

Pipe  Fish,  Deep-nosed, 

114 

Pipe  Fish,  Greater,  115 
Pipe  Fish,  Ocean,  116 
Pipe  Fish,  Shorter,  116 
Pipe  Fish,  Snake,  117 
Pipe  Fish,  Straight-nosed, 
117 

Pipe  Fish,  Worm,  us 

Piper,  56 

Plaice,  157 

Pocket  Fish,  47 

Pod,  185 

Podley,  131 

Pogge,  58 

Pole  Dab,  159 

Polewig,  67 

Poll,  175 

Poll,  Blue,  197 

Pollack,  132 

Pollack,  Black,  isi 

Pollack,  Green,  m 

Pollan,  217 

Pollard,  175 

Polly  Bait,  67 

Poor  Cod,  128 

Pope,  s 

Porbeagle,  226 

Pout,  Whiting,  127 

Poutassou,  130 

Pouting,  128 

Powan,  215 

Power,  128 

Prickleback,  91-95 

Pricky,  91-95 

Prussian  Carp,  17 

Queen  Sole,  155 

Quid,  219 

Rabbit  Fish,  221 

Rainbow  Wrasse,  113 

Rat,  Sea,  221 

Ray,  Blunt-nosed,  243,  214 

Ray,  Cuckoo,  247 

Ray,  Electric,  248 

Ray,  Fuller's,  242 

Ray,  Homed,  251 


LOCAL    AND    POPULAR    NAMES. 


Ray,  Long-nosed,  241 

Sand  Eel,  Lesser,  146 

Ray,  Ox,  251 

Sand  Eels,  145—147 

Ray,  Fainted,  245 

Sand  Launces,  145—147 

Ray,  Shagreen,  212 

Sand  Sucker,  150 

Ray,  Spotted,  244 

Sapphirine  Gurnard,  54 

Ray,  Starry,  246 

Sardine,  101 

Ray,  Sting,  252 

Saury  Pike,  88 

Ray,  Thornback,  243 

Scabbard  Fish,  23 

Ray,  Whip,  250 

Scad,  24 

Ray-mouthed  Dog,  225 

Scadder,  190 

Ray's  Bream,  32 

Scaldback,  156 

Red  Band  Fish,  74 

Scaldnsh,  155 

Red  Eye,  177 

Scorpion,  Sea,  49 

Red  Fish,  53 

Scurf,  196 

Red  Gurnard,  53 

Sea  Bream,  14 

Red  Lump,  60 

Sea  Bream,  Black,  10 

Red  Mullet,  8 

Sea  Bream,  Couch's.  12 

Remora,  44 

Sea  Bullhead,  49 

Ribbon  Fish,  103 

Sea  Crow,  55 

Rig,  223 

Sea  Dace,  2 

River  Bullhead,  48 

Sea  Devil,  49 

Roach,  174 

Sea  Fox,  227 

Roan  Fleuk,  151 

Sea  Gudgeons,  63—71 

Robin  Huss,  230 

Sea  Horse,  119 

Rock  Cook,  112 

Sea  Needle,  87 

Rockling,    Five-bearded, 

Sea  Owl,  60 

137 

Sea  Pert,  33 

Rockling,  Four-bearded, 

Sea  Pike,  87 

138 

Sea  Rat,  221 

Rockling,  Three-bearded, 

Sea  Scorpion,  49 

139 

Sea  Sheep,  20 

Rock  Salmon,  75,  131 

Sea  Snail,  01 

Roker,  238—247,  250—252 

Sea  Snipe,  98 

Rotchet,  53 

Sea  Toad,  49 

Roud,  177 

Sea  Trout,  196 

Rough  Dab,  150 

Sea  Woodcock,  9 

Rough  Hound,  230 

Seizling,  169 

Row  Hound,  230 

Sewen,  199 

Rudd,  177 

Sewin,  199 

Rudder  Fish,  26 

Shad,  AUis,  193 

Ruff,  3 

Shad,  Twait,  194 

Sail  Fluke,  155 

Shadbrid,  178 

St.  Mary's  Trout,  139 

Shaftling,  91-95 

St.  Peter's  Fish,  29 

Shagreen  Ray,  242 

Salmon,  195 

Shallow,  177 

Salmon,  Cornish,  133 

Shanny,  78 

Salmon  Dace,  2 

Shark,  Basking,  228 

Salmon,  Rock,  75,  131 

Shark,  Blue,  222 

Salmon,  White,  2 

Shark,  Brown,  229 

Samlet,  195 

Shark,  Fox,  227 

Shark,  Greenland,  235 
Shark  Ray,  237 
Shark,  Skate-toothed,  225 
Shark,  Spinous,  236 
Shark,  Spotted,  230 
Sharks,  222-236 
!  Sharpling,  91—95 
Sharpnails,  91—95 
Sillock,  131 
Silvery  Gade,  139 
Skate,  238 
Skate,  Blue,  238 
Skate,  Burton,  240 
Skate,  Cuckoo,  247 
Skate,  Flapper,  239 
Skate,  Grey,  233 
Skate,  Long-nosed,  241 
Skate-toothed  Shark,  225 
Skeet,  132 
Skelley,  175 
Skelly,  175 
Skipper,  88 
Skittle  Dog,  233 
Skopster,  88 
Skulpin,  Yellow,  72 
Skulpins,  72,  73 
Slip,  162 
Smear  Dab,  158 
Smeareen,  150 
Smelt,  213 

Smelt,  Hebridal,  219 
Smolt,  195 
Smooth  Blenny,  78 
Smooth  Hound,  225 
Smooth  Sand  Eel,  H7 
Snail,  Sea,  61 
Snake  Pipe  Fish,  117 
Snedden,  145 
Snig,  166 
Snipe,  Sea,  98 
Soldier,  53 
Sole,  162 
Sole,  Lemon,  150,  155,  158, 

163 

Sole,  Little,  165 
Sole,  Merry,  155 
Sole,  Ox,  155 
Sole,  Red,  165 
Sole,  Variegated,  164 
Sole,  White,  155 


LOCAL  AND  POPULAR  NAMES. 


Sole,  Witch,  159 
Solenette,  165 
Sordid  Dragonet,  73 
Spanish  Bream,  15 
Spar  Dog,  233 
Sparling,  213 
Spear  Dog,  233 
Speckled  Goby,  67 
Sprat,  192 
Sprod,  196 
Spur  Dog,  233 
Spur  Fish,  233 
Stand,  91-95 
Starry  Ray,  246 
'  Stickleback,     Fifteen 

spiiied,  97 
Stickleback.Four-spined, 

95 
Stickleback,  Half-armed 

93 

Stickleback,  Nine-spined, 

96 

Stickleback,      Rough- 
tailed,  92 

Stickleback,     Smooth- 
tailed,  94 

Stickleback,        Three- 
spined,  91 

Sticklebacks,  91—97 

Stickling,  1,  91-95 

Sting-Bull,  45 

Sting  Ray,  252 

Sting  Fish,  46,  49 

Stinkalive,^i27 

Stinkard,  225 

Stitchling,  1 

Stone  Bass,  6 

Stonebiter,  75 

Stone  dagger,  60 

Stone  Loach,  184 

Striped  Red  Mullet,  9 

Striped  Wrasse,  107 

Sturgeon,  220 

Sucker  Common,  100 

Sucker  Cornish,  99 

Sucker,   Doubly-spotted, 
101 

Sucker,  Lump,  60 

Sucker,  Montagu's,  62 

Sucker,  Unctuous,  61 


Sucking    Fish,    Diminu- 
tive, 62 
Sunfish,  33,  123,  228 

Sunflsh,  Oblong,  124 
Sweet  William,  223 
Swordflsh,  21,  81 
Tadpole  Fish,  m 
Tailor,  181 
Tanticle,  91—95 
Tench,  179 
Thickback,  164 
Thornback  Ray,  243 
Thrasher,  227 
Tiddler,  91—95,  178 
Tinker,  96 
Titler,  91-95 
Tittle  Bat,  91-95 
Toad,  Sea,  49 
Tom  Culls,  48 
Tom  Hay,  223 
Tommy  Bars,  3 
Tommy  Loach,  184 
Tommy  Logge,  48 
Tommy  Lurcher,  184 
Tompot,  76 
Tope,  223 
Toper,  223 

Topknot,  Bloch's,  154 
Topknot,  Eckstrom's,  153 
Topknot,  Muller's,  154 
Torgoch,  307 
Torpedo,  248 
Torsk,  142 
Trasling,  l 
Trigger  Fish,  120 
Trout,  Brook,  201 
Trout,  Bull,  198 
Trout,  Cornish,  205 
Trout,  Crasspuill,  196 
Trout,  Estuary,  196 
Trout,  Gillaroo,  204 
Trout,  Great  Lake,  203 
Trout,  Grey,  202 
Trout,  Hog-backed,  205 
Trout,  Lake,  203 
Trout,  Leven,  200 
Trout,  Loch  Leven,  200 
Trout,  Orkney,  202 
Trout,  River,  201 
Trout,  St.  Mary's,  139 


Trout,  Sea,  196 
Trout,  Swaledale,  196 
Trout,  White,  196 
Truff,  196 
Trumpet  Fish,  98 
Tub  Fish,  54 
Tunny,  39 

Tunny,  Long-finned,  40 
Tunny,  Short-finned,  39, 

42 

Turbot,  151 
Tusk,  142 
Twait  Shad,  194 
Umber,  218 
Vendace,  216 
Viviparous  Blenny,  82 
Water  Wolf,  iss 
Weever,  Greater,  45 
Weever,  Viper,  46 
Whaup  Fish,  87 
Whiff,  154,  155 
Whip  Ray,  250 
Whistle  Fish,  139 
Whitebait,  67,  87,  91,  92, 

93,    94.   95,  96,  97,  145, 
146,  147.  190,  192,   213 

White  Bream,  isi 
White  Eye,  128 
Whitefish,  196 
White  Hound,  223 
Whiting,  129,  132 
Whiting  Pout,  127 
Whitling,  196 
Willow  Blade,  182 
Witch  Sole,  159 
Wolf  Fish,  75 
Woodcock,  9,  98 
Workhouse  Turbot,  149 
Worm  Pipe  Fish,  118 
Wrasse,  Ballan,  104 
Wrasse,  Baillon's,  108 
Wrasse,  Comber,  105 
Wrasse,  Green,  106 
Wrasse,  Rainbow,  113 
Wrasse,  Red,  107 
Wrasse,  Scale-Rayed,  ill 
Wrasse,  Striped,  107 
Wrasses,  104-113 
Wriggle,  145,  146 
Yawling,  190 


THE    COLOURED    PLATES. 


CHAPTER   II. 


THE    COLOURED    PLATES, 


IN  this  list  of  the  fishes  appearing  in  our  coloured  plates 
the  popular  names  are  those  which  seem  to  be  generally 
applied  to  them,  but  in  many .  cases  the  fish  may  have  other 
names,  and  in  several  the  name  given  is,  in  a  few  localities, 
that  of  quite  a  different  fish.  Where  no  popular  name  is  added 
the  fish  is  too  rare  in  this  country  to  have  one. 


TELEOSTOMI. 


ACTINOPTERYGII. 


ACANTHOPTERYGII. 
PERCiaK. 

Plate  I.  i.  PERCA  FLUVIATILIS— Perch 

2.  LABRAX   LUPUS— Bass. 

3.  ACERINA  VULGARIS— Ruff. 

4.  SERRANUS   CABRILLA— Comber 

5.  SERRANUS  GIGAS— Dusky  Perch. 

6.  POLYPRION  CERNIUM— Stone  Bass. 

7.  DENTEX  VULGARIS-Dentex. 

MULLIDA;. 

Plate  IL  8.    MULLUS  BARBATUS-Red  Mullet. 

9.    MULLUS  SURMULLETUS— Striped  Mullet. 


SPAFJD-ffi. 

10.    CANTHARUS  LINEATUS— Black  Sea  Bream, 
it.    BOX  VULGARIS— Bogue. 
12.    PAGRUS  VULGARIS— Couch's  Sea  Breim. 


8 


THE    COLOURED    PLATES. 


PLATE  II.  (continued)— 

13.  PAGRUS  AURATUS— Gilt-head. 

14.  PAGELLUS  CENTRODONTUS— Sea  Bream. 

15.  PAGELLUS  BOGARAVEO -Spanish  Bream. 

16.  PAGELLUS  OWE  Nil— Axillary  Bream. 
Plate   III.                17.  PAGELLUS  ACARNE— 

18.  PAGELLUS  ERYTHRINUS— Pandora 


SCORP^NHXffi, 

19.    SEBASTES  NORVEGICUS—  Bergylt. 


20.  SCIjENA  AQUILA—  Shadow  Fish. 

XIPHIIDJE. 

21.  XIPHIAS  GLADIUS-Swordfish 


TRICHIURID.E. 


23- 


TRICHIURUS  LEPTURUS— Hairtail. 
LEPIDOPUS  CAUDATUS— Scabbard  Fish. 


CARANGIDJE. 

Plate  IV.  24.  CARANX  TRACHURUS— Horse  Mackerel 

25.  NAUCRATES   DUCTOR— Pilot  Fish. 

26.  PAMMELAS  PERCIFORMIS— Rudder  Fish. 

27.  LICHIA  GLAUCA— Derbio. 

28.  CAPROS  APER— Boar  Fish. 


CYTTIDJE. 

29.    ZEUS  FABER— Dory 


Plate  V. 


STROMATEIDJE. 


CENTROLOPHUS    BRITANNICUS— Cornish  Centrolophus. 
CENTROLOPHUS  POMPILUS— Black  Fish. 


32.  BRAMA   RAII— Ray's  Bream. 

33.  LAMPRIS   LUNA— Opah. 

34.  SCHEDOPHILUS  MEDUSOPHAGUS— 

35.  LUVARUS  IMPERIALIS— 


X.  -Ll^il   El    <J 


PLATE  8 


S 


PI,  ATE  12 


PLATE 


JTJ-i/41.  Ei   it  I 


PLATE  26 


PLATE  27 


PLATE 


PLATE  81 


5 


*  ** 


m 


248 


252 


THE    COLOURED    PLATES. 

SCOMBRIDJE. 

Plate  VI.  36.  SCOMBER  VERNALIS— Mackerel. 

37-  SCOMBER  PUNCTATUS— Speckled  Mackerel. 

38.  SCOMBER  COLIAS— Spanish  Mackerel. 

39-  ORCYNUS  THYNNUS-Short-finned  Tunny. 

40.  ORCYNUS  GERMO— Long-finned  Tunny. 

41.  THYNNUS  PELAMYS— Bonito. 

42.  PELAMYS   SARDA— Belted  Bonito. 
43-  AUXIS  ROCHEI— Plain  Bonito. 

Plate  VII.  44-    ECHENEIS  REMORA— Remora. 


TRACHINIDJE. 

45-    TRACHINUS  DRACO— Greater  Weevef. 
46.    TRACHINUS  VIPERA— Viper  Weever. 


LOPHIID^. 

47-     LOPHIUS   PISCATORI US-Angler. 


Plate  VIII. 


COTTID.S. 

48.  COTTUS  GOBIO— Miller's  Thumb. 

49-  COTTUS  SCORPIUS— Father  Lasher. 

50.  COTTUS  BUBALIS— Long-spined  Cottus. 

51.  COTTUS  QUADRICORNUS-Four-horned  Cottus. 

52.  TRIGLA  LINEATA— Streaked  Gurnard. 

53-  TRIGLA  CUCULUS— Red  Gurnard. 

54-  TRIGLA  HIRUNDO— Sapphirine  Gurnard. 

55-  TRIGLA  GURNARDUS— Grey  Gurnard. 
56.  TRIGLA  LYRA— Piper. 

57-  TRIGLA  OBSCURA— Lanthorn  Gurnard. 


DACTYLOPTERIDJE. 

58. 
59- 


AGONUS  CATAPHRACTUS— Pogge. 
PERISTETHUS  CATAPHRACTUM— Armed  Gurnard. 


Plate  IX. 


CYCLOPTERHXE. 

60.  CYCLOPTERUS  LUMPUS— Lump  Fish. 

61.  LIPARIS  VULGARIS-Sea  Snail. 

62.  LIPARIS  MONTAGUI— Montagu's  Sucker. 

GOBinXS. 

63.  GOBIUS  RUTHENSPARRI-Two-spotted  Goby. 

64.  GOBIUS  PAGANELLUS— Paganellus. 

65.  GOBIUS  NIGER-Rock  Goby. 

66.  GOBIUS   MINUTUS-One-spotted  Goby 


10 

PLATE  IX.  (continued)— 
67. 


THE    COLOURED    PLATES. 


GOBIUS   PARNELLI— Speckled  Goby. 

68.  GOBIUS  PICTUS— Painted  Goby. 

69.  GOBIUS  QUADRIMACULATUS-Four-spotted  Goby. 

70.  APHIA   PELLUCIDA— Transparent  Goby. 

71.  CRYSTALLOGOBIUS   NILSSONII— 


CALLIONYMHXE. 


CALLIONYMUS  LYRA— Dusky  Skulpin. 
CALLIONYMUS  MACULATUS-Sordid  Dragonet. 


CEPOLIDJE. 

74.    CEPOLA  RUBESCENS— Red  Band  Fish. 

BLENNIID^. 

Plate  X.  75-  ANARRHICHAS   LUPUS— Cat  Fish. 

76.  BLENNIUS  GATTORUGINE— Tompot. 

77.  BLENNIUS  GALERITA— Montagu's  Blenny. 

78.  BLENNIUS  PHOLIS— Shanny. 

79.  BLENNIUS   OCELLARIS— Butterfly  Benny. 

80.  CARELOPHUS  ASCANII— Yarrell's  Blenny. 

81.  CENTRONOTUS  GUNNELLUS— Butter  Fish. 

82.  ZOARCES  VIVIPARUS-Viviparous  Blenny. 

ATHERINID^. 

83.  ATHERINA  PRESBYTER-Atherine. 

84.  ATHERINA  BOYERI— Boyer's  Atherine. 

MUGILID^E. 

Plate  XL  85.     MUGIL  CAPITO— Grey  Mullet. 

86.  MUGIL  CHELO— Lesser  Grey  Mullet. 

SCOMBRESOCID^. 

87.  BELONE  VULGARIS— Garfish. 

88.  SCOMBRESOX   SAURUS— Skipper. 

89.  EXOCGETUS  VOLITANS— Greater  Flying  Fish. 

90.  EXOCCETUS  EVOLANS— Flying  Fish. 


GASTEROSTEID^E. 

Plate  XII.  91.    GASTEROSTEUS  ACULEATUS—  Three-spined  Stickleback. 

92.    GASTEROSTEUS  TRACHURUS—  Rough-tailed  Stickleback. 


93. 
94. 
95. 
96. 
97. 


GASTEROSTEUS  SEMIARMATUS—  Half-armed  Stickleback 

GASTEROSTEUS  GYMNURUS—  Smooth-tailed  Stickleback. 

GASTEROSTEUS  SPINULOSUS—  Four-spined  Stickleback. 

GASTEROSTEUS  PUNGITIUS—  Nine-spined  Stickleback. 

GASTEROSTEUS  SPINACHIA—  Fifteen-spined  Stickleback. 


THE    COLOURED    PLATES.  II 

PLATE  XII.  (continued)— 

CENTRISCIDJE. 

98.    CENTRISCUS  SCOLOPAX-Trumpet  Fish. 

GOBIESOCHXE. 
Plate  XIII.  99.    LEPADOGASTER  GOUANII— Cornish  Sucker. 

100.  LEPADOGASTER  DECANDOLLII— Sucker. 

101.  LEPADOGASTER  BIMACULATUS— Doubly-spotted  Sucker. 

TRACHYPTERIDJE. 

102.  TRACHYPTERUS  ARCTICUS—  Deal  Fish. 

103.  REGALECUS  BANKS  1 1— Ribbon  Fish. 

LABRIDJE. 

104.  LABRUS   M AC ULATUS— Dalian  Wrasse. 

105.  LABRUS  DONOVANI— Comber  Wrasse. 
XIV.           106.     LABRUS  LI NEATUS— Green  Wrasse. 

107.  LABRUS  MIXTUS— Striped  Wrasse. 

108.  CRENILABRUS   MELOPS— Conner. 

'  109.  CRENILABRUS  CORNUBICUS— Goldsinny. 

no.  CTENOLABRUS   RUPESTRIS— Jago's  Goldsinny. 

in.  ACANTHOLABRUS  PALLONI— Scale-rayed  Wrasse. 

112.  CENTROLABRUS  EXOLETUS-Rock  Cook. 

113.  CORIS  JULIS— Rainbow  Wrasse. 


LOPHOBRANCHII. 

SYNGNATHIRE. 

Plate  XV.  114.  SIPHONOSTOMA  TYPHLE— Broad-nosed  Pipe  Fish. 

115.  SYNGNATHUS  ACUS— Greater  Pipe  Fish. 

116.  NEROPHIS   ^QUOREUS— Ocean  Pipe  Fish. 

117.  NEROPHIS  OPHIDION— Straight-nosed  Pipe  Fish. 

118.  NEROPHIS  LUMBRICIFORMIS— Worm  Pipe  Fish. 

119.  HIPPOCAMPUS  ANTIQUORUM— Seahorse. 

PLECTOGNATHI. 

BALISTIRE. 

120.  BALISTES  MAC  ULATUS— Trigger  Fish. 

121.  BALISTES  CAPRISCUS— File  Fish. 

DIODONTIDJE. 

122.  TETRODON  LAGOCEPHALUS-Globe  Fish. 

123.  ORTHAGORISCUS  MOLA— Sun  Fish. 

124.  ORTHAGORISCUS  TRUNCATUS— Oblong  Sun  Fish. 


12 


THE    COLOURED    PLATES. 


ANACANTHINI. 

GADID.E. 

Plate  XVI.  125.  GADUS  MORRHUA-Cod. 

126.  GADUS  ^GLEFINUS— Haddock 

127.  GADUS  LUSCUS— Whiting  Pout. 

128.  GADUS   M IN UTUS— Power. 

129.  GADUS  MERLANGUS— Whiting. 
Plate  XVII.         130.  GADUS  POUTASSOU— Couch's  Whiting. 

131.  GADUS  VIRENS— Coal  Fish. 

132.  GADUS  POLLACHIUS— Pollack. 

133.  MERLUCCIUS  VULGARIS-Hake. 

134.  PHYCIS  BLENNOIDES— Greater  Forkbeard. 

135.  MOLVA  VULGARIS— Ling. 
Pllte  XVIII.        136.  LOTA  VULGARIS-Burbot. 

137.  MOTELLA  MU STELA— Five-bearded  Rockling. 

138.  MOTELLA  CIMBRIA— Four-bearded  Rockling. 

139.  MOTELLA  TRICIRRATA— Three-bearded  Rockling. 

140.  MOTELLA  MACROPHTHALMA— 

141.  RANICEPS  RAMINUS— Lesser  Forkbeard. 
143.  BROSMIUS  BROSME— Torsk. 


143-  OPHIDIUM   BARBATUM— Bearded  Ophidium. 

144.  FIERASFER  DENTATUS— Drummond's  Echiodon. 

Plate  XIX.  145-  AMMODYTES  LANCEOLATUS— Sand  Eel. 

146.  AMMODYTES  TOBIANUS— Lesser  Sand  Eel. 

147.  AMMODYTES  CICERELLUS-Smooth  Sand  Eel. 

MACRURID£. 

148.  CORYPH^NOIDES  RUPESTRIS— 


PLEURONECTinS. 

149.  HIPPOGLOSSUS  VULGARIS— Halibut. 

150.  HIPPOGLOSSOIDES  LIMANDOIDES— Long  Rough  Dab, 

151.  RHOMBUS  MAXIMUS— Turbot. 
Plate  XX.             152.  RHOMBUS  LJEVIS— Brill. 

153.  ZEUGOPTERUS  UNIMACULATUS-One-spotted  Topknot 

154.  ZEUGOPTERUS  PUNCTATUS— Browny. 

155.  LEPIDORHOMBUS  M  EG  ASTO  MA— Megrim. 

156.  ARNOGLOSSUS  LATERNA— Scald  Fish. 

157.  PLEURONECTES  PLATESSA— Plaice. 

Plate  XXI.  158.  PLEURONECTES  MICROCEPHALUS— Lemon  Sole, 

159.  PLEURONECTES  CYNOGLOSSUS— Witch. 

160.  PLEURONECTK5J  LIMANDA— Dab. 


THE    COLOURED    PLATES. 


PLATE  XXI.   (continued)— 


161.  PLEURONECTES   FLES US— Flounder. 

162.  SOLEA  VULGARIS-Sole. 

163.  SOLEA   LASCARIS-Sand  Sole. 

164.  SOLEA  VARIEGATA— Thickback. 

165.  SOLEA   LUTEA-Solenette. 


PHYSOSTOMI. 


Plate  XXII-          166.    ANGUILLA  VULGARIS-Eel. 

167.  CONGER  VULGARIS-Conger. 

168.  MUR^ENA  HELENA— Murry. 


CYPR1NID-S. 

169.  CYPRINUS  CARPIO-Carp. 

170.  CARASSIUS  VULGARIS— Crucian  Carp. 

171.  CARASSIUS  AURATUS— Gold  Fish. 

172.  BARBUS  VULGARIS— Barbel. 

173.  GOBIO  FLUVIATILIS— Gudgeon. 
Plate  XXIII.        174.  LEUCISCUS  RUTILUS-Roach. 

175.  LEUCISCUS  CEPHALUS— Chub- 

176.  LEUCISCUS  VULGARIS— Dace. 

177.  LEUCISCUS  ERYTHROPHTHALMUS— Rudd. 

178.  LEUCISCUS  PHOXINUS-Minnow. 

179.  TINCA  VULGARIS— Tench. 

180.  ABRAMIS  BRAMA— Bream. 

181.  ABRAMIS  BLICCA— White  Bream. 

182.  ALBURNUS  LUCIDUS— Bleak. 

183.  COBITIS  T^NIA— Spiny  Loach. 

184.  NEMACHILUS  BARBATU LA— Loach. 


ESOCID£. 
Plate  XXIV.       185.    ESOX  LUCIUS-Pike 

SCOPELHXS. 

185.    PARALEPIS  COREGONOIDES— 


STERNOPTYCHIDJE. 

187.  ARGYROPELECUS  HEMIGYMNUS— 

188.  MAUROLICUS  PENNANTII-Pearlsides. 


THE    COLOURED    PLATES. 


PLATE  XXIV.  (continued)— 
CLUPEID^. 


189. 
190. 
igi. 
192. 
193- 
194. 


ENGRAULIS   ENCRASICHOLUS— Anchovy, 
CLUPEA   HARENGUS— Herring. 
CLUPEA  PILCHARDUS— Pilchard. 
CLUPEA  SPRATTUS— Sprat. 
CLUPEA  ALOSA— Allis  Shad. 
CLUPEA  FINTA— Twait  Shad. 


SALMONID^. 

Plate  XXV.  195.  SALMO   SALAR— Salmon. 

196.  SALMO  TRUTTA— Sea  Trout. 

197.  SALMO  ALDUS— Blue  Poll. 

198.  SALMO  ERIOX— Bull  Trout. 

199.  SALMO  CAMBRICUS— Sewen. 

200.  SALMO  LEVENENSIS— Loch  Leven  Trout. 

201.  SALMO   FARIO— Trout. 

Plate  XXVI.         202.  SALMO  ORCADENSIS— Grey  Trout. 

203.  SALMO   FEROX— Lake  Trout. 

204.  SALMO   STOMACHICUS— Gillaroo  Trout. 

205.  SALMO   NIGRIPINNIS— Hog-backed  Trout. 

206.  SALMO  ALPINUS— Alpine  Char. 

207.  SALMO  PERISH— Torgoch. 

208.  SALMO  WILLUGHBII— Windermere  Char. 

209.  SALMO  KILLINENSIS— Killin  Char. 

210.  SALMO  GRAYI— Gray's  Char. 

211.  SALMO  COLII— Cole's  Char. 

212.  SALMO  FONTINALIS— American  Char. 
Plate  XXVII.       213.  OSMERUS  EPERLANUS— Smelt. 

214.  COREGONUS  OXYRHYNCHUS— Hautin. 

215.  COREGONUS  CLUPEOIDES— Gwyniad. 

216.  COREGONUS  VANDESIUS— Vendace. 

217.  COREGONUS  POLLAN— Pollan. 

218.  THYMALLUS  VULGARIS— Grayling. 

219.  ARGENTINA  SPHYR.EN A— Argentine. 

CHONDROSTEI. 

ACIPENSERID.E. 

220.  ACIPENSER  STU RIO— Sturgeon. 


HOLOCEPHALL 


CHIMJERIDJE. 

221.    CHIMERA  MONSTROSA— Chimsera. 


THE    COLOURED    PLATES. 

ELASMOBRANCHII. 

SELACHOIDEI. 

CARCHARIID.E. 

Plate  XXVIII.     222.  CARCHARIAS  GLAUCUS— Blue  Shark. 

223.  GALEUS  VULGARIS— Tope. 

224.  ZYG^NA  MALLEUS— Hammerhead. 

225.  MUSTELUS  VULGARIS-Smooth  Hound. 

LAMNID^. 

226.  LAMNA  CORNUBICA— Porbeagle. 
Plate  XXIX.         227.    ALOPECIAS  VULPES— Thrasher 

228.  SELACHE   MAXIMA— Basking  Shark. 

NOTIDANID^. 

229.  NOTIDANUS  GRISEUS— Brown  Shark. 


SCYLLIIDJE. 

230.    SCYLHUM  CANICU LA— Rough  Hound. 
Plate  XXX.          231.     SCYLLIUM  CATULUS—Nurse  Hound. 

232.  PRISTIURUS  MELANOSTOM US— Black-mouthed  Dog  Fish. 

SPINACID^. 

233.  ACANTHIAS  VULGARIS— Spur  Dog  Fisln — 

234.  L^EMARGUS  BOREALIS— Greenland  Shark. 
Plate  XXXI.        235-    CENTRINA  SALVIANI- 

236.  ECHINORHINUS  SPINOSUS— Spinous  Shark. 

SQUATINID^. 

237.  RHINA  SQUATINA— Monk  Fish. 


BATOIDEI. 

RAIIDJE. 

238.  RAIA  BATIS-Skate. 

239.  RAIA  MACRORHYNCHUS— Flapper  Skate. 

240.  RAIA  ALBA— White  Skate. 

Plate  XXXII.      241.  RAIA  OXYRHYNCHUS— Long-nosed  Skate. 

242.  RAIA  FULLONICA— Shagreen  Ray. 

243.  RAIA  CLAVATA— Thornback. 


16  THE    COLOURED    PLATES. 

PLATE  XXXII.  (continued)- 

244.  RAIA  MACULATA— Spotted  Ray. 

245.  RAIA  MICROCELLATA— Painted  Ray,' 

246.  RAIA   RADIATA— Starry  Ray. 
Plate  XXXIII.     247.  RAIA  CIRCULARIS-Cuckoo  Ray. 

TORPEDINID-E. 

248.  TORPEDO  MOBILIANA— Torpedo. 

249.  TORPEDO  MARMORATA— Marbled  Torpedo, 

MYLIOBATIDJE. 

250.  MYLIOBATIS  AQUILA— Whip  Ray. 

251.  CEPHALOPTERA   GIORN^-Ox  Ray. 

TRYGONIDJE. 

252.  TRVGON  PASTINACA— Sting  Ray. 


CHAPTER  III. 

SORTATION, 


'"PHERE  is  no  better  way  of  knowing  a  fish  than  by  a  personal 
*•  introduction,  in  which  a  sufficient  acquaintanceship  is  made 
to  enable  it  to  be  recognised  whenever  and  wherever  it  may 
chance  to  be  met  with.  But  as  an  introducer  is  not  always 
available,  and  there  are  over  two  hundred  and  fifty  fishes  claimed 
as  British,  it  is  evident  that  to  know  them  by  name  another  means 
must  be  adopted.  Let  us,  therefore,  take  a  familiar  species,  and, 
by  ascertaining  what  it  is  not,  discover  what  it  is. 

In  doing  this,  we  need  not  at  the  present  stage  restrict  our- 
selves to  the  systematic  distinctions  which,  in  many  cases,  concern 
themselves  with  internal  structure  invisible  without  dissection.  To 
begin  with,  let  us  avail  ourselves  of  external  characters,  and,  later 
on,  use  the  systematic  grouping  to  confirm  our  diagnosis.  Here, 
then,  is  a  fish,  an  ordinary  fish,  with  nothing  eccentric  about  it 
in  colour,  shape,  or  fins,  a  fish  that  is  known  in  every  kitchen, 
and  comes  to  table  with  little  alteration  in  its  natural  appearance. 
It  is  not  a  flat  fish,  but,  as  the  term  flat-fish  is,  as  a  rule,  restricted 
to  fishes  like  the  sole  and  turbot,  and  does  not  include  the  skate  and 
its  allies,  which  are  also  undeniably  flat,  let  us  say  that  its  body  is 
vertical  and  not  horizontal,  the  reference  being  to  the  position 
in  the  water  of  the  middle  section  when  fully  grown. 

As  we  have  lighted  on  these  horizontal  bodies,  we  may  as  well 
spend  a  few  minutes  with  them,  noting  at  the  outset  that  they 
are  divisible  into  two  groups  : — 

1.  Those  like  the  sole. 

2.  Those  like  the  skate. 

In  the  second  group,  both  eyes  are  on  the  upper  surface,  the 
mouth  is  on  the  under  surface,  and  instead  of  gill  covers  like  those 
in  our  example,  there  are  mere  slits. 

In  one  species  on  the  British  list,  which  happens  to  be  the 
only  representative  of  its  genus  and  family,  these  slits  are  lateral, 
as  they  are  in  the  sharks;  in  fact,  this  is  an  abnormal  sort  of 
shark,  a  peculiarly  ugly  animal  unmistakable  under  any  circum- 
stances, with  a  broad,  flat  body  tapering  gradually  into  the  tail, 
the  eyes  very  wide  apart,  and  the  paired  fins  large  enough  to  be 
compared  to  the  wings  of  an  angel  or  the  cowl  of  a  monk,  whence 
it  is  known  as  the  angel-fish  or  monk-fish  (Rhina  squatina). 

With  Rhina  out  of  the  way,  we  are  left  with  the  rays,  of  which 
the  skate  is  the  commonest  kind.  These  have  the  gill  openings 

17 


l8  SORTATION. 

"inferior,"  that  is,   on  the  under-side  of  the  body,  and  they  .ire 
divisible  into  two  well-marked  groups — 

1.  Those  in  which  the  tail  has  no  longitudinal  fold. 

2.  Those  in  which  the  tail  has  a  longitudinal  fold. 

In  both  groups  the  back  fin  or  "  dorsal  "  is  either  placed  on 
the  tail  or,  as  in  one  genus,  is  absent  altogether.  The  genus 
having  no  dorsal  belongs  to  the  first  group.  It  is  Trygon,  arid 
the  only  species  found  in  British  waters,  and  that  not  a  frequent 
one,  is  T.  pastinaca,  the  sting-ray,  which  has  the  long  spine  sticking 
out  of  the  tail  that  has  often  done  duty  as  a  spear-head  in  the 
hands  of  Telegonus  and  others,  it  being  a  weapon  to  beware 
of,  and  much  more  curious  to  look  at  than  pleasant  to  make 
acquaintance  with. 

In  the  same  small  group  are  two  genera,  both  comprising  what 
are  known  as  devil-fishes,  in  which  the  tail  carries  a  dorsal  fin. 
In  one,  Cephaloptera,  that  fin  is  between  the  ventrals ;  in  the  other, 
Myliobatis,  it  is  beyond  the  ventrals.  Of  each  genus  there  is  but 
one  species  on  our  list,  and  they  are  strikingly  different  in 
appearance,  the  first,  C.  giorncz,  the  ox-ray,  having  a  stumpy  tail 
behind  and  two  horn-like  projections  on  the  head;  the  other, 
M.  aquila,  the  whip-ray  or  eagle-ray,  having  a  long  whip-like  tail, 
a  projecting  snout,  and  no  horns.  Both  species  attain  large 
dimensions,  but  not  in  British  waters;  the  whip-ray  has  been 
caught  fifteen  feet  long,  and  the  ox-ray  runs  larger,  but  not  so 
large  as  another  North  Atlantic  species,  C.  diabolus,  which,  off  the 
coast  of  Florida,  has  swallowed  an  anchor  as  if  it  were  a  fish- 
hook, and  swum  out  to  sea  with  the  luckless  craft  that  only 
recovered  its  independence  when  its  captor  died. 

As  we  have  talked  about  dorsals  and  slipped  by  ventrals  without 
explanation,  we  had  better  pause  for  a  moment  for  a  few  words 
on  the  fin  question.  The  typical  fish  has  two  sets  of  fins,  the 
unpaired  or  "  vertical "  or  "  median "  fins,  and  the  paired  fins, 
which  are  the  homologues  of  the  limbs  of  the  higher  vertebrates, 
the  "  pectorals  "  answering  to  the  arms  and  the  "  ventrals  "  to  the 
legs.  The  ventrals  are  not  happily  named  ;  they  shift  their  position 
considerably,  and,  as  we  shall  subsequently  find,  their  position  is 
an  important  aid  in  identification.  It  is  becoming  customary  to 
call  them  "  pelvics,"  but,  unfortunately,  there  is  what  is  called 
a  "fin  formula"  in  icthyology— D.  P.  V.  A.  C.,  in  which  D  stands 
for  dorsal,  P  for  pectorals,  V  for  ventrals,  A  for  anal,  and  C  for 
caudal,  a  formula  which  would  be  all  the  better  were  it  to  read 
D.  A.  C.  P.  V.,  as  we  have  made  it  do  further  on,  in  which  the 
vertical  or  body-fins  come  first,  and  the  paired  or  limb-fins  last. 
If  we  use  pelvic  instead  of  ventral  we  shall  have  two  P's,  and  a 
source  of  confusion  when  comparing  with  previous  books  that  has 
led  us  to  retain  the  old  style  though  preferring  the  new. 

In  the  earlier,  as  in  many  of  the  existing  fishes,  the  vertical 
fins  are  all  in  one.  In  time  the  one  continuous  fin  became  divided 
up  into  "  dorsal,"  the  back  fin  ;  "  caudal,"  the  tail  fin;  and  "  anal," 
the  fin  between  the  vent  and  the  tail ;  and  in  some  cases  the 
dorsal  became  divided  into  two  or  even  three  portions.  Examples 


SORTATION. 


£ 

M 
•SP 


20 


SORTATION. 


of  all  these  stages  are  still  found,  and  not  only  so,  but  in  many 
cases  one  or  other  of  the  fins  is  rudimentary  or  absent,  and  in 
some  they  form  an  adhesive  disk  or  sucker. 

The  caudal  fin  is  the  fish's  main  propeller,  with  the  paired  fins 
he  retains  his  trim,  and  the  dorsal  and   anal  he  uses  as  a   keel 

to  keep  him  straight  on  his 
course.  With  his  tail  he  docs 
most  of  his  steering,  but  he 
brings  in  his  pectorals  to  help 
him.  A  stroke  of  the  tail  to 
starboard  and  a  stroke  or  two 
with  the  starboard  pectoral, 
with  the  port  pectoral  held 
against  the  body,  sends  his 
head  to  port ;  a  stroke  of  the 
tail  to  port  with  a  stroke  or 
two  of  the  port  pectoral,  and 
the  starboard  pectoral  held 
in,  sends  him  round  to  star- 
board; in  fact,  the  pectoral 
thrown  out  of  action  serves 
as  a  pivot  on  which  he  turrs. 
Cut  off  a  pectoral  and  he  falls 
on  the  opposite  side ;  cut  off 
both  and  his  head  sinks  ;  cut 
off  all  his  fins  and  he  capsizes, 
owing  to  his  upper  half  beii  g 
the  heavier. 

On  the  other  page  we  have 
(Fig.  i)  an  outline  sketch  of 
the  body  of  a  perch  with  the 
backbone  removed  to  show 
more  clearly  the  fins  and 
their  attachments  ;  and  here 
(Fig.  2)  is  an  outline  of  one 
of  the  perch  family — Dentex 
— showing  the  fins  and  the 
"  lateral  line  "  we  shall  meet 
with  immediately.  It  will  be 
noticed  that  the  perch  has  two 
dorsals  and  the  dentex  only 
one,  though  the  one  has  a 
depression  between  the  spines 
and  rays  where  the  division 
is  beginning.  A  fin  may  be 
defined  as  an  expansion  of  the  integument  supported  by  radiating 
rods;  when  the  rods  are  bony  they  are  called  "spines";  when 
they  are  cartilaginous  they  are  known  as  "  rays."  A  spine  is 
always  fairly  stout  and  sharply  pointed  ;  a  ray  is  generally  soft, 
and  may  be  simple  or  articulated  or  branched,  the  branching 
taking  the  form  shown  in  Fig.  3. 

Enough  of  this  for  the  present.     Let  us  return  to  our  line  of 
enquiry  with  the  group  in  which  the  tail  has  a  longitudinal  fold. 


Fig.  2. — LATERAL  LINE  (Dentex). 


SORTATION. 


21 


It  contains  but  two  genera.  In  one,  Torpedo,  the  caudal  is  well 
developed,  and  the  side  fins,  let  us  call  them  the  wings,  are 

almost  semi-circular ;  in 
the  other,  Raia,  the  tail 
fin  is  rudimentary  or 
absent,  and  the  wings 
Fig.  S.-BRANCHED  RAY.  are  angular.  Of  Torpedo 

we  have  only  two  species 

— T.  marmorata,  the  marbled  torpedo,  which  is  mottled  or 
spotted,  and  T.  nobiliana,  the  common  torpedo,  which  is  greyish, 
with  or  without  a  few  blotches,  the  two  being  probably  varieties 
of  the  same  species  coloured  according  to  environment.  These, 
it  need  hardly  be  mentioned,  are  the  electric  rays  that  have  given 
their  names  to  the  submarine  engines  of  destruction  that  in  no 
way  resemble  them. 

A  genus  of  greater  importance,  though  perhaps  of  less  interest, 
is  Raia,  which  has  ten  representatives  in  British  waters,  divisible 
into  two  groups,  five  in  each,  those  in  which  the  snout  is  short 
and  those  in  which  it  is  long.  Of  the  long-nosed  rays,  one  only 
has  the  under-surface  brownish,  that  being  R.  batis,  the  skate  that 
is  generally  eaten,  though  several  of  the  other  species  are  equally 
edible  and  are  frequently  sold  as  substitutes,  the  rays  being  the 
chief  constituents  of  the  mysterious  "  roker  "  of  the  Billingsgate 
Market  report.  The  other  four  consist  of 
the  long-nosed  skate,  R.oxyrliynchus,  in  which 
the  lower  surface  is  grey ;  the  flapper  skate, 
R.  tnacrorhynchus,  in  which  it  is  white  with 
black  spots;  the  white  skate,  R.  alba,  in 
which  it  is  pure  white,  there  being  no 
row  of  spines  round  the  eye,  but  a  central 
row  of  spines  on  the  tail  with  a  lateral  row 
on  each  side  of  it ;  and,  finally,  the  sha- 
green ray,  R.  fullonica,  in  which  the  lower 
side  is  also  white,  and  there  is  a  row  of 
spines  round  the  eye  but  no  middle  row  of  spines  on  the  tail. 
Two  of  the  short-snouted  rays  are  brown  underneath — R.  radiata, 
the  starry  ray,  in  which  the  brown  "is  unspotted,  and  R.  maculata> 
in  which  it  is  spotted  with  black.  Three  are  white  underneath, 
the  most  strikingly  marked  being  the  cuckoo-ray,  R.  circularis,  in 
which  the  under  surface  is  generally  edged  with  black  and  the 
upper  surface  has  a  black  and  yellow  patch  on  each  side  of  the 

median  line.  The  other  two  are  both 
spiny,  the  painted  ray,  R.  microccllata, 
having  the  spines  confined  to  the  median 
line,  and  the  thornback,  JR.  clavata, 
having  them  all  over  the  body ;  and 
the  spines  are  unmistakable,  as  can 
be  seen  by  the  sample  (Fig.  4). 
They  are  almost  as  remarkable  as 
the  crushing-teeth,  as  shown  in  the 
diagram  of  those  in  the  male's  upper 
Fig.  5.— UPPER  JAW  OF  jaw  (Fig.  5). 
MALE  THORNBACK.  We  have  now  to  devote  our  atten- 


Fig.  4.— SCALE  OF 
THORNBACK. 


SORTATION. 


tion  to  the  flat-fish  generally  so  called.  As  the  skates  pass 
through  a  shark  stage  in  early  life,  so  the  flat-fish  start  as 
very  thin  youngsters  swimming  the  ordinary  way  up,  with  their 
mouths  like  those  of  other  fishes  and  their  eyes  in  the  normal 
places,  one  on  each  side  of  the  head ;  but  apparently,  failing 
to  thrive  under  these  conditions,  they  betake  themselves  to  the 
ground,  where  their  exposed  part  takes  on  the  colour  of  their 
surroundings  and  their  head  turns  over  so  as  to  bring  both  eyes  on 
the  top,  and,  in  some  cases,  their  mouth  becomes  more  developed 
on  one  side  than  the  other. 

In  some  cases  they  have  subsided  to  the  right,  in  others  to  the 
left,  and  by  this  we  know  them.  Holding  them  head  foremost 
towards  us  we  have — 

1.  Eyes  to  the  left. 

2.  Eyes  to  the  right. 

In  the  "eyes  left  "  division  are  four  genera.  One,  Arnoglossus,  will 
be  found  to  have  a  couple  of  spines  behind  the  left  ventral ;  there 
being  but  one  species,  A.  laterna,  the  scald-fish  or 
scald- back,  so  called  from  its  skin  rubbing  off  in 
the  trawl,  as  if  it  had  been  scalded.  In  the 
other  genera  there  are  no  spines  behind  the 
ventrals.  In  one  of  them  the  tail  is  conspicuously 
long,  the  fin  by  itself  being  the  same  length  as  the 
distance  between  the  ventral  and  the  tip  of  the 
snout ;  this  is  Lepidorhombus,  of  which  the  only 
species  is  L.  megastoma,  the  megrim,  which  has  not 
only  a  large  mouth  but  a  large  head  and  large  eyes, 
i  SCALE.  ancj  a  generai  appearance  of  truculency  which  is 
not  prepossessing.  The  scales  are  "  ctenoid," 
that  is,  have  a  comb-like  arrangement  of  teeth  on  the  hinder  edge, 
much  the  same  as  that  in  the  illustration  (Fig.  6),  which,  however, 
was  not  grown  on  a  "  merlry  sole,"  as  the  megrim  is  occasionally 
called  on  account  of  its  activity  when  on  a  cruise.  The  other 
genera  have  short  tails.  One,  Zeugopterus,  has  ctenoid  scales  ;  the 
root  of  the  tail  is  not  free  of  the 
other  fins,  and  the  dorsal  and  ventrals 
are  very  long.  There  are  two  species, 
Z.  unimaculatus  and  Z.punctatus,both 
known  as  topknots,  the  first  being  the 
one  spotted,  the  other  the  browny. 
A  third,  known  as  the  Norwegian 
topknot,  seems  to  be  a  variety  hardly 
worth  mentioning,  and,  indeed,  the 
topknots  are  of  little  importance 
compared  with  the  next  genus, 
Rhombus,  which  contains  the  turbot 
and  the  brill.  The  turbot,  R.  maximns,  has  no  scales ;  their 
place  is  taken  by  tubercles.  The  brill,  R.  lavis,  has  no  tubercles, 
but  small  scales,  which  in  shape  are  "  cycloid,"  that  is  to  say,  have 
no  comb-like  serrations  at  the  rear  edge,  and  are  concentrically 
striated,  in  much  the  same  way  as  those  in  the  illustration  (Fig.  7), 


6.— 


Fig.  7. — CYCLOID  SCALES. 


SORTATION.  23 

In  the  "  eyes  right  "  group  there  are  also  four  British  genera, 
divisible  into  two  in  which  the  jaws  are  alike  on  both  sides,  and 
two  in  which  they  are  larger  on  the  blind  side.  Those  in  which  the 
jaws  are  similar  on  both  sides  are  Hippoglossoides,  represented  by 
H.  limandoides,  the  long,  rough  dab  or  lemon  sole — north  of  the 
Forth— distinguished  by  the  straight  lateral  line  and  rough  scales, 
and,  above  all,  by  its  size  (which  never  exceeds  a  foot  and  a 
quarter)  from  Hippoghssus,  in  which  the  lateral  line  is  curved,  the 
scales  smooth,  and  the  size  enormous,  for  its  only  British  repre- 
sentative is  H.  vulgaris,  the  halibut,  narrowest  and  largest  of  the 
flat-fish,  which  is  commonly  five  feet  long,  and  has  been  known  to 
exceed  twenty. 

The  other  two  are  Pleuronectes  and  Solea,  the  latter  distinguished 
by  having  no  teeth  on  the  upper  side,  instead  of  a  few  feebly 
developed,  by  the  snout  projecting  beyond  the  jaws,  instead  of  the 
mouth  being  at  the  end  of  the  snout,  and  by  having  a  sort  of  beard 
of  short  projections  from  the  skin  on  the  under  side  of  the  head. 
Of  Pleuronectes  the  species  on  our  list  are  the  flounder,  P.flesus,  with 
tubercles  along  the  bases  of  the  fins  ;  the  dab,  P.  limanda,  with  a 
curved  lateral  line;  the  witch,  P.  cynoglossus,  with  no  spots,  the 
smear  dab  (another  of  the  lemon  soles),  P.  microcephalus,  with  dark 
spots,  and  the  plaice,  P.  platessa,  with  orange  spots,  and  having 
tubercles  on  the  head.  Some  people  are  said  not  to  know  a  turbot 
from  a  plaice ;  they  have  only  to  remember  that  one  has  the  eyes  to 
the  left,  the  other  has  the  eyes  to  the  right.  Some  are  said  not  to 
know  a  sole  from  a  lemon  sole  :  the  only  way  out  of  that  difficulty  is 
to  know  what  a  sole  is  like,  the  lemon  sole  being  what  may  be  called 
various,  and  generally  but  a  somewhat  distant  relative.  Of  the  soles 
there  are  only  four  species —  (i)  the  solenette,  Solea  lutea,  which  is 
not  more  than  five  inches  long,  never  used  for  food,  and  has  black 
rays,  like  stripes,  on  its  fins ;  (2)  the  thickback,  5.  variegata,  which 
is  chestnut  brown  on  the  upper  side,  with  five  broad,  dark  bands ; 
(3)  the  sand  sole  (perhaps  the  original  lemon  sole),  S^-kiscaris,  which 
has  the  lower  nostril  larger  than  the  other,  and  is  orange  in  colour, 
with  dots  and  specks ;  and  (4)  the  common  sole,  S.  vulgaris,  in 
which  the  nostrils  are  alike,  and  the  colour  blotchy  brown,  with  a 
black  spot  at  the  outer  end  of  the  pectoral  fin.  To  sum  up  our 
"  eyes  right  "  division,  we  stand  thus  : 

Jaws  alike  on  both  sides — 

Lateral  line  straight — Hippoglossoides, 
Lateral  line  curved — Hippoglossus. 

Jaws  not  alike  on  both  sides — 

Mouth  at  end  of  snout — Pleuronectes. 
Snout  curving  beyond  mouth — Solea. 

With  the  soles  we  end  our  list  of  horizontals,  and  are  face  to  face 
with  the  many  more  verticals,  to  one  of  which  our  specimen  belongs. 
These  we  can  sort  out  at  once  according  to  their  tails. 

There  are  half-a-dozen  genera  in  the  British  list  which  are  with- 
out a  caudal  fin  ;  to  dispose  of  these  is  to  clear  the  way.  Their  shape 
is  enough  to  guide  us.  In  two  the  body  tapers  from  a  large  head  ; 
these  being  Chimara,  in  which  the  tail  becomes  a  long  filament,  and 


24  SORTATION. 

Zuarces,  in  which  the  dorsal  has  a  low,  penultimate  section,  as  if 
half  an  inch  had  been  bitten  out  of  it  close  to  the  end.  The  chhnaera 
(C.  monstrosa)  has  also  a  sort  of  nick  near  the  end  of  the  dorsal,  but 
differs  from  the  viviparous  blenny  (Z.  viviparus)  in  having  a  similar 
nick  in  the  anal  beneath.  One  species  is  not  likely  to  be  mistaken 
for  the  other,  as  though  the  blenny  is  remarkable  enough  for  bring- 
ing forth  dozens  of  living  young  at  a  time,  it  is  much  more  of  a  fish 
to  look  at  than  the  chimaera,  which  is  unlike  anything  else  that 
swims,  except  it  be  another  chimaera. 

Among  other  features  it  is  noticeable  for  its  pectorals,  which  are 
very  large,  and  may  be  compared  to  a  beard,  and  in  this  respect  it 
contrasts  well  with  our  next  genus,  Nerophis,  in  which  the  pectorals 
are  absent,  and  the  body  rounded,  smooth,  and  worm-like,  as  might 
be  expected  of  the  pipe-fishes.  In  these  the  body  is  sheathed  in 
bony  rings.  By  the  number  of  these  rings  we  can  identify  the  three 
species,  N.  cequoreus,  the  ocean  pipe-fish,  having  from  28  to  31  and  56  to 
6 1  ;  -N.  ophidian,  the  straight-nosed  pipe-fish,  having  28  or  29  and  65  ; 
and  N.  lumbriciformis,  the  worm  pipe-fish,  having  18  or  19  and  49. 

Two  genera  are  long,  thin,  and  ribbon-shaped  in  build.  These 
are  Trichiurus,  in  which  there  are  neither  anals  nor  ventrals,  and 
the  tail  thins  off  to  so  long  a  point  that  the  name  of  hair-tail  has 
been  given  to  the  only  species,  P.  Upturns ;  and  Regalecus,  in  which 
the  anal  is  absent,  the  ventrals  are  represented  by  a  pair  of  long- 
loomed  paddles,  and  the  dorsal  is  furnished  in  front  with  a  curved 
crest  that  can  be  compared  to  that  of  the  cockatoo.  Of  this  genus 
there  is  but  one  species,  R.  banksii,  the  ribbon-fish,  or,  from  the 
paddles,  Banks's  oarfish.  This  gives  us  five  genera,  all  of  the 
grotesque  school ;  the  sixth  is  Hippocampus,  the  sea-horse  (H.  anti- 
quorum),  in  which  the  head  is  joined  on  to  the  body  by  a  neck,  and 
the  whole  form  is  ridged  and  shaped  in  so  quaint  a  way  that  every- 
one knows  it,  though  most  people  fancy  the  sea-horse  is  about  a 
dozen  times  larger  than  he  really  is. 

Our  next  division,  that  in  which  the  vertical  fins  are  continuous, 
include  a  few  more  out-of-the-way  forms.  Here  come  the  two  sun- 
fishes,  Orthagoriscus,  with  their  bulky  bodies  cut  off  short  behind,  as 
if  they  had  lost  their  tail-end  and  grown  a  fringe  on  the  stump. 
There  is  no  doubt  about  these  two — one,  the  sun-fish,  O.  mola,  with 
a  rough  skin  and  the  hinder  end  rounded ;  the  other,  the  oblong 
sun-fish,  O.  truncatus,  with  a  smooth  skin  and  the  hinder  end  straight 
— each  with  the  narrow  dorsal  and  anal  standing  out  like  the  back- 
fin  of  a  porpoise;  known  at  a  glance,  and  easily  seen,  seldom  less 
than  two  feet,  and  sometimes  over  eight  feet  long.  Next  to  them  we 
will  place  the  Cornish  sucker,  Lepadogaster  gouanii,  four  inches  in 
length,  and  not  always  that,  in  which  the  median  fins  are  much  less 
disputably  continuous,  and  the  body  is  depressed  in  front  and  com- 
pressed behind,  and  has  a  sucking  disk  between  the  ventrals.  Fol- 
lowing this  we  may  as  well  get  rid  of  Coryphcznoides  rupestris,  which 
has  only  been  found  once  or  twice  in  British  waters.  In  this  rare 
visitor  the  body  tapers  so  sharply  from  a  large  head  to  a  pointed 
tail,  that  the  fish  looks  like  a  ten-inch  tadpole.  Yet  one  more 
curiosity  in  this  group,  the  red  band-fish,  Cepola  rubescens,  long  and 
thin,  like  half-a-yard  of  orange  ribbon  edged  with  a  fringe  and 
ending  in  a  point. 


SORTATION. 


25 


This  leaves  us  with  the  eels  and  the  eel-like.  In  the  eel-like  the 
skin  does  not  extend  over  the  gill-covers ;  in  the  eels  it  does.  Of 
those  in  which  the  gill-covers  are  not  hidden  there  are  only 
Ophidium,  in  which  the  ventrals  are  represented  by  a  pair  of  filaments, 

and  Fierasfer,  in  which  the  ventrals 
are  gone  without  any  external 
traces.  Of  Ophidiunt  only  one 
British  example  is  recorded,  and 
of  Fiemsfer  only  two,  so  that  they 
are  not  likely  to  trouble  the  fisher- 
man. Of  eels  there  are  three 
species,  each  of  a  different  genus. 
Murcena  has  no  pectorals ;  Conger 
and  Anguilla  are  alike  in  having 


Fig.  8. — CARDIFORM  TEETH. 
(Conger,) 


rctorals,  but  in  Conger,  the  upper  jaw  is  the  longer,  and  in  Anguilla 
is  shorter.  The  Mur&na  is  a  rarity ;  it  is  a  rich  purplish  brown 
and  yellow  in  colour.  The  other  two  eels  are  common  enough ;  the 
conger,  much  the  larger  and  fiercer — look  at  the  "  cardiform  "  teeth 
in  his  jaw,  placed  so  closely  together  as  to  form  a  cutting  edge  (Fig. 
8) — has  always  been  assigned  to  one  species,  C .  vulgaris,  but  the 
male  and  female  eel  were  long  assigned  to  two  species  or  more,  and 
have  only  of  recent  years  been  put  in  their  right  place. 


Fig.   Q. — HOMOCERCAL   TAIL. 

The  fishes  that  are  left  have  well-defined  tails,  but  it  is  apparent  at 
once  that  these  tails  are  of  two  different  types,  the  majority  having 
the  lobes  equal,  but  a  by  no  means  insignificant  majority  having 
one  lobe  much  larger  than  the  other.  In  the  first  group  the  tail  is 
"  homocercal,"  in  the  second  it  is  "heterocercal."  In  Fig.  9  we 


Fig.  10. — HETEROCERCAL  TAIL. 

have  a  homocercal  tail,  and  in  Fig.  i  will  be  seen  how  this  form  is 
produced  by  the  last  of  the  caudal  vertebrae  articulating  with  the 
fan-shaped  hypurals,  which,  with  the  neural  and  haemal  extensions, 

c 


26 


SORTAT1ON. 


carry  the  rays  of  the  caudal  fin,  so  that  the  homocercal  tail  is  only 
superficially  symmetrical  after  all.  Compare  this  with  the  other 
type  sketched  in  Fig.  10,  in  which  the  backbone  is  continued  to  the 
outermost  point. 

In  our  specimen  fish  the  lobes  of  the  tail  are  equal,  and  there  is 
nothing  approaching  a  heterocercal  character ;  we  will,  therefore, 
sort  out  our  heterocercals  forthwith.  One  genus  is  so  distinct  that 
it  claims  first  place.  In  our  waters  it  is  represented  by  a  single 
species,  which  is  the  sole  representative  of  the  family  and  the  sub- 
order. This  is  the  sturgeon,  Acipenser  sturio,  recognisable  at  once 
by  the  five  rows  of  bony  plates,  the  long  snout,  the  small  dorsal  fin 
placed  near  the  tail,  and  last,  not  least,  when  it  comes  to  table,  the 
notochordal  backbone.  Externally  the  plates  distinguish  it  at  a 
glance  ;  of  one  of  them,  which  hang  side  by  side  like  a  long  row  of 
shields,  we  give  a  sketch  (Fig.  u). 

With  the  sturgeon  out  of  the  way,  we  have  left  on  our  hands  the 
fifteen  British  sharks,  which  will  not  prove  troublesome.  Four  of 
them  have  no  anal  fin,  and  of  these  four  two  have  spines  in  their 
dorsals  and  two  have  not.  Of  the  two  with  spiny  dorsals,  one, 

Centrina,  has  the  spine  starting 
from  the  middle  of  the  base  of  the 
fin  and  curving  forwards  across  it, 
as  if  it  were  a  sprit  used  to  keep 
the  fin  extended  ;  the  other, 
Acanthias,  has  the  spine  in  the 
front  of  the  dorsal  running  up  the 
fore-edge  in  the  usual  way.  Of 
Centrina  only  one  example  (C. 
salviani)  has  been  caught  in  British 
waters,  and  consequently  our 
sharks  with  no  anal  fin  and 
spiny  dorsals  are  practically  the 
common  spur  dog-fish,  A.  vulgaris. 

In  the  next  two  genera  the  dorsals  are  without  spines,  but  the 
skin  is  spiny.  In  one,  Lczmargus,  the  first  dorsal  is  some  distance 
in  front  of  the  ventrals ;  in  the  other,  Echinorhinus,  it  is  far  back 
and  over  them.  The  former  is  represented  by  L.  microcephala,  the 
Greenland  shark,  a  bulky  species  with  a  prominent  snout  and  a 
sort  of  upper  lip  ;  and  of  the  latter  the  only  representative  is 
E.  spinosus,  the  spinous  shark,  in  which  the  snout  is  of  the  normal 
conical  shape.  Here,  then,  is  our  first  category  of  sharks  in 
tabular  form : 

Anal  absent — 

Dorsals  with  spines — 

Spine  in  the  middle  of  each  dorsal — Centrina. 

Spine  in  front  of  each  dorsal — Acanthias. 
Dorsals  without  spines — 

First  dorsal  in  middle  of  back — Lamargus. 

Both  dorsals  near  tail — Echinorhinus. 


Fig.  ii. — SHIELD  OF  STURGEON. 


The  sharks  of  our  waters  that  have  an  anal  fin  are  eleven  in 
number,    and   with  a   single   exception  they  all   have  two  dorsal 


SORTATION.  27 

fins.  The  brown  shark  (Notidanus  griseus)  has  but  one,  and  is  also 
recognisable  by  having  six  gill-slits,  whereas  all  the  other  sharks 
have  five.  That  reduces  our  eleven  to  ten,  which  we  can  arrange 
in  two  batches  according  to  the  position  of  their  first  dorsals.  In 
the  first  batch  we  will  place  those  in  which  the  first  dorsal  comes 
over  the  space  between  the  ventrals  and  the  anal,  that  is,  in  the 
hinder  third  of  the  back;  in  the  other  batch,  we  will  have  those 
in  which  it  comes  over  the  interval  between  the  pectorals  and 
ventrals,  or  almost  in  the  middle  of  the  dorsal  curve.  Those  with 
the  dorsals  well  aft  are  two  in  number — Pristiimis,  in  which  the 
anal  is  long  enough  to  nearly  reach  the  caudal ;  and  Scyllium,  in 
which  it  is  not  noticeably  large,  and  never  gets  nearer  the  caudal 
than  its  own  length.  Of  Pristiurus  there  is  a  solitary  species, 
P.  melanostomus,the  black-mouthed  dog-fish,  recognisable  at  a  glance 
by  the  three  rows  of  squarish  black  blotches  on  its  sides  that 
suggest  an  ocelot;  and  of  Scyllium,  in  which  the  markings  are  a 
multitude  of  spots  and  specks,  there  are  but  two  species — S. 
canicula,  the  rough-hound,  and  5.  catulus,  the  smooth-hound,  in  the 
first  of  which  the  anal  ends  below  the  interval  between  the  dorsals, 
while  in  the  second  it  reaches  to  beneath  the  middle  of  the  second 
dorsal  and  no  further. 

Of  the  sharks  in  which  the  dorsals  come  so  far  forward  for 
the  first  to  begin  over  the  interval  between  the  paired  fins,  one, 
Zygana,  stands  out  boldly,  not  only  from  the  sharks  but  from  all 
other  fish,  by  its  hammer-shaped  head,  which  extends  right  and 
left  at  right  angles  to  the  neck,  and  has  the  eyes  in  the  middle  of 
the  square  ends.  These  eyes  have  a  lid  or  nictitating  membrane, 
and  this  membrane  will  come  in  useful  in  sorting  out  the  six 
remaining  genera,  in  three  only  of  which  it  is  present.  These  are 
Carcharias,  Mustelus,  and  Gakus,  and  they  all  have  long,  conical 
heads.  The  blue  shark,  Carcharias  glaucus,  has  a  pit  at  the  base 
of  the  tail,  and  is  without  the  spiracles  that  mark  the  opening  of 
the  respiratory  passage  leading  into  the  pharynx.  Mustelus  and 
Galeus  have  no  pit  at  the  base  of  the  caudal  fin,  and  in  the  former 
the  second  dorsal  is  almost  as  large  as  the  first,  whereas  in  the 
other  it  is  very  small.  Of  each  there  is  but  one  species,  M.  vulgaris 
being  the  smooth-hound,  and  G.  vulgaris  the  tope  which  can 
be  distinguished  from  it  by  the  squarish  gap  in  the  caudal's  lower 
lobe. 

Of  the  three  genera  in  which  the  eye  has  no  nictitating  mem- 
brane, one  is  as  readily  recognisable  as  the  hammer-head  by  reason 
of  its  enormously-developed  tail,  the  upper  lobe  of  which  is  as  long 
as  the  body.  This  is  the  thrasher  (Alopecias),  also  known  as  the 
fox-shark.  The  long  tail  has  no  keel,  like  that  of  the  two  remaining 
genera — Lamna,  in  which  the  teeth  are  large  and  lanceolate,  the 
British  representative  being  the  porbeagle,  L.cornubica;  and  Selache, 
represented  by  the  huge  basking  shark,  S.  maxima,  in  which  the 
teeth  are  small  and  conical,  as  might  be  expected  from  the  innocent 
nature  of  its  food.  With  the  vegetarian  Selache  we  conclude  our 
second  category  of  sharks,  which  we  tabulate  in  this  way : — 

Anal  present — 

One  dorsal — Notidanus. 


28  SORTATION. 

Two  dorsals — 

First  dorsal  above  interval  between  ventrals  and  anal — • 
Anal  long — Pristiurus. 
Anal  moderate — Scyllium. 

First  dorsal  above  interval  between  pectorals  and  ventrals^ 
Eye  with  nictitating  membrane. 

Head  hammer-shaped — Zygana. 
Head  conical ; 

Pit  at  base  of  caudal — Carcharias. 
No  pit  at  base  of  caudal ; 

Second   dorsal    almost    as    large  as    first — 

Mustehts. 

Second  dorsal  small — Galeus. 
Eye  without  nictitating  membrane — 

Tail  not  keeled— 

Upper  lobe  very  long — Alopecias. 

Tail  keeled— 

Teeth  large  and  lanceolate — Lamna, 
Teeth  small  and  conical — Selache. 

At  last  we  have  reached  the  fishes  with  homocercal  tails,  and  by 
eliminating  the  two  flying  fishes  (Exoccztus),  in  which  the  pectoral 
fins  are  developed  into  organs  of  flight,  and  the  lower  lobe  of  the 
tail  seems  to  be  lengthened  for  steering  purposes,  we  are  left  with 
the  large  group  in  which  both  lobes  of  the  tail  are  similar  in  outline. 
The  dorsal  fins  will  guide  us  through  the  crowd,  but  before  going 
straight  ahead  we  can  simplify  matters  to  a  great  extent  by  clearing 
the  road  of  some  of  the  eccentricities. 

To  begin  with,  there  is  one  fish  in  the  British  list  which  seems 
to  have  had  its  tail  broken  off  short  and  stuck  on  again  in  a  hurry  at 
the  wrong  angle.  This  is  the  deal-fish,  Trachypterus  arcticus,  with  two 
dorsals,  a  short  aiid  a  very  long  one,  and  no  anal.  In  the  others 
the  tail  is  in  a  line  with  the  backbone. 

Two  of  the  genera  have  short,  stout  bodies,  one  of  them,  Tetrodon 
(the  globe-fish),  having  the  gullet  dilatable  into  a  sphere  dotted  with 
star-like  spines  ;  the  other,  Batistes,  having  the  scales  developed  into 
a  coat  of  armour.  Of  Batistes  there  are  two  species,  the  trigger-fish 
(B.  maculatus),  which  has  spots  on  the  sides  and  no  plates  behind  the 
gills,  and  the  file-fish  (B.  capriscus),  which  has  no  spots  on  the  sides 
and  two  plates  behind  the  gills. 

Four  genera  are  of  little  breadth,  but  much  depth.  Of  these  the 
opah  (Lampris)  is  iridescent,  and  marked  with  rounded,  silvery 
patches ;  the  dory  (Zeus)  is  grey,  with  a  large  round  black  blotcli 
ringed  with  yellow,  and  has  ragged  filaments  attached  to  the  dorsal 
spines ;  the  trumpet-fish  (Centriscus)  has  a  lengthy  tubular  snout, 
not  unlike  the  chanter  of  the  bag-pipes;  and  that  very  queer  fish, 
Argyropelecus,\mov/n  by  only  one  specimen,  is  square  in  the  fore 
body,  becoming  suddenly  narrow  as  if  the  hinder  half  of  a  slender 
fish  had  been  telescoped  into  it. 

Four  more  genera  we  can  group  together,  as  having  the  body 
elongated  and  slender.  Two  of  them  are  pipe-fishes,  armoured  with 


SORTATION. 


bony  plates  and  ridged,  the  caudal  ridge  in  one  (Siphonostoma)  being 
continuous  with  the  lateral  ridge,  that  in  the  other  (Syngnathus)  being 
continuous  with  the  dorsal.  The  two  others  are  distinguishable  by 
the  development  of  the  jaws  into  a  long  beak,  one  of  them  (Scombre 
sox)  the  skipper,  having  finlets,  and  the  other  (Belone),the  gar-fish  or 
mackerel-guard,  being  without  them. 

Two  may  be  described  as  eel-like,  one  of  them  being  the  butter- 
fish  (Centronotns),  which  has  the  dorsal  marked  all  along  its  base 
with  round  black  spots,  edged  with  white,  the  other  differing  from  it 
in  having  no  spots  and  no  ventral  fins.  This  is  A  mmodytes,  repre- 
sented by  the  three  sand-eels,  one  of  which,  the  smooth  sand-eel  (A . 
cicerellus)  has  only  15  rays  in  its  caudal  fin,  the  others  having  19,  one 
of  them  (A .  tobianus)  having  the  fins  curved  in  outline,  and  one  of 
them  (A.  lanceolatus)  having  fins  of  the  same  height  all  along. 

One  genus  (Centroloplius)  has  a  long,  flat  body  with  a  long  dorsal, 
higher  behind  than  in  front  in  C.  britannicus,  and  highest  in  the 
middle  in  C.  pompilus,  which  also  has  long  pectorals,  while  the  other 
species,  of  which  but  a  single  specimen  is  known,  has  them  short. 
Another  genus  (Lepidopus)  has  the  body  long  and  thin,  and  tapering 
to  a  small  forked  tail,  and  takes  its  name  from  the  remarkable  way 
in  which  the  ventrals  have  departed  and  left  behind  a  single  scale 
as  the  only  trace  of  their  existence.  Finally,  there  is  Xiphias^  known 
by  everyone  for  the  long,  thin  projecting  upper  jaw,  which  has 
caused  it  to  be  called  the  sword-fish. 

In  seven  genera  there  may  be  a  doubt  as  to  whether  there  are 
two  dorsals  or  one,  owing  to  the  first  dorsal  being  in  some  way  re- 
placed or  obscured.  In  Echeneis,  for  instance,  it  is  replaced  by  a 
sucker  ;  in  Cyclopterus,  the  ungainly  lump-fish,  it  becomes  hidden  in 
a  fleshy  ridge,  and  in  five  genera  it  is  represented  by  isolated  spines. 

In  the  angler  (Lophius)  these 
spines  are  furnished  with  fila- 
ments.    A  repulsive,  but  withal 
interesting,  fish  is  this,  not  only 
for   his   hideousness,   and   the 
way  in  which  he  dangles  the 
bait  over  his  big  half-moon  of 
a  mouth,  but  for  the  reptilian 
character   of   the  paired    fins 
with  which  he  walks  about  the 
bottom  of  the  sea ;   and  as  to 
his  teeth,  justice  can  only  be 
done  to  them  by  a  sketch  (Fig. 
12),  which  we  may  as  well  sup- 
plement with  another  (Fig.  13), 
showing    how    the    teeth    are 
hinged  in  the  middle,  so  as  to 
fall  down  as  the  capture  enters 
and  rise  to  prevent  escape. 
In  the  four  other  genera  the  spines   are   short,   and   have  no 
filaments.     One,  Lichia  (the  derbio),  has  the    long  lobes    of   the 
deeply-forked  tail  tipped  with  black,  and  of  the  spines,  which  are 
five  or  six  in  number,  the  first  points  forwards.     Another,  Naucrates 
(the  pilot-fish),  is  banded  vertically  with  broad,  dark  stripes  that 


12  —TEETH  OF  ANGLER. 


30  SORTATION. 

extend  on  to  the  fins ;  another,  Pammelas  (the  black-pilot  or  rudder- 
fish),  has  six  or  seven  spines  representing  the  first  dorsal,  and  the 
anal   fin   has  two   spines.     The    last,   Gasterosteus,   comprises   our 
familiar  friends  the   sticklebacks,  in  which   the   scales 
along  the  sides  are  replaced  by  scutes.     In  the  smooth- 
tailed   stickleback   these   plates   extend   only  to  the  tip 
of    the   pectorals;    in   the   half-armed   stickleback  they 
extend  half-way  to  the  base  of  the  caudal;  in  the  rough-  • 
tailed  stickleback  the  plates  are  keeled  at  the  base  of 
Fig.  13. —   the  caudal.     The   other  sticklebacks — the  three-spined, 
HINGED     four-spined,  nine-spined,  and  fifteen-spined — are  readily 
TOOTH  OF   recognisable  by  the  number  of  their  spines. 
ANGLER.  ^he   way  js  now   c}ear  for  the  long  voyage  home. 

Our  representative  fish  is  not  one  of  this  unimportant 
seven,  nor  was  it  one  of  the  foregoing  seventeen,  being,  as  we  have 
said,  an  ordinary  fish  of  ordinary  shape,  with  nothing  out  of  the 
way  about  it. 

It  has  not  three  dorsals,  that  is  the  distinctive  feature  of  the 
genus  Gadus,  including  the  cod-fish  (G.  morrhua),  which,  like  the 
whiting,  the  haddock,  the  whiting-pout,  and  the  power,  has  the 
upper  jaw  the  longer,  and,  like  all  of  them  except  the  whiting 
(G.  merlangus),  has  a  barbule.  It  can  be  distinguished  from  the 
other  three  by  having  a  white  lateral  line,  the  haddock  (G.  agkfinus) 
having  a  black  lateral  line,  the  two  that  remain  having  a  brown 
lateral  line,  the  whiting-pout  (G.  litscus)  being  coppery  and  broadly 
banded,  and  the  power  (G.  minutus)  silvery  and  without  bands. 
Three  species  of  Gadus  have  the  lower  jaw  the  longer  ;  one  of  them 
(G.  virens),  the  coal-fish,  has  a  barbule,  those  without  a  barbule 
being  G.  poutassou  (Couch's  whiting),  on  which  the  lateral  line  is 
straight,  and  G.  pollachius  (the  pollack),  on  which  it  is  curved  ;  the 
two  fishes  differing  much  in  colour,  the  pollack  being  greenish  and 
grey,  the  other  silver  and  yellow. 

Nor  has  it  two  dorsals.  The  fishes  having  two  dorsals  can  be 
sorted  into  those  in  which  the  second  dorsal  is  adipose  and  small, 
and  those. in  which  it  is  noticeably  developed. 

Seven  genera  form  the  first  division.  In  one,  Paralepis,  a  rarity 
in  British  waters,  the  anal  fin  extends  to  the  caudal ;  in  the  others 
it  is  not  nearly  so  long.  Of  these,  another  rarity,  Maurolicus,  has 
the  anal  of  three  different  heights,  the  lowest  portion  being  in  the 
middle  and  the  highest  near  the  ventrals.  Two  from  seven  leaves 
us  with  five,  and  the  five,  as  it  happens,  are  the  salmonoids,  all  of 
whom  have  less  than  twenty  rays  in  their  anal  fins.  The  ridged 
body  of  the  argentine  (Argentina),  almost  quadrangular  in  section, 
distinguishes  it  at  a  glance.  The  long,  high  dorsal  of  twenty  rays 
or  more  characterises  the  grayling  (Thymallus) ;  the  short  maxillary 
marks  off  Coregonus,  the  hautin  (C.  oxyrhynchus)  having  a  projecting 
snout,  the  gwyniad  (C.  clupeoides)  a  truncated  snout,  the  vendace 
(C.  vandesius)  a  long  lower  jaw,  and  the  pollan  (C.  poUati)  equal 
jaws  and  no  truncation  of  the  muzzle.  Of  the  two  genera  with  a 
long  maxillary,  the  smelt  (Osmerus)  is  recognised  by  its  dorsal  rays 
numbering  n,  and  Salmo  by  their  ranging  from  12  to  15.  Of 
Salmo  there  are  some  twenty  species  or  varieties,  and  as  their  many 
trifling  differences  cannot  be  dealt  with  briefly,  we  will  hold  the 


SORTATION.  31 

matter  over  until  we  go  into  detail  in  another  chapter.  One  thing 
is  perhaps  worth  mentioning  here,  and  that  is,  that  the  salmon 
(Salmo  salar),  like  the  rest  of  the  genus,  has  less  than  14  rays  in 
its  anal  fin,  while  the  salmon  of  the  Pacific,  the  fish  that  is  canned, 
belongs  to  another  genus,  Oncorhynchus,  distinguished  by  having 
15  or  16  rays,  and  is  really  the  quinnat  (O.  quinnat),  known  as 
salmon  for  trade  purposes. 

We  may  as  well  have  this  adipose  dorsal  assemblage  in  tabular 
form : — 

Two  dorsals,  second  dorsal  adipose — 
Anal  extending  to  caudal— Paralep is. 

Anal  not  extending  to  caudal — 
Anal  with  over  20  rays — 

Anal  in  three  portions  of  different  heights — Maurolicus. 
Anal  with  under  20  rays — 

Body  ridged — A  rgentina. 

Body  not  ridged — 

Dorsal  rays  over  18 — Thymallus. 

Dorsal  rays  under  18 — 

Maxillary  short — Coregonus. 

Maxillary  long — 

Dorsal  rays  n — Osmerus. 

Dorsal  rays  12  to  15 — Salmo. 

In  sorting  out  the  fishes  with  two  ordinary  dorsals,  we  will  avail 
ourselves  of  the  barbules  and  pectoral  filaments  that  are  so  con- 
spicuous in  a  few.  To  the  question  as  to  what  is  a  barbule,  the  best 

reply  is  a  reference  to  the  sketch  of 
the  barbel's  head  (Fig.  14) ;  for  tho 
barbel  was  named  after  the  appendages 
he  wears,  and  on  his  account  it  is  more 
convenient  to  call  them  barbules,  in 
the  old  style,  to  save  confusion  between 
the  "  little  beard  "  and  its  wearer.  Of 
barbules,  or  barbels,  then,  it  will  be 
tig.  i4.-HEAD  OF  BARBEL.  noticed  tnat  he  has  fourj  two  from  the 

snout  and  two  from  the  corners  of  his  mouth. 

By  the  barbules,  many  and  white,  the  octagonal  body  and  the 
absence  of  pectoral  filaments,  we  distinguish  the  pogge  (Agomu). 
By  the  three  pectoral  filaments  and  the  ridged  body  we  know  the 
gurnards  (Trigla),  of  which  there  are  half  a  dozen  species,  T.  gur- 
nardus  being  the  grey  one.  Of  the  five  which  are  all  red,  more  or 
less,  the  piper,  T.  lyra,  is  known  by  the  flat  triangular  plates  over 
the  muzzle,  which  make  it  look  as  if  it  were  divided,  and  the 
lanthorn  gurnard,  T.  obscura,  is  distinguished  by  the  broad  silvery 
stripe  which  separates  the  red  back  from  the  white  abdomen ;  the 
streaked  gurnard,  T.  lineata,  has  lateral  ridges  that  slope  forward 
from  the  back  ;  the  red  gurnard,  T.  cuculus,  has  a  spiny  ridge  along 
the  base  of  the  dorsals,  and  red  fins ;  and  the  sapphirine  gurnard, 
T.  hirundo,  has  spines  along  the  dorsals  and  large  blue  pectorals. 


32  SORTATION. 

By  the  two  pectoral  filaments,  the  ridged  body,  and  the  bifid 
snout,  we  identify  the  armed  gurnard  (Peristethus),  and  by  the  two 
stiff  barbules  under  the  chin,  and  the  two  dorsals  wide  apart,  we 
recognise  the  red  mullet  (Mullus).  With  one  barbule  we  have  four 
genera  (i),  Phycis,  distinguished  by  the  ventral  being  replaced  by 
the  bifid  filament,  from  which  the  fish  is  known  as  the  forkbeard ; 
(2),  Molva,  the  ling  or  "  long-fish,"  in  which  the  teeth  are  large  in 
the  lower  jaw,  and  the  first  dorsal  is  short ;  (3),  Lota,  the  burbot,  in 
which  the  first  dorsal  is  also  short,  but  there  are  no  large  teeth  in 
the  lower  jaw ;  and  (4),  Raniccps,  the  lesser  forkbeard,  in  which  the 
first  dorsal  consists  of  only  three  rays. 

In  our  next  category  we  have  those  without  barbules.  Of  these, 
five  genera  are  distinguishable  off-hand  by  having  finlets.  In 
Scomber  and  Auxis  the  dorsals  are  wide  apart ;  in  Pdamys,  Thynnus, 
and  Orcynus  they  are  close  together.  The  finlets  fill  the  gap 
between  the  tail  and  the  second  dorsal,  and  that  between  the  tail 
and  the  anal ;  in  the  common  mackerel  (Scox.uer  vernalis),  they  are 
readily  seen.  There  are  three  mackerels — the  ordinary  species, 
which  has  a  banded  back  and  a  spotless  abdomen ;  the  speckled 
mackerel  (S.  punctatus),  which  has  a  thinly-streaked  or  speckled 
back  and  a  spotless  abdomen  ;  and  the  Spanish  mackerel  (S.  colias), 
which  has  a  banded  back  and  a  spotted  abdomen.  Auxis  differs 
from  Scomber  in  having  a  distinct  keel  on  the  tail  instead  of  two 
slight  ridges ;  it  is  repre-  /*X. 
sented  only  by  A .  rochei,  the  \  >v 
plain  bonito.  The  three  ) 
genera  in  which  the  dorsals 
are  close  together  have 
keel  3d  tails.  Pelamys  (the 
belted  bonito)  is  recognis- 
able by  its  long  first  dorsal, 
which  has  more  than  twenty 
rays ;  the  others  have 
shorter  dorsals,  one,  Thyn- 
nus (the  bonito),  having 
seven  finlets,  the  other, 
Orcynus,  having  eight  or  Fjg^  I5._THORACic  VENTRALS 

nine.      To  this  last  belong 

the  tunnies,  of  which  there  are  two  on  the  British  list— the  short- 
finned  tunny,  O.  thynnus,  in  which  the  pectorals  do  not  reach  the 
finlets,  and  the  long-finned  tunny,  O.  germo,  in  which  they  do. 

This    finlet   group   may  as  well  be  set  forth  in  a  table  like 
the  rest — 

Dorsals  wide  apart — 

Tail  with  2  slight  ridges — Scomber. 
Tail  distinctly  keeled — Auxis. 

Dorsals  close  together  ;  tail  keeled — 

First  dorsal  with  over  20  rays— Pelamys. 
First  dorsal  with  under  20  rays — 
Finlets  7 — Thynnus. 
Finlets  8  or  9— Orcynus. 


SORTATION. 


33 


Having  neither  barbules  nor  finlets  to  help  us  any  more,  we 
betake  ourselves  to  the  position  of  the  ventral  fins,  which  affords 
almost  as  easy  a  means  of  identification.  These  fins  are  found 
in  three  positions — they  maybe  "jugular,"  that  is,  in  the  throat, 
or  "thoracic,"  that  is,  in  the  chest  (Fig.  15),  or  "  abdominal,"  that 
is  in  the  middle  of  the  abdomen  or  thereabouts  (Fig.  16). 

In  only  three  genera  of  the  double  dorsal  group  are  the  ventrals 
jugular,  and  in  one  of  them  they  are  placed  wide  apart.  This  is  Calli- 
onymus,  the  genus  of  the  skulpin,  in  which  the  first  spine  is  so  unusu- 
ally long  in  the  males  as  to  be  distinctive,  like  the  length  of  the  last 
ray  in  the  females.  The  two  in  which  the  ventrals  are  at  the  normal 
distance  apart  are  Trachinus  (the  weevers),  in  which  the  first  dorsal 
has  only  five  or  six  rays,  and  Merluccius,  the  hake,  in  which  it  has 
ten.  The  hake  can  be  recognised  by  his  black  mouth  and  formid- 
able teeth,  which  are  charac- 
teristic enough  to  deserve  a 
sketch  (Fig.  17)  ;  the  greater 
weever,  T.  draco,  has  two 
spines  above  the  eye,  the 
viper  weever,  T.  vipera,  has 
no  spines  above  the  eye. 

As  there  are  three  genera 
of  this  group  with  jugular 
ventrals,  so  there  are  three 
with  abdominal  ventrals.  In 
this  case,  however,  there  is 
but  one  genus  (Capros)  in 
which  the  dorsals  are  close 
up,  it  has  but  one  species  in  our  waters,  C.  aper,  the  boar-fish,  flat  and 
deep  in  body,  red  in  colour,  and  rejoicing  in  a  protractile  snout  from 
which  it  gets  its  name.  The  two  genera  in  which  there  is  a  con- 
spicuous interval  between  the  dorsal  fins  are  Atherina,  in  which  the 
first  dorsal  has  7,  8,  or  9  spines,  and  Mugil  (the  grey  mullets),  in  which 
it  has  but  only  4.  Of  Atherina  there  are  two  species,  one  of  which 
appeared  once,  and  has  never  been  seen  again  ;  of  Mugil  there  are 
two  species,  the  grey  mullet,  M.  capito,  in  which  the  anal  begins 
nearly  halfway  between  the  dorsals,  and  the  lesser  grey  mullet,  M. 
chelo,  in  which  it  begins  almost  in  a  line  with  the  second  dorsal. 
As  far  as  we  have  gone  with  the  double  dorsals,  we  stand : 

Ventrals  jugular — 

Ventrals  wide  apart — Callionymus. 
Ventrals  close  together — 

F'irst  dorsal  with  5  or  6  rays — Trachinus. 

First  dorsal  with  10  rays — Merluccius. 

Ventrals  abdominal — 
Dorsals  wide  apart — 

First  dorsal  with  4  spines — Mugil. 
First  dorsal  with  7  or  more  spines — A  therina. 
Dorsals  close  together — 

Body  red  ;  deep  and  compressed  ;  month  protractile — 
Capros. 


Fig.  16. — ABDOMINAL  VENTRALS. 


34  SORTATION. 

This  leaves  us  with  the  double  dorsal  fishes  having  thoracic 
ventrals.  Two  we  can  deal  with  on  their  lateral  line,  that  row  of 
perforated  scales  running  along  the  sides  of  so  many  species,  the 
holes  in  which  communicate 
with  a  muciferous  duct  lead- 
ing  to  the  head,  a  good  ex- 
ample  of  which  was  given 
in  the  outline  of  the  dentex 
on  a  preceding  page.  In  one 
genus  of  this  group,  Caranx 

(the  horse  mackerel  or  scad),  Fjg    I7 TEETH  OF  HAKE 

the  lateral  line  is  armed  with 

bony  plates,  a  further  distinctive  mark  being  the  two  spines  in  front  of 
the  ventrals.  In  another  genus,  Sciczna  (the  shadow-fish),  the  lateral 
line  is  continued  through  the  tail  to  the  outer  edge  of  the  caudal  fin. 

The  genera  that  remain  can  be  sorted  out  according  to  the  num- 
ber of  spines  in  the  first  dorsal.  In  Crystallogobius  there  are  two 
spines  which  are  placed  wide  apart.  In  Aphia  there  are  five  spines. 
In  another  of  the  gobies,  the  painted  goby  (Gobius  pictus),  there  are 

6  spines  in  the  first  dorsal,  the  anal  is  without  a  spine,  and  the  ven- 
trals have  a  spine  and  5  rays.    The  other  gobies  (Gobius)  have  6  or 

7  spines  in  the  first  dorsal,  and  the  anal  has  a  spine.     The  two- 
spotted  goby  (G.  ruthensparri)  is  the  only  one  with  7  spines  ;    the 
one-spotted  goby  (G.  minutus)  is  the  only  one  with  the  dorsals  wide 
apart;  the  speckled  goby  (G.  parnelli)  has  black  fins  with  white 
lines,  the  first  dorsal  ending  in  a  black  blotch ;  the  rock  goby  (G. 
niger)  has  brown  fins  with  whitish  lines ;    and   of  the  two   other 
gobies,  G.  quadrimaculatus  has  four  spots  in  a  line  on  the  hinder  half 
of  the  body,  and  G.  pagandlus  has  the  dorsals  banded  with  orange. 

In  Coitus  the  first  dorsal  has  from  6  to  10  spines,  the  anal  is 
spineless,  and  the  ventrals  have  a  spine  and  less  than  5  rays.  There 
are  four  species,  one,  C.  quadricornus,  having  four  short  horns  on 
the  top  of  its  head,  the  others  having  no  horns.  The  miller's  thumb 
(C.  gobio)  has  a  spine  and  4  rays  in  its  ventrals ;  the  long-spined 
cottus  (C.  bubalis)  has  a  spine  and  3  rays ;  and  the  father  lasher  (C. 
scorpius)  has  no  spine  and  only  2  rays. 

This  leaves  us  with  the  two  highest  representatives  of  the  perch 
family,  Labrax  and  Perca.  In  Labrax,  of  which  there  is  only  one 
British  representative,  the  bass  (L.  lupus),  there  are  8  or  9  spines 
in  the  first  dorsal,  and  the  anal  has  3  spines ;  in  Perca,  the  sole 
representative  being  the  perch  (P.  fluviatilis),  the  first  dorsal  has 
14  or  15  spines,  and  the  anal  has  only  2.  Summarising  as  before, 
we  have : — 


Ventrals  thoracic — 

Lateral  line  armed  with  bony  plates — 

Two  spines  in  front  of  ventrals — Caranx. 
Lateral  line  continued  through  caudal  fin — Scicsna. 
First  dorsal  of  2  spines,  wide  apart — Crystallogobius. 
First  dorsal  of  5  spines — Aphia. 


60RTATION.  35 

First  dorsal  of  6  spines — 

Anal  spineless ;  ventrals  with  a  spine  and  5  rays — Gobius 
(pictus). 

First  dorsal  of  6  to  10  spines — 

Anal  spineless ;  ventrals  with  or  without  a  spine  and  with 
less  than  5  rays — Cottus. 

First  dorsal  of  6  or  7  spines — 
Anal  with  i  spine — Gobius. 

First  dorsal  of  8  or  9  spines — 
Anal  with  3  spines — Labrax. 

First  dorsal  of  14  or  15  spines — 
Anal  with  2  spines — Perca. 


In  only  one  British  fish  with  one  dorsal  fin  are  there  no  ventrals, 
and  that  is  the  wolf-fish  or  cat-fish  (Anavrhichas  lupus),  whose 
powerful  teeth  and  general  ugliness 
have  become  proverbial  (Fig.  18). 
In  only  two  genera  are  the  ven- 
trals rudimentary,  and  in  each 
case  they  surround  a  sucker.  One 
of  them  is  Lepadogaster,  which  we 
sorted  out  before  so  far  as  L. 
gouanii  was  concerned,  owing  to 
the  vertical  fins  being  continuous ; 
in  the  two  remaining  species,  the 
suckers  (L.  decandollii  and  L. 
bimaculatus)  the  vertical  fins  are  not 
continuous,  the  last  species  being 
distinguished  from  the  others  by 
having  a  black  ocellated  spot  under 
the  tip  of  the  pectoral.  In  all 
the  species  there  are  less  than  20 
rays  in  the  dorsal.  In  Liparls 
the  dorsal  rays  exceed  20  in  number ;  the  sea-snail,  L.  vulgaris, 
about  six  inches  long,  is  streaked  on  the  body,  Montagu's  sucker, 
L.  montagui,  which  is  about  half  the  length,  is  spotted  on  the  body. 

This  clears  us  of  the  cripples,  and  leaves  us  only  with  such 
fishes  as  have  the  dorsal  and  ventrals  properly  developed.  In  four 
genera  the  ventrals  are  jugular,  these  comprising  the  rocklings,  the 
blennies,  and  the  torsk.  The  rocklings  (Motella)  have  the  fore  part 
of  the  dorsal  in  the  shape  of  a  fringe  with  a  long  ray  to  begin  with. 
The  three  common  species  are  known  by  their  barbules — the  five- 
bearded,  four-bearded,  and  three-bearded — and  the  rare  species, 
M.  macrophthalma,  by  its  unspotted  body,  distinguishing  it  from  the 
three-bearded  rockling,  which,  like  it,  has  three  barbules,  but,  unlike 
it,  has  a  large  number  of  spots  and  blotches  on  its  upper  parts. 

The  blennies  have  the  dorsal  low  in  the  middle  and  small 
ventrals.  One,  the  butterfly  blenny  (Bhnnius  ocellaris),  differs  from 
the  others  in  having  an  ocellated  spot  on  the  first  dorsal.  Another, 
the  shanny  (B.  pholis),  has  no  tentacle  over  the  eye ;  another  (B. 


Fig.  18. — TEETH  OF  CAT-FISH. 


3&  SORTATION. 

galerita)  has  a  black  band  at  the  base  of  the  pectorals ;  and  the  last 
(J5.  gattorugine)  has  no  such  band.  In  Yarrell's  blenny  (Carelophus 
ascanii)  the  dorsal  is  long  and  straight,  and  there  are  filaments  on 
the  first  three  rays  ;  in  the  torsk  (Brosmius  brosme)  the  dorsal  is  also 
long  and  straight,  and  the  ventrals  are  curiously  thick  and  pointed. 
It  belongs  to  the  cod  family,  and  is  a  couple  of  feet  long  or  so. 
Practically,  the  four  genera  with  jugular  ventrals  are  so  easy  of 
recognition  that  we  need  not  summarise  their  distinctions,  but  pass 
on  to  those  with  thoracic  ventrals,  which  are  much  more  numerous. 

In  this  large  and  important  assemblage  the  anal  fin  is  of  great 
assistance.  One  genus  (Luvarus)  has  a  spine  and  14  rays  in  its 
anal,  and  can  otherwise  be  recognised  by  its  quaint  shape  and  red 
stripe.  Three  genera  have  two  spines  in  their  anal  fin,  one,  Acerina 
(the  ruff),  having  5  or  6  rays  behind  it,  while  in  Schedophilus  and 
Brama  the  anal  has  over  25  rays,  Schedophilus  having  3  dorsal 
spines,'  short  and  isolated,  and  Brama  having  3  or  4  short  and  not 
isolated. 

Those  in  which  the  anal  has  3  spines  are  12  in  number,  Con's 
(the  rainbow  wrasse)  differing  from  the  rest  in  having  only  12  or  13 
rays  in  its  pectorals.  The  genera  in  which  the  pectoral  rays  num- 
ber from  14  to  17  can  be  divided  into  a  batch  having  12  or  fewer 
spines  in  the  dorsal  and  a  batch  having  more  than  12.  In  the  first 
lot,  all  of  which  have  forked  tails,  Dentex  is  conspicuous  by  its 
brilliant  silver,  blue,  and  gold  coloration,  and  its  four  large  teeth 
in  the  front  of  each  jaw,  and  Cantharus  by  its  black  lateral  line, 
which  is  parallel  to  the  curve  of  the  back.  The  other  two  are 
Pagellus  and  Pagrus,  both  of  which  have  cutting  teeth  in  front  of  the 
jaws  and  molars  along  the  sides,  Pagrus  differing  from  Pagellus  in 
having  canine  teeth  as  well,  the  molars  in  Pagellus  being  smaller 
than  in  Pagrus.  These  are  the  sea-breams,  all  much  alike,  and  all, 
with  one  exception,  red  or  pinkish,  the  exception  being  the  gilt- 
head  (Pagrus  auratus),  which  is  silvery,  and  has  a  golden  crescent 
between  the  eyes.  As  the  only  other  Pagrus,  Couch's  sea-bream 
(P.  vulgaris)  has  been  caught  but  once  in  British  waters,  it  may  be 
said  that  Pagrus  is  only  represented  by  a  silvery  fish,  and  Pagellus  by 
red  ones.  There  are  five  of  these — the  pandora  (P.  erythrinus),  is  red 
with  purple  and  silvery  reflections,  and  has  colourless  ventrals ; 
P.  acarne  is  red  with  golden  reflections ;  P.  owenii  is  carmine 
above  and  white  below,  with  the  fins  paler  than  the  body ; 
P.  bogaraveo  (the  Spanish  bream)  is  pinkish  above  and  white  below, 
with  a  dark  axillary  spot ;  and  the  common  sea-bream  (P.  centro- 
dontus),  is  scarlet  above  and  paler  below,  with  a  black  spot  at  the 
beginning  of  the  lateral  line. 

In  the  next  group,  that  in  which  the  dorsal  spines  are  more  than 
a  dozen,  one  genus  (Box)  has  a  forked  tail.  Of  the  others  a  few 
have  spines  on  the  gill-covers,  and  their  lips  are  thin,  while  the 
remainder,  consisting  only  of  the  wrasses,  have  no  spines  on  the 
gill-covers,  and  their  lips  are  thick.  Of  the  three  with  spiny  gill- 
covers,  one,  Polyprion  (the  stone-bass)  has  less  than  13  rays  in  its 
dorsal ;  in  the  others  there  are  more  than  13,  Serranus  being  dis- 
tinguished by  its  10  dorsal  spines  (in  S.  cabrilla)  or  n  (in  S.  gigas), 
and  Sebastes  (the  bergylt)  by  its  15  dorsal  spines,  and,  at  once,  by 
its  orange-red  body  and  fins. 


SORTATION. 


37 


The  wrasses — we  have  already  disposed  of  the  rainbow  wrasse — 
are  not  an  easy  group  to  sort.  Some  have  3  spines  in  the  anal, 
some  have  more.  Of  the  three-spined,  three,  Ctenolabrus  has  a 
characteristic  notch  where  the  spines  join  the  rays  in  the  dorsal, 
which  is  not  present  in  either  Crenilabrus  or  Labrus,  and  Labrus  has 
more  than  40  scales  in  the  lateral  line,  while  Crenilabrus  has  less 
than  40.  Of  Crenilabrus  there  are  two  species,  the  Conner  (C.  melops), 
which  is  purplish  above  and  paler  below,  and  the  goldsinny  (C. 
cornubicus),  which  is  greenish  above  and  yellow  below.  Of  Labrus 
there  are  four  species — the  green  wrasse  (L.  lineatus),  which  is  green, 
streaked  with  yellow ;  the  striped  wrasse 
(L.  mixtus),  which  is  orange,  striped  with 
blue;  the  comber  (L.  donovani),  which 
has  a  few  white  spots  below  the  lateral 
line,  and  one  incomplete  white  stripe ; 
and  the  ballan  wrasse  (L.  maculatus), 
which  is  plentifully  spotted  with  white 
both  above  and  below  the  lateral  line. 
In  Labrus  the  teeth  are  in  a  single  row, 
and  characteristic,  as  shown  in  the 
sketch  of  those  of  the  ballan  wrasse 
(Fig.  19). 

Two  genera  only  have  more  than  3 
spines  in  the  anal,  these  are  also  wrasses ; 
they  are  Acantholabrus,  with  scales  on 

the  spines  and  rays,  and  Centrolabrus,  TEETH  OF  BALLAN  WRASSE. 
without  such  scales,  the  latter  also 

differing  from  the  former  in  having  less  than  40  scales  in  the  lateral 
line.  This  completes  the  thoracic  group  having  3  or  more  spines, 
as  follows: 


Fig.  19. 


Anal  with  three  spines — 

Pectorals  with  12  or  13  rays — Con's. 
Pectorals  with  14  to  17  rays. 

Dorsal  spines — 12  or  less — 
Tail  forked— 

•Front  teeth  conspicuous — Dentex. 

No  molar  teeth — 

Lateral  line  black  and  parallel  to  back — Cantharus. 

No  canine  teeth — Pagellus. 

Molar  teeth  and  canine  teeth — Pagrus» 

Dorsal  spines — more  than  12 — 
Tail  forked— Box. 

Tail  not  forked- 
Gill  covers  spiny ;  lips  thin — 

Dorsal  rays  under  13 — Polyprion. 

Dorsal  rays  over  13 — 

Dorsal  spines  15 — Sebastes. 
Dorsal  spines  10  or  n — Serranus. 


SORTATION. 


Gill  covers  smooth  or  serrated,  but  without  spines ; 

lips  thick — 

Notch     between     dorsal     spines     and     rays — 
Ctenolabrus. 

No  notch  between  dorsal  spines  and  rays — 

Lateral  line  with  less  than  40  scales — Creni- 
labrus. 

Lateral  line  with  more  than  40  scales— Labrus. 

Anal  with  more  than  three  spines  — 
Lateral  line  with  over  40  scales — 

Scales  on  spines  and  rays — Acantholabrus. 
Lateral  line  with  less  than  40  scales — 

No  scales  on  spines  and  rays — Centrolabrus. 

To  tbem,  and  to  none  that  preceded  them,  does  our  specimen  fish 
belong.  Never  was  there  a  fish  with  a  single  dorsal  in  which  the 
ventrals  could  be  more  distinctly  abdominal.  Back,  then,  to  our 
barbules,  which  will  give  us  four  main  divisions,  that  run  6,  4,  2, 
and  none,  to  guide  us  through  this  crowd  of  everyday  acquaintances. 
First,  then,  come  the  loaches,  with  six  barbules,  Cobitis,  the  spiny 
loach  (C.  tcenia),  distinguished  from  Nemachilus,  the  common  loach 
(N.  barbatula),  by  the  erectile,  double-pointed  spine  below  the  eye. 
Next,  with  4 barbules,  Cyprinus,  the  carp(C.  carpio),  and  Barbus,  the 
barbel  (B.  vulgaris),  the  latter  named  from  the  conspicuous  barbels 
we  have  thought  better  to  spell  in  the  older  way  to  save  confusion 
between  the  fish  and  its  appendages.  The  carp  has  a  long  dorsal 
with  22  rays,  the  barbel  has  a  short  one  with  half  the  number  ;  the 

scales  are  larger,  there  are  never 
more  than  40  in  the  lateral  line, 
while  there  may  be  70  in  that  of  the 
barbel;  and  the  carp  is  deeper  in 
build  and  more  coppery  in  colour. 

Next  are  the  genera  with  two 
barbules,  another  party  of  two,  each 
represented  by  a  single  well-known 
species  —  Goblo,  the  gudgeon  (G. 
fluviatilis),  and  Tinea,  the  tench  (T. 
vulgaris),  Gobio  having  8  rays  in  both 
anal  and  ventrals,  Tinea  having  9 
rays  in  the  anal  and  10  in  the  ven- 
trals; the  gudgeon  slender  and 
graceful,  clean  and  silvery,  the  tench 
deep  and  hump-backed,  and  slimy 
and  dull,  generally  blackish,  and 
occasionally  yellow — two  very  differ- 
ent fishes,  never  likely  to  be  mistaken 
for  one  another.  That  clears  away 
six  genera  in  these  groups  of  two,  leaving  us  with  seven  we 
can  group  in  a  similar  way  when  we  have  disposed  of  the  most  un- 
mistakable of  our  fresh-water  fishes,  the  pike. 

Like  the  rest  of  this  division  the  pike  (Esox  lucius)  has  no  bar- 
bules, like  two  of  them  its  abdomen  is  rounded  all  along,  and  has  no 


Fig.  20.— 
UPPER  JAW  OF  PIKE. 


SORTATION. 


39 


sharp  edge,  but,  unlike  all  of  them,  its  dorsal  fin  is  placed  above  the 
anal,  much  nearer  the  tail  than  the  head.  The  character  of  the  pike 
is  betrayed  by  the  teeth,  which  are  so  characteristic  that  we  must 
find  room  for  a  sketch  (Figs.  20  and  21).  Look  at  the  array  on  the 
vomer,  and  note  how  the  palatines  on  each  side  of  it  are  armed,  and 


Fig.  21. — DENTARY  OF  PIKE. 

how  those  on  the  premaxillary  are  kept  small,  so  as  not  to  obstruct 
the  entrance  into  the  capacious  mouth  ;  look  at  the  miscellaneous 
assortment,  large  and  small,  on  the  dentary,  that  is,  the  tooth-bear- 
ing  portion  of  the  lower  jaw  ;  and,  in  addition  to  all  these,  there  are 
teeth  on  the  tongue  and  hyoid  bones.  Compare  this  formidable 
dental  armament  with  the  modest  array  of  the  carp  (Fig.  22),  which 
has  teeth  only  on  the  lower  pharyngeal  bones. 

Now  for  the  other  genera,  two  and  two.  In  the  first  two  the 
abdomen  is  rounded  throughout,  but  the  dorsal  is  in  the  middle  of 
the  back ;  these  are  Carassius,  with  5  to  7  rays  in  the  anal,  and 
Leuciscus,  with  8  to  IT.  Of  Carassius  there  are  two  species,  the  gold- 
fish  (C.  auratus),  which  is  reddish-golden  and  silvery,  frequently 
marked  more  or  less  with  black,  and  varying  so  much  in  its  fin 
structure,  that  it  can  only  be  distinguished  from  C.  vulgaris  (the 
crucian  carp)  by  the  number  of  scales  in  its  lateral  line,  the  goldfish 
having  under  30,  the  other  having  more  than  30,  but  the  colour  is 

guide  enough,  the  crucian  carp  being 
greenish  above,  with  yellow  sides 
and  pinkish  abdomen,  which  the 
goldfish  never  has. 

A  genus  of  much  more  importance 
to  the  angler  is  Leuciscus,  with  its  8 
to  ii  anal  rays.  It  includes  the 
roach, the  chub, the  dace,  the  rudd, 
and  the  minnow.  In  four  of  these 
the  lateral  line  runs  from  head  to 
tail ;  in  the  minnow  it  does  not,  in 
fact,  in  technical  phrase,  it  is  "  incom- 
plete," although  made  up  of  from  80 
to  go  scales.  As  a  rule  the  minnow 
Fig.  22.— LOWER  PHARYNGEAL  is  distinguishable  by  its  small  size, 
TEETH  OF  CARP  it  being  generally  some  three  inches 

or  thereabouts  in  length,  but  as  a  few 

giant  specimens  are  on  record,  running  up  to  seven  inches,  it  is  as 
well  to  keep  an  eye  on  the  incomplete  lateral  line.  The  four  others 
have  the  line  complete,  and  though  easily  recognisable  when  side  by 
side  are  not  so  easy  of  description.  The  safest  way  is  to  count  the 
rows  of  scales  between  the  lateral  line  and  the  ventrals.  If  there  are 


40  SORTATION. 

5  rows  the  fish  is  a  dace  (L.  vulgaris),  always  silvery,  with  a  dorsal 
about  half  as  high  again  as  its  base  is  long.  If  there  are  4  rows  it 
is  either  a  roach  (L.  rutilus)  or  a  rudd  (L.  erythrophthalmus),  and  the 
rudd  at  once  proclaims  itself  by  its  red  eye,  deeper  build,  and  more 
coppery  hue,  and  by  the  dorsal  fin  being  rather  nearer  the  tail.  The 
rudd,  too,  has  a  habit  of  sticking  out  its  under  lip,  so  that  it  seems 
longer  than  it  really  is,  while  in  the  roach  the  upper  lip  is  always, 
actually  and  apparently,  a  little  the  longer.  If  there  are  3  rows  of 
scales  between  the  line  and  the  ventrals  the  fish  is  a  chub  (L. 
cephahts),  the  back  fin  of  which  is  only  about  a  quarter  as  high  as 
the  base  is  long,  and  the  head  of  which  is  proportionately 
stouter  than  in  the  other  species,  and  is  dashed  with  red 
and  gold. 

Two  genera  we  have  in  which  the  edge  of  the  abdomen  is  of  un- 
expected shape,  being  rounded  in  front  of  the  ventrals  and  sharply 
ridged  behind  them.  These  are  Abramis  (the  breams),  in  which  the 
dorsal  has  a  distinct  spine,  and  Alburnus  (the  bleak),  which  is 
without  any  trace  of  a  spine.  No  one  is  likely  to  mistake  the 
slender  bleak  (Alburnus  lucidus)  for  the  deeply-built  breams.  The 
bleak  might  have  been  grouped  with  the  flying-fish,  owing  to  the 
lower  lobe  of  its  tail  being  frequently  longer  than  the  upper,  but 
the  difference  is  not  always  invariably  apparent,  and  is  always 
so  slight  that  it  seemed  better  to  brigade  him  here  with  his  family 
relations.  There  are  two  breams,  the  bream  (Abramis  brama)  and 
the  white  bream  (A.  blicca)  from  which  it  can  be  distinguished 
by  the  truer  curve  of  its  back,  by  the  fins  being  brownish  and 
red,  instead  of  bluish  and  red,  by  the  lateral  line  having  from  50 
to  63  scales,  instead  of  from  43  to  52,  by  the  scales  between  the 
line  and  the  ventral  fin  being  6£  or  more,  instead  of  5  or  6,  and 
by  its  having  one  row  of  pharyngeal  teeth  instead  of  two.  The 
bream  is  often  known  as  the  carp  bream,  and  the  white  bream 
as  the  silver  bream,  in  reference  to  the  olive  colour  of  the  one, 
and  the  lighter,  whiter,  and  rosier  hue  of  the  other. 

We  have  now  dealt  with  all  those  in  which  the  abdomen  is 
rounded  throughout,  and  rounded  in  the  fore  half  and  ridged  in  the 
hinder  half ;  but  are  there  none  in  which  the  abdomen  is  compressed 
all  along  ?  Certainly — and  our  specimen  fish  is  one  of  them.  What 
can  it  be?  Let  us  look  at  its  upper  jaw.  Does  it  project  ?  No. 
Then  it  is  not  the  anchovy  (Engraulis),  and  its  genus  must  be  Clupea, 
the  only  one  left. 

But  which  of  the  five  species  is  it  ?  Its  back  fin  is  nearer  to  the 
head  than  to  the  tail,  so  it  cannot  be  C.  sprattus  (the  sprat) ;  and  it 
is  not  nearer  to  the  tail  than  to  the  head,  so  that  it  cannot  be 
C.  pilchardus  (the  pilchard),  which  it  would  be  if  it  had  from  6  to  8 
rays  in  its  ventrals,  or  one  of  the  two  shads,  C.  alosa  and  C.finta,  if 
it  had  9  or  10  rays  in  them.  Its  dorsal  fin,  then,  is  no  nearer  to  the 
head  than  to  the  tail,  and  there  is  only  one  species  in  which  that  is 
so.  The  pilchard  has  the  tip  of  the  back  fin  at  the  centre  of  gravity, 
which  is  not  quite  in  the  middle  of  the  back,  but  when  the  dorsal  is 
exactly  half-way  between  the  snout  and  the  base  of  the  tail  we 
recognise  the  herring.  Thus,  by  the  trail  of  the  herring,  we  have 
come  home,  and  the  fish  we  have  identified  by  eliminating  what  it 
is  not,  is  no  other  than  the  common  bloater. 


SORTAT10N.  41 


Yet  another  key — the  last  of  the  bunch — 
Ventrals  abdominal — 
Barbules  6 — 

Erectile  spine  under  eye — Cobitis 
No  spine  under  eye — Netnachilus 

Barbules  4 — 

Dorsal  with  22  rays — Cyprinus. 
Dorsal  with  n  rays — Barbus. 

Barbules  2 — 

Anal  8  rays;  ventrals  8  rays — Gobio. 
Anal  9  rays  ;  ventrals  10  rays — Tinea. 

No  barbules — 

Abdomen  rounded  all  along — 
Dorsal  placed  far  back — Esox. 

Dorsal  placed  midway — 

Anal  with  5  to  7  rays — Carassius. 
Anal  with  8  to  n  rays — Leuciscust 

Abdomen  rounded  in  front  of  ventrals  and   compressed 

behind  them — • 
Dorsal  with  spine — Abramis. 
Dorsal  without  spine — Alburnus- 

Abdomen  compressed  all  along — 
Upper  jaw  projecting — Engraulis. 
Upper  jaw  not  projecting — Clupea. 

Externals  have  served  our  purpose  of  identification,  but,  when  we 
come  to  classification  and  zoological  order,  recourse  to  internals  is 
inevitable.  A  few  notes  on  structure  we  cannot  do  without,  but  we 
need  not  in  this  little  book,  written  for  the  special  purpose  of  merely 
ascertaining  the  name  of  the  fish,  have  more  notes  than  are 
necessary  for  understanding  the  descriptions  that  follow.  The 
anatomy  of  the  fishes  is  not  a  simple  subject;  some  species  have  a 
thousand  separate  bones,  and  some  sharks  have  quite  as  many 
vertebrae  as  there  are  days  in  the  year,  though  the  vertebras  of  the 
bony  fishes  range  from  only  14  (in  Batistes)  to  as  many  as  200. 

The  vertebra  of  a  fish — that  is,  one  of  the  sections  of  which  the 
backbone  is  built  up — is,  as  is  well  known,  hollow  at  both  ends,  or, 
to  be  correct,  it  is  so  in  all  British  fishes.  For  descriptive  pur- 
poses, the  vertebrae  are  divided  into  those  that  are  abdominal  and 
those  that  are  caudal,  the  former  being  in  the  front  of  the  body  and 
carrying  the  ribs  by  means  of  the  transverse  processes  one  on  each 
side.  From  the  top  of  all  rise  two  "  neurapophyses,"  which  carry  a 
neural  spine,  the  arch  formed  by  these  at  their  bases  being  the 
neural  arch,  through  which  runs  the  spinal  cord.  From  the  bottom 
of  the  caudal  vertebrae  issue  "  haemapophyses,"  of  much  the  same 
shape,  which,  at  their  bases,  form  the  haemal  arch  and  at  their  tips 
carry  a  haemal  spine.  Some — exceptionally  all — of  the  neural  spines 
are  the  supports  of  the  "  interneurals,"  with  which  the  spines  and 
rays  of  the  dorsal  fin  articulate,  and  the  haemal  spines  carry  the 
"  interhaemals,"  which  are  connected  with  the  spines  and  rays  of 


42 


SORTATION, 


SORTATION. 


43 


the  anal  fin.  The  ventral  fins,  otherwise  the  pelvics,  are  supported 
by  the  pubic  bone,  and  the  pectorals  are  connected  with  the 
scapular  arch,  consisting  of  the  supra-scapular,  the  scapular,  and 
the  coracoid,  which  join  on  the  head. 

The  head  we  have  intentionally  left  to  the  last,  and  we  will  be 
content  with  an  outline  of  that  of  the  perch,  mentioning  only  a  few 


Fig.  24.— PREMAXILLARY,  MAXILLARY,  AND  DENTARY  OF  SALMON. 

of  the  parts,  and  advising  those  who  would  know  more  to  make 
acquaintance  with  some  of  the  beautiful  mounted  specimens  in 
most  museums,  where  the  many  parts  do  not  blend  into  the  mass 
as  they  do  in  diagrams. 

In  the  region  of  the  mouth  (Fig.  23)  we  have  the  premaxillary 
and  maxillary,  and,  in  the  lower  jaw,  the  mandible,  along  which, 
carrying  the  teeth,  is  the  dentary,  A  fish's  teeth  may  be  all  over 
its  mouth,  not  only  on  its  jawbones,  but  on  the  bones  of  its  palate 
and  its  pharynx,  and  even  on  its  tongue-bones  and  tongue,  which 
tongue  is  not  free  in  its  movements,  but  moves  only  as  part  of  the 
hyoid  apparatus.  The  curious  way  in  which  the  teeth  may  cluster 
on  the  bones  is  well  shown  in  the  salmon,  which  has  teeth  on  the 


Fig.  25. — GILL  ARCHES. 

dentary,  the  premaxillary,  the  maxillary,  the  palatines,  and  also  the 
vomer,  which  is  the  bone  placed  in  the  middle  of  the  mouth  (Fig.  24). 


44  SORTATION. 

In  the  gill  region  we  have  the  "  covers,"  consisting  of  the  oper- 
cular  with  the  sub-opercular  below  it,  and  the  pre-opercular 
with  the  inter-operular  below  it.  Under  the  inter-opercular  are 
the  branchiostegals,  the  rays  which  protect  the  gills,  and  if  we 
were  to  remove  the  gill-covers  we  should  see  the  gill-arches,  of 
which  we  have  a  separate  outline  (Fig.  25).  Of  these  arches  there 
are  five,  with,  as  a  rule,  gills  on  four  of  them,  the  gills  being  in  a 
cavity  below  the  pharynx,  with  clefts  between  the  arches  through 
which  the  water  passes  from  the  pharynx  on  its  way  out  through 
the  gill  openings.  The  three  arches  in  front  are  each  made  up  of 
four  bones ;  in  the  fourth  arch  there  are  but  three  bones,  and  the 
uppermost,  when  dilated,  becomes  the  upper  pharyngeal,  the  fifth 
arch,  composed  of  one  bone  only,  becoming  the  lower  pharyngeal. 
The  inner  side  of  the  gill-arches,  in  some  cases,  carry  projections 
known  as  gill-rakers,  which  act  as  a  grating  to  prevent  substances 
in  the  water  from  passing  into  the  gills.  The  gills  are  usually  held 
up  by  two  rows  of  cartilaginous  rods  along  the  rounded  edge  of  the 
arches,  but  in  some  fishes  there  is  one  row  instead  of  two.  The 
pseudo-branchiae,  or  false  gills,  are  along  the  inner  side  of  the  gill- 
covers.  They  do  not  assist  in  respiration  except  in  the  fish's  early 
life,  and  in  the  adult  they  receive  only  arterial  blood. 

The  gill-arches  are  bounded  by  the  hyoid  arch,  which  is  con- 
nected with  the  temporal  bones  by  the  stylo-hyoids,  its  largest 
member  being  the  ceratohyal,  to  the  inner  end  of  which  are 
attached  the  branchiostegals,  which  carry  the  branchiostegal  mem- 
brane in  much  the  same  way  as  an  umbrella  is  spread  by  its  ribs. 

At  the  base  of  the  cranial  cavity,  and  in  the  bony  fishes  more 
or  less  within  it,  is  the  ear,  a  highly-developed  organ,  consisting 
essentially  of  a  sac  often  divided  into  chambers,  each  containing  an 
otolith  with  indentations  and  grooves  to  which  the  acoustic  nerve 
is  connected.  These  otoliths  are  the  bones  that  people  are  so  fre- 
quently at  a  loss  to  assign  a  position  to.  That  in  the 
diagram  is  one  of  those  of  a  cod  (Fig.  26). 

The  eye,  like  the  ear,  is  of  different  grades  of  develop- 
ment.     In  some  fishes  it  is  very  highly  organised  ;  in 
one  genus  it  is  in  two  portions,  one  for  seeing  in  water 
and  the   other  for   seeing  in   air,  but  this  fish  is  not  a 
Britisher.     We  have  no  occasion  to  go  into  detail ;   all 
we  have  to  deal  with  is  the  bony  frontier.     Below,  this 
Fi     26  -     cons^sts   °f  tne   infraorbitals   or    suborbitals,    of    which 
OTOLITH     ^ne  Praeorbital  or  lachrymal  (nearest  the  mouth)  is  the 
OF          largest.     Above  the  eye  come  the  frontal  and  prefrontal, 
CODFISH.     w^n  tne  nasals  extending  over  the  anterior  half  towards 
the  maxillary,  while  below  it,  beyond  the  infraorbitals, 
an  outer  ring,  whose  main  elements  are  the  hyomandibular  and  the 
quadrate,  join  on  to  the  mandible  by  means  of  the  articulary. 

In  this  hasty  run  round  the  perch's  head  we  have  by  no  means 
mentioned  all  the  bones,  but  we  have  said  enough  to  enable  us  to 
deal  with  the  identification  of  the  families  and  genera  on  the  British 
list.  Before,  however,  venturing  on  the  systematic,  we  must  have  a 
few  examples  of  the  way  in  which  our  keys  are  worked,  and  for  this 
purpose  we  will  give  the  tabular  scheme  complete. 


CHAPTER     IV. 

TABULAR    SCHEME, 


Body  horizontal — 

Both  eyes  on  upper  surface ;  mouth  on  under  surface ;  no 

gill-cover. 
Gill-openings  lateral — Rhina,  237. 

Gill-openings  inferior — 

Tail  without  longitudinal  fold — 
No  dorsal — Trygon,  252. 

Dorsal  on  tail — 

Dorsal  between  ventrals — Cephaloptera,  251. 
Dorsal  beyond  ventrals — Myliobatis,  250. 

Tail  with  longitudinal  fold — 

Caudal  well  developed,  wings  almost  semi-circular — 

Torpedo,  248,  249. 
Caudal     rudimentary     or    absent,    wings    angular — 

Raia,  238-247. 

Both  eyes  on  upper  side ;    month  extending  to  upper  and 

under  sides  ;  gill-covers  present — 
Eyes  to  the  left — 

Two  spines  behind  left  ventral — Arnoglossus,  156. 
No  spines  behind  left  ventral- 
Caudal     as     long     as     from     snout    to    pectorals — 

Lepidorhombus,  155. 
Caudal  short — 

Scales    ctenoid    and     rather     large  —  Zeugopterus, 

153,  154- 
Scales    cycloid,    and    small    or    absent — Rhombus, 

151.  152- 

Eyes  to  the  right — 
•     Jaws  alike  on  both  sides — 

Lateral  line  straight — Hippoglossoides,  150. 
Lateral  line  curved — Hippoglossus,  149. 

Jaws  not  alike  on  both  sides — 

Mouth  at  end  of  snout — Pleuronectes,  157-161. 
Snout  curving  beyond  mouth — Solea,  162-165. 

Body  vertical— 
Caudal  fin  absent — 
Body  tapering — 
Tail  filamentary — Chimara,  221. 
Dorsal  with  a  low  penultimate  section — Zoarces,  82. 
45 


46  TABULAR     SCHEME. 

Body    rounded    and  smooth ;  pectorals  absent — Nerophis, 

116-118. 

Body  riband-shaped — 

Anal  absent ;  dorsal  with  crest — Regalccus,  103. 
Anal  and  ventrals  absent — Trichiurus,  22. 
Body  ridged — Hippocampus,  ng. 
Vertical  fins  continuous — 

Body    truncated ;     dorsal    and    anal    placed    far    back— 

Orthagoriscus,  123,  124. 
Body  depressed  in  front,    compressed   behind;    a  sucker 

between  the  ventrals — Lepadogaster  (gouanii),  gg. 
Body  tapering  from  a  large  head — Coryphanoidts,  148. 
Body  riband-shaped—  Cepola,  74. 
Body  long — 

Skin  not  extending  over  gill-covers — 
Ventrals  a  pair  of  filaments — Opliidium,  143. 
Ventrals  absent — Fierasfer,  144. 
Skin  extending  over  gill-covers — 
Without  pectorals — Murana,  168. 
With  pectorals. 

Upper  jaw  the  longer — Conger,  167. 
Lower  jaw  the  longer — Anguilla,  166. 
Tail  heterocercal — • 

Body  with  bony  plates  in  five  rows — Acipenser,  220. 
Body  without  bcny  plates — 
Anal  absent — 

Dorsals  with  spines — 

Spine  in  the  middle  of  each  dorsal — Centrina,  235. 
Spine  in  front  of  each  dorsal — Acanthias,  233. 
Dorsals  without  spines ;  skin  spiny — 
First  dorsal  in  the  middle  of  the  back — Lam-argns,  234. 
Both  dorsals  near  the  tail — Echinorhmus,  236. 
Anal  present — 

One  dorsal — Notidauus,  22g. 
Two  dorsals — 

First  dorsal  above  space  between  ventrals  and  anal — 
Anal  long,  extending  almost  to  caudal — Pristiums, 

232- 
Anal   moderate,   its   length   or  more  from  caudal — 

Scy Ilium,  230,  231.  , 

First     dorsal     above    space    between    pectorals     and 

ventrals  — 

Eye  with  nictitating  membrane — 
Head  hammer-shaped — Zygcena,  224. 
Head  conical — 

Pit  at  base  of  caudal ;  no  spiracles — CarcJiarias, 

222. 

No  pit  at  base  of  caudal — 
Second    dorsal    almost    as    large    as    first — 

Mustelus,  225. 
Second  dorsal  small — Galeus,  223. 


TABULAR     SCHEME. 


47 


Eye  without  nictitating  membrane — 
Tail  not  keeled — 

Upper  lobe  very  long — Alopecias,  227. 

Tail  keeled— 

Teeth  large  and  lancelate — Lamna,  226. 
Teeth  small  and  conical — Selache,  228. 

Tail  homocercal — 

Lower  lobe  of  tail  the  larger — 

Pectorals  long  and  used  for  flight — Exocattus,  89,  go« 
Lobes  of  tail  equal — 

Tail  at  an  angle  to  backbone — Trachypterus,  102. 
Tail  in  a  line  with  backbone — 
Body  short  and  stout — 

Scales  forming  a  carapace — Batistes,  120,  121. 
Gullet  dilatable  into  a  sphere — Tetrodon,  122. 
Body  deep  and  compressed — 

Iridescent,  with  round  silvery  spots — Lampris,  33. 
Grey,  with  black  blotch  edged  with  yellow,  and  spines 

with  filaments — Zeus,  29. 
Snout  long  and  tubular — Ctntriscus,  98. 
Fore  half  squarish,  hinder  half  narrow  ;  ocellated  spotr. 
along  lower  edge — Argyropelecus,  187. 

Body  long  and  slender — 
Ridged,  with  bony  plates — 
Caudal  ridge  continuous  with  lateral — Siphonostoma, 

114. 

Caudal  ridge  continuous  with  dorsal — Syngnathus,  115^ 
Both  jaws  prolonged  into  a  beak — 
With  finlets — Scombresox,  88. 
Without  finlets— Belone,  87. 

Body  eel-like — 

With  ventrals  ;  dorsal  spotted — Centronotus,  Si. 
Without  ventrals — Ammodytes,  145-147. 

Body  long  and  compressed — 

Dorsal    long-,   and   highest   in   middle   or   near   tail— 
Centrolophus,  30,  31. 

Body  long,  thin,  and  tapering — 
Tail  forked,  each  ventral  represented  by  a  single  scale 

— Lepidopus,  23. 

Upper  jaw  produced  into  a  long  sword — Xiphias,  21. 
First  dorsal  replaced  by  a  sucker— Echeneis,  44. 
First  dorsal  hidden  in  a  fleshy  ridge — 

Body  bulky,  with  ridges  and  tubercles— Cyclopterus,  Go. 
First  dorsal  replaced  by  isolated  spines — 

Spines  with  filaments — 

Head  large  ;  mouth  very  large — Lophius,  47. 
Spines  without  filaments — 

Tail  deeply  forked  and  tipped  with  black — Lichia,  27. 


<J.8  TABULAR    SCHEME, 

Scales  along  sides — 

Broad  vertical  bands  extending  on  to  fins — Naucrates,  25. 
No  bands — Pammelas,  26. 

Scales  along  sides  replaced  by  scutes — Gasterosteus,  91-97. 
Three  dorsals — Gadus,  125-132. 
Two  dorsals,  second  dorsal  adipose — 
Anal  extending  to  caudal — Paralepis,  186. 
Anal  not  extending  to  caudal — 
Anal  with  more  than  20  rays — 

Anal  in  three  portions  of  different  heights — Maurolicus, 

188. 

Anal  with  less  than  20  rays — 
Body  ridged — Argentina,  219. 
Body  not  ridged — 

Dorsal  rays  over  18 — Thymallus,  218. 
Dorsals  rays  under  18 — • 

Maxillary  short — Coregonus,  214-217. 
Maxillary  long — 

Dorsal  rays,  n — Osmerus,  213. 
Dorsal  rays,  12  to  15 — Salmo,  195-212. 
Two  dorsals ;  second  dorsal  not  adipose — 
Barbules  many  and  white — 

Body  octagonal ;  no  pectoral  filaments — Agonus,  58. 
Three  pectoral  filaments — 

Body  ridged — Trigla,  52-57. 
Two  pectoral  filaments  — 

Body  ridged  ;  snout  bifid — Peristethus,  59. 
Two  stiff  barbules  under  chin — 

Dorsals  wide  apart — Mullus,  8,  9. 
One  barbule — 

Ventral  a  bifid  filament — Phycis,  134. 
First  dorsal  short — 

Teeth  large  in  lower  jaw — Molva,  135. 
No  large  teeth  in  lower  jaw — Lota,  136. 
First  dorsal  of  only  3  rays — Raniceps,  41. 
No  barbules — 

Finlets  between  second  dorsal  and  caudal — 
Dorsals  wide  apart — 

Tail  with  two  slight  ridges — Scomber,  36-38. 
Tail  distinctly  keeled — A  uxis,  43. 
Dorsals  close  together ;  tail  keeled — 

First  dorsal  with  over  20  rays — Pelamys,  42. 
First  dorsal  with  under  20  rays — 
Finlets  7 — Thynnus,  41. 
Finlets  8  or  9 — Orcynus,  39,  40. 
Ventrals  jugular — 

Wide  apart — Callionymus,  72,  73. 
Close  together — 

First  dorsal  with  5  or  6  ra.ys—Trachinus,  45,  46. 
First  dorsal  with  10  rays — Merluccius,  133. 


TABULAR     SCHEME.  49 

Ventrals  abdominal — 
Dorsals  wide  apart — 

First  dorsal  with  4  spines— Mugil,  85,  86. 

First  dorsal  with  from  7  to  g  spines — Atherina,  83,  84. 
Dorsals  close  together — 

Body  red,  deep,  and  compressed  ;  mouth  protractile — • 

Capros,  28. 
Ventrals  thoracic — 

Lateral  line  armed  with  bony  plates — 

Two  spines  in  front  of  ventrals — Caranx,  24. 
Lateral  line  continued  through  caudal  fin — Sciana,  20. 
First  dorsal  of  2  spines,  wide  apart — Crystallogobius,  71 
First  dorsal  of  5  spines — Aphia,  70. 
First  dorsal  of  6  spines — 

Anal   spineless;    ventrals  with  a  spine   and   5  rays— 

Gobius  (pictus),  68. 
First  dorsal  of  6  to  10  spines — 

Anal  spineless ;  ventral  with  or  without  a  spine,  and 

with  less  than  5  rays — Coitus,  48-51. 
First  dorsal  of  6  or  7  spines 

Anal  with  one  spine — Gobius,  63-67,  and  69. 
First  dorsal  of  8  or  9  spines — 

Anal  with  3  spines — Labrax,  z. 
First  dorsal  of  14  or  15  spines — 

Anal  with  2  spines — Perca,  i. 

One  dorsal — 

Ventrals  absent — Anarrhichas,  75. 
Ventrals  rudimentary  and  surrounding  a  sucker — 
Dorsal  with  under  20  rays — LtpadogasUr,  99-101. 
Dorsal  with  over  20  rays — Liparis,  61,  62. 
Ventrals  jugular — 

Fore-part    of    dorsal    a    fringe    with    a    long    first  ray— 

Motella,  137-140. 

Dorsal  lowest  in  middle ;  ventrals  small— Blennius,  76-79. 
Dorsal  long  and  straight — 

Filaments  on  first  3  rays — Carelophus,  80. 
Ventrals  thick  and  pointed — Brosmius,  142. 
Ventrals  thoracic — 

Anal  with  one  spine  and  14  rays — 

Body  grey  with  red  stripe — Luvarus,  35. 
Anal  with  2  spines — 

Anal  rays  5  or  6 — Acetina,  3. 
Anal  rays,  27  to  29. 

Dorsal  spines  3,  short  and  isolated — Schedophilus,  34. 
Dorsal  spines  3  or  4,  short  and  not  isolated — Brama,  32, 
Anal  with  3  spines — 

Pectorals  with  12  or  13  rays — Coris,  113. 
Pectorals  with  14  to  17  rays — • 
Dorsal  spines  12  or  less. 
Tail  forked. 

Front  teeth  conspicuous — Dentex,  7. 


50  TABULAR     SCHEME. 

No  molar  teeth — 

Lateral     line     black     and    parallel     to    back — 

Cantharus,  10. 

No  canine  teeth — Pagdhis,  14-18. 
Molar  teeth  and  canine  teeth — Pagnis,  12,  13. 
Dorsal  spines  more  than  12 — 
Tail  forked — Box,  n. 
Tail  not  forked — 

Gill-covers  spiny  ;  lips  thin — 

Dorsal  rays  under  13 — Polyprion,  6. 
Dorsal  rays  over  13 — 

Dorsal  spines  15  ;  body  and  fins  orange  red — 

Sebastes,  19. 

Dorsal  spines  10  or  ii  —  Strranus,  4,  5. 
Gill-covers  smooth  or  serrated,  but  without  spines  ; 

lips  thick — 
Notch  between  dorsal  spines  and  rays — Ctenola- 

bms,  no. 

No  notch  between  dorsal  spines  and  rays — 
Lateral  line  with  less  than  40  scale ^ — Crcnlla- 

brus,  108,  109. 
Lateral  line  with  more  than  40  scales — Labrus, 

104-107. 

Anal  with  more  than  3  spines — 
Lateral  line  with  over  40  scales — 

Scales  on  spines  and  rays — Acantholabrus,  in. 
Lateral  line  with  less  than  40  scales — 

No  scales  on  spines  and  rays — Centrolabrus,  112. 
Ventrals  abdominal — 
Barbules  6 — 

Erectile  spine  under  eye — Cobitis,  183. 
No  spine  under  eye—Nemachilus,  184. 
Barbules  4 — 

Dorsal  with  22  rays — Cyprinus,  169. 
Dorsal  with  n  rays — Barbus,  172. 
Barbules  2 — 

Anal  8  rays;  ventrals  8  rays — Gobio,  173. 
Anal  9  rays  ;  ventrals  10  rays — Tinea,  179. 
No  barbules — 

Abdomen  rounded  throughout — 
Dorsal  placed  far  back — Esox,  185. 
Dorsal  placed  midway — 

Anal  5  to  7  rays — Carassius,  170,  171. 
Anal  8  to  n  rays — Leuciscus-^— 174-178. 
Abdomen  rounded  in  front  of  ventrals  and  compressed 

behind  them — 

Dorsal  with  spine — Abramis,  180,  181. 
Dorsal  without  spine — Alburnus,  182. 
Abdomen  compressed  throughout — 
Upper  jaw  projecting — Engrauiis,  189. 
Upper  jaw  not  projecting — Clupea,  190-194. 


CHAPTER  V. 

IDENTIFICATION, 


WITH  the  aid  of  our  tabular  scheme  we  ought  to  be  able  to  find 
the  genus  of  any  British  fish  without  difficulty.  Let  us  try 
a  few  examples. 

Here  is  a  flat-fish ;  the  mouth  is  not  on  the  under  surface,  and 
there  is  a  gill-cover.  That  takes  us  at  once  past  the  first  group. 
Are  its  eyes  to  the  left  or  to  the  right?  To  the  left.  Has  it  two 
spines  behind  the  left  ventral  ?  No.  Is  its  tail  short  or  long? 
Short.  Are  its  scales  large  or  small  ?  There  are  no  scales.  The 
genus  is  Rhombus,  and  of  the  two  species  it  can  only  be  R.  maximus, 
the  turbot. 

Here  is  a  fish  in  which  the  vertical  fins  are  continuous.  That 
takes  us  on  to  another  group.  Is  its  body  truncated  ?  No.  De- 
pressed in  front,'  compressed  behind,  with  a  sucker  between  the 
ventrals  ?  No.  Tapering  from  a  large  head  ?  No.  Riband-shaped  ? 
No.  The  body  is  long  and  rounded.  Does  the  skin  extend  over 
the  gill-covers  ?  Yes.  Has  it  pectoral  fins  ?  Yes.  It  is  one  of  the 
eels  ;  but  which  ?  Which  jaw  is  the  longer,  the  upper  or  the  lower  ? 
The  upper.  The  genus  is  Conger,  and  there  is  only  one  species. 

Let  us  try  one  with  a  heterocercal  tail.  Has  it  bony  plates 
along  it  ?  No ;  the  body  is  without  plates.  Has  it  an  anal  fin  ? 
Yes.  One  dorsal  or  two  ?  Two.  Is  the  first  dorsal  above  the 
interval  between  the  ventrals  and  anal  ?  No  ;  it  is  over  that  between 
the  pectorals  and  ventrals.  Is  its  head  hammer-shaped?  No;  it 
is  conical.  Has  it  a  pit  at  the  base  of  the  caudal  fin  ?  No.  Is 
its  second  dorsal  fairly  large,  or  is  it  much  smaller  than  the  first  ? 
Much  smaller.  The  genus  is  Galeus,  and  there  is  but  one  species, 
the  tope. 

Let  us  take  one  with  a  homocercal  tail.  Is  its  tail  at  an  angle 
to  the  backbone  ?  No ;  it  is  not  Trachyptcrus.  Is  its  body  short 
and  stout  and  armoured  ?  No.  Is  it  deep  and  compressed  ?  No  ; 
it  is  neither  the  opah,  the  dory,  nor  the  trumpet-fish.  Is  it  long  and 
slender  ?  Yes.  Is  it  ridged  with  bony  plates  ?  No.  Are  both 
jaws  prolonged  into  a  beak  ?  Yes  ;  it  is  either  Scombresox  or  Belone. 
Has  it  any  finlets  ?  No  ;  and  consequently  it  is  Belone,  the  one 
species  of  which  is  the  mackerel-guard,  or  gar-fish. 

Yet  another.  How  many  dorsals  are  there  ?  One  complete, 
and  a  series  of  spines  representing  one  in  front  of  it.  Have  the 
spines  any  filaments  ?  No.  Are  there  scales  all  along  its  side  or 
plates  ?  Plates.  The  genus  is  Gasterosteus,  one  of  the  sticklebacks, 
for  further  particulars  of  which  we  refer  to  the  chapter  in  which  the 
genera  are  sorted  into  their  respective  species,  though  from  the 

51 


52  IDENTIFICATION. 

fact  of  its  having  eight  spines  we  know  it  can  only  be  that  known  as 
the  nine-spined  stickleback,  which  may  have  8,  9,  10,  or  n  spines. 

Yet  another.  How  many  dorsals  are  there  ?  Three.  Three  ? 
It  can  only  be  Gadus ;  but  what  species  ?  Refer  to  the  ninth 
chapter.  Is  the  upper  jaw  longer  than  the  lower  ?  No.  Has  it  a 
barbule  ?  No.  We  have  reduced  the  possibles  to  two.  Is  the  lateral 
line  curved.  Yes,  and  it  has  a  greenish  back  and  golden  and  silvery 
sides,  and  is  altogether  a  good-looking  member  of  the  cod  family. 
It  is  a  pollack. 

Here  is  another  with  three  dorsals,  which  is  copper-coloured  and 
broadly  banded,  and  has  blackish  fins  and  a  brown  lateral  line.  Is 
its  upper  jaw  longer  than  the  lower  ?  Yes  ;  and  it  has  a  barbule.  It 
is  a  whiting-pout. 

Let  us  have  one  with  an  adipose  dorsal.  Does  the  anal  extend 
to  the  caudal  ?  No,  the  anal  does  not  reach  the  tail.  Has  the  anal 
more  than  twenty  rays  ?  No.  Is  the  body  ridged  ?  No.  How  many 
dorsal  rays  are  there  ?  A  fair  number ;  it  is  a  long  dorsal.  Are 
there  more  than  eighteen  ?  Certainly.  Then  it  is  Thymallus,  the 
grayling. 

Next,  we  take  one  with  two  dorsals  fully  developed.  Are  there 
any  barbules  ?  No.  Are  there  any  finlets  ?  No.  What  is  the 
position  of  the  ventrals  ?  Jugular.  Wide  apart  ?  No ;  close 
together.  How  many  rays  are  there  in  the  first  dorsal  ?  Ten. 
Then  it  is  the  hake  (Merluccius),  which,  by  the  way,  has  hinged 
teeth  like  the  angler. 

Let  us  have  a  representative  of  the  single  dorsals.  Has  it  any 
ventrals  ?  Yes,  and  they  are  thoracic.  What  is  the  anal  like  ?  Has 
it  a  spine  and  fourteen  rays  ?  No  ;  it  has  two  spines.  Two  spines  ? 
How  many  rays  ?  Five.  Enough  ;  it  can  only  be  the  ruff  (Acerina), 
which  its  rough  scales  prove  it  to  be. 

Here  is  another,  with  a  single  dorsal  and  abdominal  ventrals.  It 
has  no  barbules.  Its  abdomen  is  not  sharply  compressed,  but  gently 
rounded.  Its  dorsal  is  not  pla-ced  over  the  anal,  but  midway  along 
the  back  ;  and  the  anal  is  rather  long,  and  seems  to  have  ten  rays, 
though,  perhaps,  there  are  eleven.  The  genus  can  only  be  Leuciscus. 
But  what  is  the  species  ?  The  lateral  line  is  distinct  all  along 
the  body,  and  there  are  five  rows  of  scales  between  it  and  the  ven- 
trals, which,  with  the  silvery  side  and  bluish  back,  show  the  fish  to 
be  a  dace  (L.  vulgaris). 

Finally,  we  will  have  another,  and  run  it  through  the  mill.  Its 
body  is  not  horizontal ;  its  tail  fin  is  rather  large  ;  the  tail  is  not 
heterocercal ;  the  lobes  of  the  tail  are  equal ;  and  the  tail  is  in  a 
line  with  backbone.  There  is  nothing  eccentric  about  its  shape ; 
there  is  nothing  to  show  that  it  ever  had  two  dorsals ;  it  has  one 
dorsal,  and  the  ventrals  are  neither  jugular  nor  thoracic,  but 
abdominal.  It  has  no  barbules;  the  abdomen  is  not  rounded  at 
either  end,  but  compressed  all  along;  and  the  upper  jaw  does  not 
project.  The  genus  is  Clupea,  The  dorsal  is  nearer  to  the  head 
than  to  the  tail ;  the  ventrals  are  below  the  middle  of  the  dorsal, 
and  have  six  rays  and — to  end  all  this — it  can  only  be  the  pilchard, 
which  we  might  have  recognised  at  sight  by  its  large  scales. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

SUB-CLASSES   AND    ORDERS, 


OF  the  more  recent  schemes  of  classification  we  have  adopted 
that  which   divides   the   fishes,  living  and  extinct,  into  four 
sub  classes  : — 

1.  Lung-fishes  and  Mud-fishes. 

2.  Bony  fishes  and  Ganoids. 

3.  Chimaeroids. 

4.  Sharks  and  Rays. 

The  lung-fishes  and  mud-fishes  (DIPNOI)  have  a  heart  with 
three  chambers,  and  have  lungs  as  well  as  gills,  and  their 
nostrils  lead  into  the  hinder  part  of  the  mouth  cavity  like  those 
of  animals  of  higher  organisation.  Up  to  the  present  they  have 
only  been  found  in  Australia,  Africa,  and  South  America  ;  and 
as  they  are  unknown  in  British  waters  they  are  beyond  our  scope. 

With  them  out  of  the  way  we  can  describe  the  fishes  we  have 
to  deal  with  as  cold-blooded  vertebrates  adapted  for  life  in  the 
water,  breathing  by  gills,  having  a  heart  with  two  chambers,  a 
mouth  with  distinct  jaws,  and  limbs  either  absent  or  modified 
into  fins.  They  form  the  fifth  class  of  the  animal  kingdom, 
those  that  precede  it  being  the  mammals,  the  birds,  the  reptiles, 
and  the  amphibians.  The  class  can  be  divided  into  the  four 
sub-classes  already  mentioned,  the  three  with  which  we  are  left 
being  : 

1.  TELEOSTOMI  or  Bony-fishes  and  Ganoids. 

2.  HOLOCEPHALI  or  Chimseroids. 

3.  ELASMOBRANCHII  or  Sharks  and  Rays. 

Dealing  with  these  in  our  customary  way,  the  first  sub-clasS 
^an  be  divided  into  orders  thus  : 

TELEOSTOMI : 

Paired  fins  fan-like — ACTINOPTERYGII. 
Paired  fins  lobate— CROSSOPTERYGII. 

As  the  latter  are  not  represented  in  the  British  fauna,  and 
have  only  two  surviving  species  (the  bichir  and  the  reed-fish)  we 

53 


54  SUB-CLASSES    AND    ORDERS. 

confine  ourselves   to   the   first  order,  which   is  divisible   into  sub- 
orders  as  follows  : 

ACTINOPTERYGII  : 

Gills  lobed — LOPHOBRANCHII. 
Gills  laminate. 
Air  bladder  with  duct. 

Skeleton  notochordal  ;   body   with  dermal    ossifica 
tioris — CHONDROSTEI. 

Skeleton  osseous  ;  body  without  dermal  ossifications 
— PHYSOSTOMI. 

Air  bladder  without  duct. 

Skeleton  incompletely  ossified  ;  skin  smooth,  roughly 
scaled  or  ossified — PLECTOGNATHI. 

Some     of    the     fin    rays     unarticulated — ACANTHO- 

PTERYGII. 

None  of  the  fin  rays  unarticulated  ;  ventrals,  when 
present,  jugular  or  thoracic — ANACANTHINI. 

The  second  sub-class,  HOLOCEPHALI,  now  represented  by  only 
three  genera  belonging  to  one  family,  is  characterised  by  a  single 
external  gill-opening  with  a  rudimentary  cartilaginous  gill-cover 
and  four  branchial  clefts  within  the  gill  cavity,  and  by  the  jaws 
being  attached  to  the  skull. 

The  sub-class  that  includes  the  sharks  and  rays  is  of  consider- 
ably more  importance.  The  body  is  more  or  less  cylindrical  or 
depressed,  the  skeleton  cartilaginous,  the  gills  are  attached  to 
the  skin  by  their  outer  edges  with  from  five  to  seven  gill-openings, 
there  being  no  gill-cover,  and  the  jaws  being  distinct  from  the 
skull.  The  two  orders  are  recognisable  as  follows  : — 

ELASMOBRANCHII  : 
Gill  openings  lateral — SELACHOIDEI. 
Gill  openings  inferior — BATOIDEI. 

The  first  being  the  sharks,  the  second  the  skates  and  rays. 

Of  course  there  are  other  distinctions  in  each  case,  but  our 
object  being  identification  and  not  classification,  we  have  mentioned 
only  those  that  are  most  noticeable. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

ORDERS,  SUB-ORDERS,  AND  FAMILIES, 


THE  families  represented  in  British  waters  are  herein  arranged 
alphabetically  under  each  order  or,  in  the  case  of  the 
Actinopterygii,  sub-order,  which  are  also  alphabetical  as  being 
more  readily  referred  to.  With  each  family  is  given  a  list,  also 
alphabetical,  of  its  British  genera,  the  numbers  indicating  where 
the  species  are  figured  on  the  coloured  plates, 

Acanthopterygii-     (TELEOSTOMI.)     Plates  i.  to  xiv.     Nos.  i  to  113 

ATHERINID^. — Body  more  or  less  elongate.  Two  dorsals  more  or  less 
remote  from  each  other,  spines  of  the  first  feeble  and  fewer  than  rays 
of  the  second,  anal  similar  to  second  dorsal ;  ventrals  abdominal,  of 
one  spine  and  five  rays.  Lateral  line  indistinct.  Scales  cycloid  and 
of  moderate  size.  Eyes  lateral ;  mouth  moderately  wide  and  not 
deeply  cleft ;  teeth  minute ;  gill  opening  wide  ;  four  gills ;  pseudo- 
branchiae  present ;  branchiostegals  five  or  six.  Atherina,  83,84. 

BLENNIID.E. — Body  long  and  more  or  less  cylindrical.  One,  two,  or  three 
dorsals  occupying  most  of  the  back,  spines  varying  in  number  from 
all  to  none ;  anal  long  ;  ventrals  generally  jugular  and  sometimes 
rudimentary  or  absent.  Scales  small  and  occasionally  absent.  Gill 
openings  varying;  pseudobranchiae  present.  Anarrhichas,  75;  Blen- 
nius,  76  to  79 ;  Carelophus,  80 ;  Centronotus,  81  ;  Zoarces,  82. 

CALLIONYMID^E.—  Body,  fore  part  depressed,  hinder  part  cylindrical.  Two 
dorsals,  first  with  three  or  four  flexible  spines ;  ventrals  widely  sepa- 
rated, with  five  rays.  Lateral  line  single  or  double.  Eye  moderate 
and  generally  directed  upwards.  Mouth  narrow,  upper  jaw  protractile. 
Small  teeth  on  jaws,  none  on  vomer.  Angle  of  praeoperculum  armed 
with  a  spine.  Gill  opening  very  narrow  ;  a  slit  behind  the  fourth  gill ; 
pseudobranchiae  present ;  branchiostegals  five  or  six.  Callionymus, 
72.  73- 

CARANGIDJE. — Body  more  or  less  compressed,  oblong  or  sub-cylindrical. 
One  or  two  dorsals,  spinous  dorsal  short,  when  present,  and  some- 
times modified  into  tentacles  or  a  suctorial  disk,  soft  dorsal  always  long 
when  spinous  is  absent ;  soft  dorsal  and  anal  similar,  hinder  portion  of 
both  occasionally  consisting  of  finlets ;  ventrals  thoracic,  sometimes 
rudimentary  or  absent.  Lateral  line  with  or  without  shield-like  plates. 
Scales  small  or  absent.  Eye  lateral.  Mouth  small;  teeth  conical, 
when  present.  Gill  opening  wide.  Capros,  28  ;  Caranx,  24;  Lichia, 
27 ;  Naucrates,  25 ;  Pammelas,  26. 

55 


5$  ORDERS,    SUB-ORDERS,    AND    FAMILIES. 

CENTRISCID^;.  —  Body  compressed,  long,  oblong,  or  elevated.  Two  dorsals 
the  first  short  with  one  strong  spine,  the  second  soft  and  moderate  in 
size  like  the  anal  ;  ventrals  abdominal  and  rudimentary.  No  lateral 
line.  Scales  absent  or  small  and  rough,  body  covered  with  bony 
patches.  Mouth  small  and  at  end  of  a  long  tube  or  trumpet.  No 
teeth.  Gills  four  ;  pseudobranchiae  present  ;  branchiostegals  three 
or  four.  Centriscus,  98. 

CEPOLID^E.  —  Body  long  and  compressed.  Dorsal  long,  more  or  less  con- 
tinuous with  caudal  and  anal,  caudal  rounded  ;  ventrals  thoracic  and 
consisting  of  one  spine  and  five  rays.  Eye  large  and  lateral.  Teeth 
of  moderate  size,  angle  of  praeoperculum  without  bony  stay.  Gill 
opening  wide  ;  pseudobranchiae  present  ;  branchiostegals  six. 
Cepola,  74. 


.  —  Body  compressed.  One  long  dorsal,  without  spinous 
division,  extending  almost  to  caudal  ;  anal  without  spines  ;  ventrals 
generally  thoracic  and  receivable  in  groove.  Eye  lateral.  Mouth 
cleft  wide.  Teeth  small  and  conical  or  absent.  Praeoperculum  with- 
out bony  stay.  Gill  opening  wide.  Brama,  32  ;  Lampns,  33  ;  Luvarus, 
35  ;  Schedophilus,  34. 

COTTIDJE.  —  Body  oblong  or  sub-cylindrical.  Two  dorsals,  the  spinous  less 
developed  than  the  soft  one,  or  than  the  anal  ;  ventrals  thoracic  with 
five  or  fewer  soft  rays,  sometimes  rudimentary.  Eye  lateral  or 
directed  upwards  and  outwards.  Mouth  lateral.  Teeth  villitcrm,  no 
canines.  Some  of  the  head  bones  armed.  Infraorbitals  articulate 
with  praeoperculum.  Cottus,  48  to  51  ;  Trigla,  52  to  57. 

CYCLOPTERID^.  —  Body  thick  or  oblong.  Dorsal  spinous,  or  partly  spinous 
soft  part  of  dorsal  equal  to  anal  ;  ventrals  thoracic  or  jugular,  com 
posed  of  one  spine  and  four  or  five  soft  rays,  which  are  rudimentary 
and  support  a  round  disk,  which  is  encircled  by  a  cutaneous  fringe. 
Skin  bare  or  tubercular.  Teeth  small.  Gill  opening  narrow.  Anal 
papilla  prominent.  Cyclop  let  us,  60  ;  Liparis,  61,  62. 

CYTTID^E.  —  Body  elevated,  compressed.  Dorsal  in  two  portions.  Ventrals 
thoracic.  Skin  with  small  scales,  or  shields,  or  bare.  Eye  lateral. 
Teeth  conical  and  small.  No  stay  to  praeoperculum.  Gill  opening 
large.  Anal  papilla  not  prominent.  Zeus,  29. 

DACTYLOPTERID^E.  —  Body  elongate,  sub-cylindrical  and  more  or  less 
angular.  One  or  two  dorsals  ;  ventrals  thoracic,  with  five  or  fewer 
rays.  Scales  replaced  by  plates.  Praeoperculum  articulated  with  in- 
fraorbitals.  Agonus,  58  ;  Peristethus,  59. 

GASTEROSTEID^E.  —  Body  elongate,  compressed.  First  dorsal  absent  or 
represented  by  isolated  spines;  second  dorsal  soft  ;  ventrals  abdominal, 
consisting  of  a  spine  and  a  small  ray.  Scales  absent  but  replaced  by 
scutes  along  the  side.  Mouth  cleft,  small  and  oblique;  teeth  villiform  ; 
opercular  bones  unarmed,  infraorbitals  covering  cheek.  Branchi- 
ostegals three.  G  aster  osteits,  91  to  97. 

GOBJESOCID^.—  Body  irregular  and  ungraceful.  Dorsal  soft  and  short  and 
near  tail  ;  anal  similar  to  dorsal  ;  ventrals  jugular  with  sucker  be- 
tween them.  No  scales.  Lepadogaster,  99  to  101. 


ORDERS,    SUB-ORDERS,    AND    FAMILIES.  57 

.  —  Body  long.  One  dorsal,  frequently  divided  into  two,  with 
flexible  spines  in  front  portion,  which  has  fewer  rays  than  the  other  ; 
anal  similar  to  soft  part  of  dorsal  ;  ventrals  occasionally  united  into 
disk.  Scales  present  or  absent.  Teeth  generally  small,  sometimes 
canines  present  Infraorbitals  not  articulated  with  praeoperculum. 
Gill  opening  narrow.  Pseudobranchiae  sometimes  rudimentary. 
Aphia,  70;  Cry  stallogob  ius,  71  ;  Gobius,  631069. 


.  —  Body  long  or  oblong.  One  dorsal,  spinous  portion  with  rays 
as  many  as  or  more  than  the  soft  portion  ;  anal  similar  to  soft  dorsal  ; 
ventrals  thoracic,  with  one  spine  and  five  rays.  Lateral  line  con- 
tinuous or  interrupted.  Scales  cycloid.  Teeth  on  jaws  ;  none  on 
palate.  Gills,  three-and-a-half.  Pseudobranchiae  present.  Branchi- 
ostegals, five  or  six.  Acantholabrus,  in  ;  Centrolabrus,  112  ;  Com,  113  ; 
Crenilabrus,  108,  109;  Ctenolabrus,  no;  Labrus,  10410  107. 

LOPHIID^E.  —  Body  pyriform,  head  large.  First  dorsal  absent  or  represented 
by  a  few  spines  placed  forwards  and  developed  into  tentacles  ;  ventrals 
jugular,  with  four  or  five  soft  rays  occasionally  absent.  Carpal  bones 
prolonged  into  arms  terminated  by  the  pectorals.  Scales  absent. 
Teeth  villiform  or  rasp-like.  Infraorbitals  not  articulated  with  prae- 
operculum. Gills  from  two-and-a-half  to  three-and-a-half  ;  gill  opening 
a  small  hole.  Pseudobranchiae  generally  absent.  Lophius,  47. 

MUGILID.E.  —  Body  oblong  and  compressed,  fore  part  occasionally  de- 
pressed. Two  dorsals,  anterior  of  four  stiff  spines,  posterior  shorter 
than  anal  ;  ventrals  abdominal.  Scales  generally  cycloid.  Head 
scaly.  Eye  lateral.  Mouth  narrow  or  moderate;  teeth  fine  or 
absent.  Gills  four  ;  gill  opening  wide,  Pseudobranchiae  present. 
BranchiostegaCs  four  to  six.  Mugil,  85,  86. 

MULLID^E.  —  Body  long  and  compressed.  Two  dorsals  wide  apart,  with 
weak  spines  :  second  dorsal  similar  to  anal  ;  ventrals  with  one  spine 
and  five  rays.  Lateral  line  continuous.  Scales  ctenoid  and  large. 
Head  convex  ;  eye  lateral  ;  mouth  in  front  of  snout  ;  teeth  weak  and 
various  :  two  stiff  barbules  below  the  chin.  Pseudobranchiae  present. 
Branchiostegals  four.  Mullus,  8,  9 

PERCID^E.  —  Body  more  or  less  compressed,  oblong,  and  not  elongate. 
Dorsals  one  or  two,  occupying  most  of  the  back,  spinous  dorsal  well 
developed,  generally  with  stiff  spines;  anal  similar  to  soft  dorsal; 
ventrals  thoracic,  with  one  spine  and  five  soft  rays.  Lateral  line  con- 
tinuous when  present.  Scales  ctenoid  or  cycloid,  rarely  extending 
over  vertical  fins  Eye  lateral  ;  mouth  more  or  less  protractile  ;  no 
barbules  ;  teeth  villiform,  with  or  without  canines.  Praeoperculum 
entire  or  serrated  and  not  articulated  to  infraorbitals.  Pseudobranchiae 
present.  Branchiostegals  six  to  eight.  Acerina,  3  ;  Dentex,  7;  Labrax, 
2  ;  Perca,  i;  Polyprion,  6;  Serranus  4,  5. 

SCI/ENLD^;.  —  Body  somewhat  long  and  compressed.  Two  dorsals,  second 
larger  than  first  and  longer  than  anal  ;  anal  with  one  or  two  spines  ; 
pectorals  branched  ;  ventrals  thoracic,  consisting  of  a  spine  and  five 
soft  rays.  Lateral  line  often  continued  on  to  caudal  fin.  Scales 
ctenoid  or  cycloid,  covering  both  head  and  snout.  Eye  lateral.  Mouth 
in  front  of  snout.  Teeth  in  villiform  bands,  palate  toothless.  Branchi- 
ostegals seven.  Sciana,  20. 

E 


58  ORDERS,    SUB-ORDERS,    AND    FAMILIES. 

SCOMBRESOCID^;.—  Body  long  and  rounded.  Dorsal  rayed  and  opposite 
anal.  Scales  keeled  along  free  portion  of  tail.  Lower  pharyngeals 
united  into  one  bone.  Pseudobranchiae  glandular  and  hidden. 
Belone,  87  ;  Exocatus,  89,  go  ;  Scombresox,  88. 

SCOMBRID.E.  —  Body  slightly  compressed.  Two  dorsals,  first  with  fewer 
spines  than  second  has  rays,  finlets  behind  dorsal  and  anal  occasionally 
absent;  ventrals  thoracic,  with  one  spine  and  five  rays  Side  of  tail 
sometimes  keeled.  Scales  small  or  abssnt.  Eye  lateral.  Infraorbitals 
not  articulated  to  praeoperculum.  Gill  opaning  wide.  Auxis,  43  ; 
Echeneis,  44  ;  Orcynus,  39,  40;  Pelamys,  42;  Scomber,  36  to  38  ;  Thynnus,  41; 


.  —  Body  oblong,  compressed,  or  sub-cylindrical.  Dorsal  with 
spinous  part  as  large  or  larger  than  the  soft  part  ;  soft  part  similar  to 
anal  ;  ventrals  thoracic,  generally  with  a  spine  and  five  rays,  but 
sometimes  rudimentary.  Some  of  the  head  bones  armed  ;  armature  of 
angle  of  praeoperculum  supported  by  the  stay  to  the  infraorbital  ring. 
Teeth  in  villiform  bands.  Pseudobranchiae  present.  Branchiostegals, 
five  to  seven.  Sebastes,  19, 


—  Body  oblong,  compressed.  One  dorsal,  spinous  and  soft  por- 
tions equally  developed;  anal  with  three  spines;  ventrals  thoracic,  of 
one  spine  and  five  rays.  Lateral  line  not  extending  to  caudal.  Scales 
cycloid  or  minutely  ctenoid.  Eye  lateral.  Mouth  lateral,  in  front  of 
snout  ;  cutting  teeth  in  front  of  jaws,  or  a  lateral  series  of  molars,  or 
both.  Pseudobranchiae  well  developed.  Branchiostegals,  five  to 
seven.  Box,  n  ;  Cantharus,  10  ;  Pagellus.  1410  18  ;  Pagrus,  12,  13. 


.  —  Body  oblong  and  compressed.  One  dorsal,  long  and 
without  distinct  spinous  division,  or  with  rudimentary  spines  in  front  ; 
ventrals  thoracic.  Scales  very  small.  Eye  lateral.  Teeth  very  small 
in  jaws,  palate  toothless,  oesophagus  with  barbed  teeth.  Praeoper- 
culum not  articulated  with  infraorbitals.  Gill  opening  wide.  Centro- 
lophus,  30,  31. 

TRACHINID^E.  —  Body  long,  hinder  part  compressed  ;  head  often  large 
One  or  two  dorsals,  spinous  portion  shorter  and  less  developed  than 
the  other  ;  anal  similar  to  soft  dorsal  ;  pectorals  with  or  without 
appendages  ;  ventrals  thoracic,  with  one  spine  and  five  rays.  Scales 
present  or  absent.  Teeth  small  and  conical.  Praeoperculum  not 
articulated  with  infraorbitals.  Tra  hinus,  45,  46. 

TRACHYPTERID^.  —  Body  riband-shaped;  bones  porous,  thin,  and  light. 
Dorsal  as  long  as  back,  rays  unbranched  and  not  articulated,  front 
portion  detached  ;  anal  absent  ;  caudal  at  an  angle  to  the  longitudinal 
axis  or  rudimsntary  ;  ventrals  jugular  and  filamentary.  Scales  absent. 
Eye  lateral.  Mouth  cleft  small.  Teeth  small  and  smooth.  Gills 
four  ;  gill  opsning  wide.  Pseudobranchiae  present.  Regalecus,  103  ; 
T  r  achy  p  terns,  102. 

TRICHIURID^.  —  Body  long,  compressed  or  riband-shaped.  Dorsal  and 
anal  long  and  many  rayed,  and  nearly  similar  in  size,  and  occasionally 
ending  in  finlets  ;  caudal  forked  or  absent  ;  ventrals  thoracic,  some- 
times rudimentary.  Scales  absent  or  rudimentary.  Eye  lateral. 
Mouth  cleft  deep.  Teeth  in  jaws  or  on  palate,  a  few  of  them  strong 
and  conical.  Gill  opening  wide.  Lepidopus,  23  ;  Trichiunis,  22. 


ORDERS,    SUB-ORDERS,    AND    FAMILIES.  59 

XIPHIID^E. — Body  long  and  compressed.  One  or  two  dorsals,  with  no 
spinous  portion  ;  ventrals  thoracic  and  rudimentary  or  absent.  Scalej 
forming  rudimentary  shields  or  absent.  Eye  lateral.  Mouth  deeply 
cleft ;  upper  jaw  produced  into  a  long  sword  formed  of  the  coalesced 
premaxillaries,  vomer,  and  ethmoid ;  teeth  absent  or  rudimentary. 
Pseudobranchise  present.  Branchiostegals,  seven.  Xiphias,  21. 


Anacanthini  (TELEOSTOMI)  PLATES  xvi.  to  xxi.     Nos.  125  to  165 

GADID.E. — Body  elongate.  Dorsals,  one,  two,  or  three,  occupying  almost 
the  entire  length  of  the  back  ;  rays  of  posterior  dorsal  well  developed  ; 
one  or  two  anals  ;  caudal  usually  free ;  ventrals  jugular,  consisting  of 
several  rays  or  filamentary.  Scales  cycloid,  moderate  or  small.  Gill 
opening  wide.  Gill  membranes  not  as  a  rule  attached  to  isthmus. 
Pseudobranchise  glandular  and  rudimentary  or  absent.  Brosmius,  142  ; 
Gadus,  125  to  132;  Lota,  136;  Merluccius,  133;  Molva,  135;  Motella, 
137  to  440;  Phycis,  134  ;  Raniceps,  141. 

MACRURID^E. — Body  with  large  head  and  tapering  tail.  Dorsals  two, 
anterior  short,  posterior  long.,  weak,  and  continued  to  end  of  tail ;  anal 
similar  to  second  dorsal;  caudal  absent;  ventrals  of  several  rays, 
thoracic  or  jugular.  Scales  spiny,  keeled  or  striated.  Coryphanoides, 
148. 

OPHIDIID/E. — Body  long.  Dorsal  united  to  anal,  and  occupying  nearly 
the  entire  length  of  the  back ;  pectorals  often  absent  ;  ventrals 
rudimentary  and  generally  jugular,  but  sometimes  absent.  Scales 
present  or  absent.  Canine  teeth  sometimes  present.  Gill  opening 
wide ;  gill  membranes  not  attached  to  isthmus.  Ammodytes,  145 
to  147;  Fierasfer,  144;  Ophidium,  143 

PLEURONECTID^E. — Body  flat  and  unsymmetrical.  Dorsal  and  anal  united 
and  long.  Lateral  line  on  upper  side,  single,  double,  or  triple,  and 
curved  or  straight.  Scales  present  or  absent.  Both  eyes  on  upper 
side,  sometimes  rudimentary.  Gills,  four.  Pseudobranchise  well 
developed.  Colour  dark  on  upper  side,  white  or  lightly  spotted  on 
lower.  Arnoglosstis,  156  ;  Hippoglossoides,  ,150  ;  Hippoglossus,  149  ; 
Lepidorhombus,  155  ;  Pleuronecies,  157  to  161 ;  Rhombus,  151,  152 ; 
Solea,  162  to  165  ;  Zeugopterus,  153,  154. 


Batoidei    (ELASMOBRANCHII.)  PLATES  xxxi.  to  xxxiii.  Nos.  238  to  252. 

MYLIOBATID^;.  —  Body  flat,  angular  and  broad.  Dorsal  small  and  situated 
on  tail  '  pectorals  skirting  the  sides  of  the  body,  but  absent  from  the 
sides  of  the  head,  except  at  the  snout,  where  they  form  cephalic 
appendages  ;  caudal  absent.  Tail  slender.  Teeth,  flat  molars. 
Cephaloptera  ,  251  ;  Myliobatis,  250. 


—  Body  flat,  rhombic,  generally  spiny.  Dorsals,  one  or  two,  on 
tail  ;  pectorals  skirting  sides  of  body  and  extending  to  snout  ;  caudal 
rudimentary  or  absent.  Tail  with  longitudinal  fold  on  each  side,  and 
without  serrated  caudal  spine.  Raia.  238  to  247. 


60  ORDERS,    SUB-ORDERS,    AND    FAMILIES* 

TORPEDINID^E. — Body  flat,  broad,  and  smooth,  and  gradually  passing  into 
tail.  Dorsal  rayed,  sometimes  absent ;  pectorals  not  extending  beyond 
base  of  muzzle;  caudal  well  developed.  Tail  with  longitudinal  fold 
on  each  side  An  electric  organ  between  the  pectorals  and  the  head. 
Torpedo,  248,  249. 

TRYGONID.E. — Body  broad.  Dorsal,  caudal,  and  anal  absent  or  rudi- 
mentary ;  pectorals  skirting  body  and  head  and  confluent  at  snout. 
Tail  long  and  slender  without  longitudinal  fold.  Vertical  fins,  often 
replaced  by  strong  serrated  spine.  Try-on,  252 


Chondrostei.     (TELEOSTOMI.)    PLATE  xxvii.     No.  220 

ACIPENSERID^;. — Body  long  and  sub-cylindrical,  with  five  rows  of  bony 
shields  Dorsal  near  caudal ;  anal  nearer  caudal  than  dorsal.  Four 
barbules  on  lower  side  of  snout.  Teeth  minute  or  absent.  Gill  mem- 
branes confluent  at  throat  and  attached  to  isthmus.  Gills,  four;  two 
acce-.sory  gills.  Branchiostegals  absent.  Acipenscr,  220. 


Holocephali.        PLATE  xxvii.     No.  221. 


.  —  Body  stout,  with  filamentous  tail.  Dorsals,  two,  occupying 
greater  part  of  back,  anterior  dorsal  with  long,  strong  spine  ;  caudal 
absent,  but  tail  with  fins  on  upper  and  lower  edges  similar  to  a  dorsal 
and  anal  ;  anal  very  low  Snout  prominent  and  without  appendage. 
Single  gill  opening  covered  by  fold  of  skin  enclosing  rudimentary 
gill  cover  ;  gill  clefts,  four,  within  the  cavity.  Chimara,  221 


Lophobranehii.     (TELECSTOMI.)    PLATE  xv.    Nos.  114  to  119. 

SVNGNATHID^.— Body  ridged  or  rounded.  One  dorsal,  which  is  not 
spinous  ;  anal  absent  or  present ;  caudal  absent  or  present ;  pectorals 
absent  or  present ;  ventrals  absent.  Snout  prolonged.  Mouth  ter- 
minal, small,  and  toothless.  Gills  not  laminated,  but  of  small  rounded 
tufts  ;  gill  opening  small,  round,  and  at  upper  posterior  angle  of  cover, 
which  is  a  simple  plate.  Hippocampus,  119;  Nerophis,  116  to  118; 
Siphonostoma,  114 ;  Syngnathus,  115. 


PhysostOHli.  (TELEOSTOMI.)  PLATES  xxii.  to  xxvii.  Nos.  166  to  219. 

CLUPEID^S.— Body  slender,  abdomen  often  compressed  into  a  serrated 
edge.  Dorsal  not  long,  with  weak  rays,  few  or  moderate  in  number; 
no  adipose  fin  ;  anal  sometimes  many-rayed.  Lateral  line  present  or* 
absent.  Scales  on  body,  but  not  as  a  rule  on  head.  No  barbules. 
Gill  openings  very  wide.  Pseudobranchiae  well  developed  when 
present.  Clupea,  190  to  194 ;  Engnndis,  189. 


ORDERS,    SUB-ORDERS,    AND    FAMILIES.  6l 

CYPRINID^E.  —  Body  oblong  or  long;  abdomen  usually  rounded.  Single 
dorsal,  no  adipose  fin.  Scales  present  or  absent,  no  bony  plates  ; 
head  without  scales.  Mouth  toothless,  but  from  one  to  three  rows  of 
teeth  on  lower  pharyngeal  bones.  Margin  of  upper  jaw  formed  by 
premaxillaries.  Pseudobranchiae  generally  present.  Branchiostegals, 
three.  Abramts,  180,  181  ;  Albtirnus,  182;  Barbus,  172;  Carassius,  170, 
171;  Cobitis,  183;  Cyprinus,  169;  Gobio,  173;  Leuciscns,  174  to  178; 
Newachiliis,  184;  Tinea,  179. 


.  —  Body  oblong.  Single  dorsal  near  tail,  no  adipose  fin.  Scales 
on  body  but  not  on  head.  Margin  of  upper  jaw  formed  by  maxil- 
laries  laterally,  and  premaxillaries  mesially.  Barbules  absent.  Gill 
opening  very  wide.  Pseudobranchiae  glandular  and  concealed.  Esox, 
185- 

MUR^ENID^E.  —  Body  long,  cylindrical,  or  riband-shaped.  Dorsal  long 
and  confluent  with  anal,  or  separated  by  tip  of  tail  ;  pectorals  present 
or  absent;  ventrals  absent.  Scales  rudimentary  or  absent.  Sides  of 
upper  jaw  formed  by  premaxillaries  more  or  less  coalescent  with 
vomer  and  ethmoid.  Anguilla,  166  ;  Conger,  167  ;  Murana,  168. 

SALMONID/E.  —  Body  compressed,  moderate  or  elongate  ;  abdomen  rounded. 
Two  dorsals,  the  anterior  rayed,  the  posterior  adipose.  Scales  on 
body  but  not  on  head.  Margin  of  upper  jaw  formed  laterally  of 
maxillaries  and  mesially  of  premaxillaries.  Barbules  absent.  Pseudo- 
branchiae  present.  Argentina,  219;  Coregomis,  214  to  217;  Osmenis, 
213;  Salmo,  195  to  212;  Thymalhis,  218. 

SCOPELID^;.  —  Body  elongate.  Two  dorsals,  the  posterior  adipose.  Scales 
present  or  absent.  Margin  of  upper  jaw  formed  by  premaxillaries. 
Barbules  absent.  Gill  opening  very  wide.  Pseudobranchiae  well 
developed.  Branchiostegals  generally  numerous.  Paralepis,  186. 

STERNOPTYCHID^;.  —  Body  compressed,  elevated,  or  elongate,  with  phos- 
phorescent bodies  along  the  lower  parts.  Adipose  fin  generally 
rudimentary.  Scales  thin  and  deciduous  or  absent.  Margin  of 
upper  jaw  formed  of  toothed  maxillary  and  premaxillary.  Barbules 
absent.  Gill  opening  very  wide.  Pseudobranchiae  absent  or  present. 
Argyropelecus,  187;  Maurolicus,  188. 


PleCtOgnathi.     (TELEOSTOMI.)     PLATE  xv.     Nos.  120  to  124. 

BALISTID^E. — Body  compressed  or  angular.  Dorsal  modified  or  absent  ; 
ventrals  modified  or  absent.  Skin  with  scutes  or  rough,  or  the  scales 
forming  a  carapace.  Mouth  narrow,  snout  produced,  teeth  small  and 
few.  Gill  opening  narrow.  Balistes,  120,  121. 

DIODONTIDJE. — Body  short.  Dorsal,  caudal,  and  anal  without  spines  ; 
ventrals  absent ;  pectorals  present.  Scales  modified  with  spines  or 
laminae.  Bones  of  jaw  modified  into  a  cutting  beak,  with  a  covering 
resembling  ivory.  Teeth  consisting  of  plates  in  thin  parallel  layers. 
Orthagoriscns,  123,  124  ;  Tetrodon,  122. 


62  ORDERS,    SUB-ORDERS,    AND    FAMILIES. 

Selaehoidei.    (ELASMOBRANCHII.)    PLATES  xxviii.  to  xxxi.    Nos.  223 

to  237. 

CARCHARIID^E. — Body  cylindrical.  Two  dorsals,  first  without  spine  and 
placed  above  space  between  pectorals  and  ventrals  ;  anal  present.  Eye 
with  nictitating  membrane.  Mouth  crescent  shaped,  inferior  ;  snout 
slender  and  conical,  or  hammer-shaped.  Teeth  hollow  when  fully 
grown.  Carcharias,  222  ;  Galeus,  223  ;  Mustelus,  225  ;  Zygcena,  224. 

LAMNID^E. — Body  cylindrical.  Two  dorsals,  first  without  spine  and  placed 
above  space  between  pectorals  and  ventrals  ;  anal  present.  Eye  with- 
out nictitating  membrane.  Mouth  crescent-shaped  and  inferior. 
Teeth  solid  when  fully  grown.  Alopecias,  227  ;  Lamna,  226  ;  Selache,  228. 

NOTIDANID^. — Body  cylindrical.  One  dorsal  only,  spineless,  placed 
above  space  between  ventrals  and  anal.  No  nictitating  membrane. 
Mouth  crescent-shaped  and  inferior.  Gill  openings  six  or  seven. 
Notidanus,  229. 

SCYLLIID^:. — Body  cylindrical.  Two  dorsals,  first  without  spine  and 
placed  above  or  behind  ventrals ;  anal  before,  below,  or  behind 
second  dorsal.  No  nictitating  membrane.  Spiracles  distinct. 
Mouth  semi-circular  or  angular,  inferior.  Teeth  small,  and  several 
rows  in  use  at  once.  Pristiurus,  232  ;  Scyllium,  230,  231. 

SPINACID^E. — Body  cylindrical.  Two  dorsals ;  anal  absent ;  pectorals  not 
notched  at  base,  and  not  prolonged  forwards.  No  nictitating 
membrane.  Mouth  inferior,  slightly  arched,  with  loag,  deep  oblique 
groove  on  each  side.  Spiracles  present.  Gill  openings  narrow. 
Acanthias,  233 ;  Centrina,  235;  Echinorhinus,  236  ;  Lcemargus,  234. 

SQUATINID^;. — Body  depressed  and  flat.  Two  dorsals ;  anal  absent ; 
pectorals  large  with  base  prolonged  forward.  Spiracles  behind  the 
eyes.  Mouth  anterior.  Teeth  conical  and  pointed.  Gill  openings 
wide  and  lateral.  Rhina,  237. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

FAMILIES   AND    GENERA, 


THE  particulars  given  herein  are  only  such  as  are  necessary 
for  distinguishing  the  genera  from  each  other  with  regard  to 
their  representatives  in  the  British  list.  The  arrangement  is 
alphabetical.  The  orders  are  given  as  facilitating  reference  to  the 
preceding  chapter.  In  the  next  chapter  will  be  found  the  species  of 
each  genus  and  their  main  characteristics. 

Acipenseridse.     (CHONDROSTEI.)    Plate  xxvii. 
Acipenstr,  220. 

Atherinidse.     (ACANTHOPTERYGII.)     Plate  x, 
Atherina,  83,  84. 

Balistidse.     (PLECTOGNATHI.)     Plate  xv. 
Balistes,  120,  121. 

Blenniidse.     (ACANTHOPTERYGII.)    Plate  x. 

Ventrals  absent. 

Anarrhichastia.vf  teeth  strong  and  conical,  75. 
Centronotus,  jaw  teeth  small,  81. 

Ventrals  small. 

Zoarces,  caudal  absent,  82. 

Carelophus,  caudal  present,  dorsal  level  throughout,  80. 

Blennius,  caudal  present,  dorsal  not  level  throughout,  76  79. 

Callionymidse.     (ACANTHOPTERYGII.)     Plate  ix 
CalUonymus,  72,  73. 

63 


64  FAMILIES    AND    GENERA. 

CarangidcE.     (ACANTHOPTERYGII.)     Plate  iv. 

Capros,  first  dorsal  9  rays,  pectorals  13,  28. 

Caranx,  first  dorsal  8  rays,  pectorals  19  to  21,  lateral  line  armed 
with  keeled  or  spiny  scales,  24. 

Pammelas,    first    dorsal     6     or     7     rays,    pectorals    23,    caudal 
emarginate,  26. 

Lichia,  first  dorsal  5  or  6  rays,  pectorals  17,  caudal  forked,  27. 

Naucrates,  first  dorsal  3  to  6  rays,  pectorals  19  to  21,  lateral  line 
unarmed,  tail  keeled,  25. 

Carehariidse.     (SELACHOIDEI.)     Plate  xxviii. 
Zygana,  head  in  shape  of  hammer,  224. 
Carcharias,  pit  at  base  of  caudal,  no  spiracles,  222. 

Mitstelus,   no  pit   at  base    of   caudal,   spiracles  present,   second 
dorsal  not  much  smaller  than  first,  225. 

Galeus,  no  pit  at  base  of  caudal,  spiracles  present,  second  dorsal 
much  smaller  than  first,  223. 


Centriseidse.     (ACANTHOPTERYGII.)     Plate  xii. 
Centriscus,  98. 

CepOlidSB.     (ACANTHOPTERYGII.)     Plate  ix. 
Cepola,  74. 

ChimSBPidSB.     (HOLOCEPHALI.)     Plate  xxvii. 
Chimara,  221. 

Clupeidse.     (PHYSOSTOMI.)     Plate  xxiv. 

Engranlis,  upper  jaw  projecting,  189. 
Clufea,  upper  jaw  not  projecting,  190-194. 

Coryphsenidse.     (ACANTHOPTERYGII.)     Plate  v. 

Luvarus,  caudal  16  rays,  anal  with  one  spine  and  14  rays,  35. 
Brama,  caudal  19  rays,  anal  with  two  spines  and  27  or  28  rays,  32. 

Schedophilus,  caudal   21   rays,  anal  with  no  spine  and  27  to  29 
rays,  34. 

Lampris,  caudal  22  rays,  anal  with  no  spine  and  38  to  41  rays,  33. 

Cottidse.     (ACANTHOPTERYGII.)     Plates  vii.  and  viii. 
Trigla,  three  free  pectoral  rays,  52-57. 
Cottus,  no  free  pectoral  rays,  48-51. 


FAMILIES    AND    GENERA.  65 

Cyelopteridse.     (ACANTHOPTERYGII.)     Plate  viii. 

Cyclopterus,  two  dorsals,  first  partly  hidden,  60. 
Liparis,  one  dorsal,  61,  62. 

Cyprinidse.     (PHYSOSTOMI.)     Plates  xxii.  and  xxiii. 

Cobitis,  6  barbules,  erectile  spine  beneath  eye,  183. 
Nemachilus,  6  barbules,  no  erectile  spine  beneath  eye,  184 
Cyprinus,  4  barbules,  dorsal  with  22  rays,  169. 
Barbus,  4  barbules,  dorsal  with  n  rays,  172. 
Gobio,  2  barbules,  anal  8  rays,  pectorals  15,  ventrals  8,  173. 
Tinea,  2  barbules,  anal  9  rays,  pectorals  17,  ventrals  10,  179. 
Carassius,  no  barbules,  anal  short,  with  5  to  7  rays,  170,  171. 
Leuciscus,  no  barbules,  anal  short,  with  8  to  n  rays,  174-178. 
Abramis,  no  barbules,  anal  long,  dorsal  with  spine,  180,  181. 
Alburnus,  no  barbules,  anal  long,  dorsal  without  spine,  182. 

CyttidSB.     (ACANTHOPTERYGII.)     Plate  iv. 
Zeus,  29. 

Daetylopteridse.  (ACANTHOPTERYGII.)  Plate  viii. 
Peristethus,  two  free  pectoral  appendages,  59. 
Agonus,  no  pectoral  appendages,  58. 

Diodontidse.     (PLECTOGNATHI.)     Plate  xv. 

Tetrodon,  oesophagus  distensible,  tail  and  caudal  fin  distinct,  122. 
Orthagoriscus,  resophagus  not  distensible,  tail  truncated,  123,  124. 

Esoeidae.     (PHYSOSTOMI.)     Plate  xxiv. 
Esox,  185. 

GadidSB.     (ANACANTHINI.)     Plates  xvi.,  xvii.,  xviii. 
One  dorsal,  one  anal. 

Brosmius,  dorsal  long,  anal  long,  142. 

Motella,  front  of  dorsal  a  narrow  fringe,  first  ray  prolonged,  137- 
140. 

Two  dorsals,  one  anal. 

Merluccius,  barbule  absent,  teeth  large,  133. 

Phycis,  barbule  present,   first  dorsal  short,  second   dorsal   long, 
ventral  a  long  bifid  filament,  134. 

Molva,  barbule  present,  first  dorsal  short,  second  dorsal   long, 
ventral  of  6  rays,  teeth  large  in  lower  jaw,  135. 


66  FAMILIES    AND    GENERA. 

Lota,   barbule  present,   first   dorsal   short,   second   dorsal   long, 
ventral  of  6  rays,  no  large  teeth  in  lower  jaw,  136. 

Raniceps,  barbule  present,  first  dorsal  rudimentary,  141. 
Three  dorsals,  two  anals. 
Gadus,  125-132. 

Gasterosteidse.     (A.CANTHOPTERYGTI.)     Plate  xii. 
Gasterosteus,  91-97. 

GobiesoeidSB.     (ACANTHOPTERYGII.)     Plate  xiii. 
Lepadogaster,  99-101. 

GobiidSB.     (ACANTHOPTERYGII.)     Plate  ix. 

CrystallogoUus,  without  scales,  and  transparent,  71. 
Aphia,  with  scales,  and  transparent,  70, 
Gobius,  with  scales,  and  not  transparent,  63-69. 


Labridse.     (ACANTHOPTERYGII.)     Plates  xiii.  and  xiv. 
Cons,  dorsal  spines  9,  113. 

Centrolabrus,  dorsal  spines  18  to  20,  anal  spines  4  or  5,  teeth  in  a 
single  series,  112. 

Acantholabrus,  dorsal  spines  20  to  21,  anal  spines  5  or  6,  teeth  in  a 
band,  in. 

Ctenolabms,  dorsal  spines  16  to  18,  anal  spines  3,  teeth  in  a  band 
with  a  strong  outer  series,  no. 

Crenilabrus,  dorsal  spines  14  to  17,  anal  spines  3,  teeth  in  a  single 
series,  praeoperculum  serrated,  108,  109. 

Labms,  dorsal  spines  16  to  21,  anal  spines  3,  teeth  in  a  single 
series,  praeoperculum  not  serrated,  104-107 


Lamnidse,     (SELACHOIDEI.)     Plates  xxviii.  and  xxix. 

Alopecias,  two  dorsals,  upper  lobe  of  caudal  about  as  long   as 
body,  227. 

Selache,  two  dorsals,  upper  lobe  of  caudal  less  than  a  quarter  as 
long  as  body,  teeth  small  and  conical,  228. 

Lamna,  two  dorsals,  upper  lobe  of  caudal  less  than  a  quarter  as 
long  as  body,  teeth  large  and  lanceolate,  226. 

Lophiidse.     (ACANTHOPTERYGII.)     Plate  vii. 
Lophius,  47. 

Maeruridse.     (ANACANTIIINI.)     Plate  xix. 
Corypht?noides,  148. 


FAMILIES    AND    GENERA,  67 

Mugilidse.     (ACANTHOPTERYGII.)     Plate  xi. 
Mugil,  85,  86. 

MullidSB.     (ACANTHOPTERYGII.)    Plate  ii 
Mullus,  8,  9. 

MursenidSB.     (PHYSOSTOMI.)     Plate  xxii. 
Murcena,  pectorals  absent,  168. 

Conger,  pectorals  present,  upper  jaw  longer  than  lower,  167. 
Anguilla,  pectorals  present,  upper  jaw  not  longer  than  lower,  iCG 

MyliobatidSB.     (BATOIDEI.)     Plate  xxxiii. 

Myliobatis,  dorsal  beyond  ventrals,  250. 
Cephaloptera,  dorsal  between  ventrals,  251. 

NotidanidSB.     (SELA'CHOIDEI.)     Plate  xxix. 
Notidanus,  229. 

Ophidiidse.     (ANACANTHINI.)     Plates  xviii.  and  xix 

Ophidium,  ventrals  a  pair  of  bifid  filaments,  143. 
Fierasfer,  ventrals  absent,  anal  beginning  at  throat,  144. 
Ammodytes,  ventrals  absent,  anal  remote  from  throat,  145-147 

Percidse      (ACANTHOPTERYGII.)     Plate  i. 

Two  dorsals. 

Perca,  anal  with  2  spines,  i. 
Labrax,  anal  with  3  spines,  2. 

One  dorsal. 

Acerina,  anal  with  2  spines,  3. 
Dentex,  anal  with  3  spines,  tail  forked,  7. 

Polyprion,  anal  with  3  spines,  tail  not  forked,  operculum  ridged,  6. 
Serranus,   anal  with   3   spines,   tail   not   forked,   operculum  not 
ridged,  4,  5. 

Pleuroneetidse.     (ANACANTHINI.)     Plates  xix.,  xx.,  xxi. 
Eyes  right. 

Hippoglossus,  jaws  alike,  lateral  line  curved,  149. 

Hippoglossoides,  jaws  alike,  lateral  line  straight,  150. 

Pleuronectes,  mouth  at  end  of  snout,  teeth  larger  on  blind  side, 

157-161. 

Solea,  jaws  longer  on  blind  side,  teeth  only  on  blind  side,  snout 
projecting  beyond  jaws,  head  curved,  chin  bearded,  162-165. 


68  FAMILIES    AND    GENERA. 

Eyes  left. 

Arnoglossiis,  mouth  small,  scales  spiny  along  hinder  edge  of  upper 
side,  156. 

Zeugopterns,  mouth  large,  vomer  toothless,  dorsal   and  ventrals 
long,  153,  154. 

Lepidorhombus,  mouth  large,  teeth  on   vomer,    scales   large   and 
spiny,  lateral  line  not  semi-circular  over  pectoral,  155. 

Rhombus,  mouth  large,  teeth  on  vomer,  scales  absent  or  small, 
I51-  152. 

Ralidae.     (BATOIDEI.)     Plates  xxxi.  and  xxxii. 
Raia,  238-247. 

Salmonidse.     (PHYSOSTOMI.)     Plates  xxv.,  xxvi,,  xxvii. 
Body  ridged. 

Argentina,  no  teeth  on  jaws,  maxillary  short,  scales  large,  219. 
Body  not  ridged. 

Thymallus,  dorsal  rays  over  18,  218. 

Coregonus,  dorsal  rays  under  18,  maxillary  short,  214  to  217. 

Osmerus,  dorsal  rays  n,  maxillary  long,  213. 

Salmo,  dorsal  rays  12  to  15,  maxillary  long,  scales  small,  195-212. 

Seisenidae.     (ACANTHOPTERYGII.)     Plate  iii. 
Scicena,  20. 

SeombresOCidSB.     (ACANTHOPTERYGII.)     Plate  xi 

Exoccetus,  pectorals  elongated  into  organs  of  flight,  89,  90. 

Scombresox,  pectorals  normal,  jaws  prolonged  into  a  slender  bea!:, 
finlets  present,  88. 

Belone,  pectorals  normal,   jaws  prolonged   into   a   slender  beak, 
finlets  absent,  87. 

ScombPidSB.     (ACANTHOPTERYGII.)     Plates  vi.  and  vii. 
Without  finlets. 

Echeneis,  first  dorsal  modified  into  an  adhesive  disk,  44. 
With  finlets. 

Scomber,  keel  on  tail  represented  by  two  slight  ridges,  dorsals 
wide  apart,  36  to  38. 

Auxis,  keel  on  tail,  dorsals  wide  apart,  43. 

Pelamys,  keel  on  tail,  dorsals  close,  first  dorsal  over  20,  42. 

Thynnus,   keel    on    tail,   dorsals   close,    first  dorsal   under   20,   7 
finlets,  41. 

Orcynus,  keel  on  tail,  dorsals  close,  first  dorsal  under  20,  8  or  9 
finlets,  39,  40. 


FAMILIES    AND    GENERA.  69 

Scopelidse.    (PHYSOSTOMI.)    Plate  xxiv. 

Paralepis,  186. 

SeorpsenidSB.     (ACANTHOPTERYGII.)     Plate  iii. 
Sebastes,  ig. 

Scylliidse.     (SELACHOIDEI.)     Plates  xxix.  and  xxx. 

Pristiurus,  flat  spines  on  sides  of  upper  edge  of  caudal,  232. 
Scjllium,  no  flat  spines  on  sides  of  upper  edge  of  caudal,  230,  231. 

Sparidse.     (ACANTHOPTERYGII.)     Plates  ii.  and  iii. 
Cantharus,  pectorals  14,  no  molar  teeth,  10. 
Box,  pectorals  21,  no  molar  teeth,  n. 
Pagnis,  pectorals  15  or  1 6,  molar  teeth  and  canines,  12,  13. 
Pagellus,  pectorals  15  to  17,  molar  teeth  and  no  canines,  14  18 

SpinaCidiB.     (SELACHOIDEI.)     Plates  xxx.  and  xxxi. 
Dorsals  with  spines. 

Centrina,  spine  in  middle  of  each  dorsal,  235. 

Acanthias,  spine  in  front  of  each  dorsal,  233. 
Dorsals  without  spines. 

L&maygus,  first  dorsal  remote  from  ventrals,  234. 

Echinorhinus,  first  dorsal  opposite  ventrals,  236. 

Squatinidse.     (SELACHOIDEI.)     Plate  xxxi 
Rhina,  237. 

Sternoptyehidse.     (PHYSOSTOMI.)     Plate  xxiv. 
Argyropelecus,  without  scales,  187. 
Mauvolicus,  with  scales,  188. 

Stromateidse.     (ACANTHOPTERYGII.)     Plates  iv.  and  v. 
Centrolophus,  30,  31. 

Syngnathidae.     (LOPHOBRANCHII.)     Plate  xv. 
Pectorals  absent ;  body  smooth. 

Nerophis,  116-118. 
Pectorals  present ;  body  ridged. 

Hippocampus,  tail  prehensile,  crest  with  coronet,  ng. 

Syngnathus,  tail  not  prehensile,  no  coronet,  humerals  united  into1 
breast  ring,  115. 

Siphonostoma,  tail  not  prehensile,  no  coronet,  humerals  movable 
and  not  united,  114. 


JO  FAMILIES    AND    GENERA. 

Torpedinidse.     (BATOIDEI.)     Plate  xxxiii. 
Torpedo,  248,  249. 

Traehinidae.     (ACANTHOPTERYGII.)     Plate  vii. 
Trachimis,  45,  46. 

i 

Traehypteridse.     (ACANTHOPTERYGII.)     Plate  xiii. 

Regakcus,  ventrals  a  pair  of  long  filaments,  no  caudal,  103. 
Trachypterus,   ventrals    well    developed;     caudal    placed    at    an 
angle,  102. 

Triehiuridse.     (ACANTHOPTERYGII.)     Plate  iii. 
Trichiunis,  caudal  absent,  22. 
Lcpidopus,  caudal  well  developed,  23. 

Trygonidse.     (BATOIDEI.)     Plate  xxxiii. 
Trygon,  252. 

(ACANTHOPTERYGII.)     Plate  iii. 
Xiphias,  21. 


CHAPTER   IX. 

GENERA    AND    SPECIES, 


THIS  Chapter  is  devoted  to  distinguishing  between  the  species, 
though  here  and  there  a  few  characters  of  the  genus  are 
given  to  assist  in  identification.     For  the  distinctions  between  the 
genera,  etc.,  reference   must    be  made  to  the  preceding  chapters. 

Abramis,     Plate  xxiii.     CYPRINID&. 

180.  brama,         BREAM.     Fins   brownish   and   red ;     6J  or  7^  scales 

between  lateral  line  and  ventral  fin  ;  pharyngeal  teeth 
in  one  row. 

181.  blicca,  WHITE  BREAM.     Fins  bluish  and  red  ;  5  or  6  scales 

between  lateral  line  and  ventral  fin ;  pharyngeal  teeth 
in  two  rows. 

The  Bream  has  a  single  dorsal  fin,  with  2  or  3  spines,  and  n 
or  12  rays,  the  anal  fin  has  3  spines  and  24  to  28  rays,  the  caudal 
has  19  rays,  the  pectorals  have  15  to  17  rays  and  the  ventrals  10. 
The  dorsal  begins  midway  between  the  eye  and  the  base  of  the 
caudal  where  the  body  curves  sharply  downwards.  The  anal  is  the 
broadest  fin.  The  lateral  line  has  from  50  to  63  scales,  and  curves 
downwards  from  the  nape.  The  scales  are  higher  than  they  are 
broad.  The  body  is  flat,  the  curves  awkward,  and  the  abdomen  is 
keeled  between  the  ventrals  and  the  anal  fin.  The  head  is  short, 
and  the  mouth  does  not  extend  as  far  back  as  the  front  edge  of  the 
eye.  The  colour  is  olive  or  yellowish  green,  lighter  on  the  sides, 
the  fins  being  of  a  reddish  brown.  The  Bream  is  gregarious,  so 
that  where  there  is  one  there  are  generally  more.  As  a  rule  it  is 
confined  to  lakes  and  large  ponds,  or  gently  flowing  waters,  and  it 
feeds  on  plants,  insects,  and  worms.  One  has  been  caught  that  was 
26  inches  long,  but  perhaps  16  inches  may  be  taken  as  the  average. 

The  White  Bream  has  a  single  dorsal,  with  2  or  3  spines  and 
8  or  g  rays,  the  anal  fin  has  2  or  3  spines  and  from  19  to  24  rays,  the 
caudal  has  19  rays,  the  pectorals  have  15  rays,  and  the  ventrals  10. 
The  dorsal  begins  midway  between  the  ventrals  and  the  anal  fin, 
and  the  ventrals  are  nearer  to  the  pectorals  than  to  the  anal.  The 
anal  is  the  broadest  fin.  The  lateral  line  has  from  43  to  52  scales, 
and  curves  gently  downwards  from  the  nape.  The  scales  are  higher 
than  they  are  broad.  The  body  is  flat,  the  curves  not  so  abrupt  as 
those  of  the  Bream,  the  depression  at  the  neck  being  not  so  marked, 


72  GENERA    AND    SPECIES. 

and  the  hump  where  the  dorsal  begins  being  lower.  The  mouth 
does  not  reach  the  front  edge  of  the  eye,  and  its  lips  are  thick. 
The  colour  is  silvery,  with  a  rosy  blush,  and  the  fins  are  bluish 
with  a  red  tinge  on  some  of  the  edges.  Unlike  the  Bream,  this 
species  is  not  gregarious,  though  its  haunts  and  food  are  similar. 
It  is  much  smaller  in  size,  and  may  be  a  foot  in  length,  but  is 
generally  smaller. 


AcantMas.    Plate  xxx.     SPINAC1D&. 

233.     vulgaris,       SPUR  DOGFISH.     A  spine  in  front  of  each  dorsal  fin  ; 
anal  fin  absent. 

This  is  the  common  Dog-fish,  often  called  the  Picked  Dog ;  the 
picked  being  a  corruption  of  piked,  the  name  being  derived  from 
the  conspicuous  spines  which  stand  up  in  front  of  each  dorsal  like 
pike-heads,  and  are  triangular  in  section  with  a  groove  behind. 
That  of  the  first  dorsal  stands  just  above  the  inner  edge  of  the 
pectorals,  and  that  of  the  second  dorsal,  which  is  longer  than  the 
other,  is  a  trifle  nearer  the  tail  than  the  after  edge  of  the  ventrals. 
The  ventrals  are  small  and  the  pectorals  are  larger  than  the  dorsals. 
In  colour  this,  the  most  frequent  of  the  British  sharks,  is  greyish  or 
brownish  above,  with  a  few  white  spots,  and  whitish  below  In 
winter  it  feeds  near  the  ground  in  deep  water,  but  at  other  times  it 
comes  closer  in,  and  preys  on  surface-swimming  fishes.  The  spines 
are  used  by  bending  the  back  so  as  to  dig  them  in  and  then  drawing 
them  asunder  as  the  body  straightens,  tearing  a  gash  outwards  from 
each  point  of  incision.  In  length  the  Spur-dog  reaches  about  four 
feet. 


Acantholabrus.    Plate  xiv.     LABR1DJE. 

in.    palloni,         SCALE-RAVED  WRASSE.     Upper  lip  thicker  than  lower 

The  Scale-rayed  Wrasse  has  a  single  dorsal  fin  with  20  or  21 
spines  and  9  or  10  rays,  which  are  longer  than  the  spines  ;  the  anal 
has  from  4  to  6  spines  and  5  to  8  rays ;  the  caudal  has  14  or  15  rays ; 
the  pectorals  have  14  or  15,  and  the  ventrals  have  i  spine  and  5 
rays.  The  dorsal  begins  above  the  base  of  the  pectorals  and 
gradually  increases  in  height  to  the  first  ray  with  which  the  higher 
after  portion  begins,  the  anal  spines  also  increase  in  height  to  the 
first  ray.  The  lateral  line  runs  parallel  to  the  curve  of  the  back,  and 
contains  from  40  to  45  scales  ;  there  are  5  or  6  rows  of  scales  on  the 
cheek  and  7  on  the  gill-covers.  The  mouth  is  large  and  extends  to 
the  front  edge  of  the  eye,  the  lower  jaw  being  the  longer.  The 
teeth  in  the  j  aws  are  conical,  the  outer  row  being  the  larger.  In  colour 
this  wrasse  may  be  yellow,  orange,  brown,  violet,  or  blue,  with  rosy 
sides  and  whitish  under  parts,  but  it  always  has  a  black  blotch  on 
the  membrane  between  the  3  last  dorsal  spines.  There  are  scales 
on  its  dorsal,  caudal,  and  anal  fins,  hence  its  fisherman's  name.  It 
is  a  deep-water  species,  measuring  20  inches  or  more  when  fully 
grown. 


GENERA    AND    SPECIES.  73 

Acerina.    Plate  i.     PERCH)  JE. 

3.     vulgaris,  RUFF.     Dorsal  continuous  ;  scales  rough  to  the  touch  ; 

lateral  line  prominent. 

The  Ruff — occasionally  sp.elt  with  a  useless  "  e  " — is  the  same  fish 
as  the  Pope.  It  has  the  two  dorsal  fins  of  the  Perch  running  into 
each  other  and  forming  one,  though  each  is  well  marked.  The 
dorsal  thus  consists  of  14  spines  and  from  n  to  13  rays;  the  anal 
consists  of  2  spines  and  5  or  6  rays,  the  caudal  of  18  rays,  the 
pectorals  have  13  or  14  rays,  and  the  ventrals  the  usual  single  spine 
and  5  rays.  In  the  dorsal  the  third  and  fourth  spines  are  the 
longest,  and  all  the  spines  project  further  above  the  membrane  than 
those  of  the  Perch.  The  tip  of  the  pectoral  is  just  half-way  between 
the  snout  and  the  fork  of  the  tail.  Of  the  two  anal  spines  the  first 
is  the  longer.  In  the  very  distinct  lateral  line  there  are  40  scales, 
and  in  them  the  tubes  are  double.  The  body  is  flat  and  easily 
curved,  except  between  the  snout  and  the  dorsal,  where  it  runs 
almost  straight,  so  that  the  eye — which  is  brown  with  a  blue  pupil — 
appears  to  be  almost  at  the  top  of  the  head.  The  mouth  extends  to 
the  front  edge  of  the  eye,  the  upper  jaw  being  the  longer.  There 
are  no  teeth,  except  in  the  jaws,  where  they  are  in  rows.  There  are 
6  or  7  spines  on  the  gill-cover,  and  i  spiny  scale  at  the  shoulder,  and 
another  at  the  angle  of  the  pectoral  fin.  In  colour  the  Ruff  is  olive 
brown  or  greyish,  with  cloudy  spots,  and  is  paler  on  the  sides  and 
whitish  below.  The  fins  are  spotted  and  the  ventrals  are  frequently 
of  an  orange  tint.  The  Ruff  is  a  bottom-feeding  fresh-water  fish, 
living  in  shoals,  generally  in  deepish  water  in  cool  shady  places.  It 
feeds  on  the  fry  of  other  fish,  on  insects,  and  on  worms,  and  is 
usually  3  or  4  inches  in  length,  though  it  may  be  7  inches  or  more. 


Acipenser.    Plate  xxvii.     ACIPENSERIDM 

320.    sturio,          STURGEON.     Shields  along  the  back,  the  sides,  and  the 
abdomen  ;  4  barbules  in  a  row. 

The  Sturgeon  has  the  dorsal  fin  close  to  the  tail ;  in  it  there  are 
from  35  to  40  rays,  the  anal  having  from  23  to  25  rays,  the  caudal 
100  to  125  rays;  the  pectorals  have  a  spine  and  28  to  38  rays,  and 
the  ventrals  have  23  or  24  rays.  The  pectorals  are  placed  very  low  and 
close  to  the  gills,  arid  the  anal  is  close  to  the  tail,  its  base  beginning 
under  where  that  of  the  dorsal  ends.  The  ventrals  are  in  the  tail 
end  of  the  body,  a  little  further  in  front  of  the  dorsal  than  the  dorsal 
is  of  the  anal.  The  characteristic  bucklers,  or  plates,  number  from 
ii  to  13  along  the  back,  23  to  26  along  the  side,  those  along  the 
abdomen  being  less  conspicuous  and  varying  greatly  in  number. 
The  mouth  extends  to  beneath  the  small  eyes,  the  snout  is  protracted 
and  often  half  as  long  as  the  head.  In  colour  the  Sturgeon  is  olive, 
greenish,  or  yellowish,  as  the  case  may  be.  It  is  a  solitary  fish  that 
appears  in  our  rivers  in  spring,  and  takes  to  the  sea  in  winter,  and  is, 
as  a  rule,  caught  when  5  feet  long,  though  it  attains  9  feet,  and  has 
been  recorded  as  long  as  12  feet. 

F 


74  GENERA    AND    SPECIES. 

Agonus.    Plate  viii.     DACTYLOPTERID&. 

58.  cataphractus,  POGGE.  Body  octagonal ;  barbules  under  throat,  white. 
The  Pogge,  or  Armed  Bullhead,  bears  a  distant  resemblance  to 
the  sea-horse.  It  has  two  dorsal  fins,  the  first  with  5  spines  and  the 
second  with  5  or  6  rays ;  in  the  anal  fin  there  are  6  rays,  in  the 
caudal  12  ;  the  pectorals  have  16  rays,  and  the  ventrals  a  spine  and 
2  rays.  The  dorsals  are  almost  semi-circular,  and  the  pectoral  is 
very  broad,  and  extends  beyond  the  middle  of  the  first  dorsal.  The 
body  is  divided  by  ridges  of  bony  plates  into  8  sides,  and  between 
the  two  side  ridges  runs  the  lateral  line  of  32  scales,  which  are  without 
spines.  The  mouth  nearly  extends  to  the  front  edge  of  the  eye,  and 
there  are  many  barbules.  There  are  no  teeth  except  in  the  jaws. 
In  colour  the  Pogge  is  pinkish  or  yellowish  grey,  with  broad  vertical 
bands  and  many  spots.  The  pectorals  are  distinctly  banded,  the 
other  fins  not  so  much  so:  This  is  a  bottom-feeding  species,  haunt- 
ing the  mouths  of  rivers  and  similar  places.  It  rarely  exceeds 
6  inches  in  length. 

Alburnus.    Plate  xxiii.     CYPRINID^. 

182.     lucidus,        BLEAK.     Tail  with  lower  lobe  longer  than  upper ;  anal 
fin  broad  and  cut  square. 

The  Bleak  has  a  single  dorsal  fin  with  2  or  3  spines  and  7  or  8 
rays ;  the  anal  fin  has  2  or  3  spines  and  from  16  to  20  rays,  and  the 
caudal  has  19  rays ;  in  the  pectorals  there  are  16  or  17  rays,  and  in 
the  ventrals  there  are  9  or  10.  The  dorsal  is  midway  between  the 
eye  and  the  base  of  the  caudal ;  the  anal  is  the  broadest  fin  and  is 
curiously  square  at  the  corners ;  the  pectorals  are  pointed.  The 
lateral  line  curves  downwards  from  the  nape  and  rises  to  meet  the 
caudal  below  the  middle.  It  has  from  47  to  57  scales,  and  there  are 
3^  rows  of  scales  between  it  and  the  base  of  the  ventral  fin.  The 
mouth  does  not  reach  to  the  fore  edge  of  the  eye,  and  the  lower 
jaw  is  hooked  and  projecting.  In  colour  the  Bleak  is  greenish  above 
and  silvery  below,  with  a  blue  stripe  along  the  side.  It  attains  a 
length  of  8  inches,  but  is  generally  caught  smaller,  and  is  not  a 
favourite  with  anglers  owing  to  its  frequently  taking  the  bait  intended 
for  other  fish.  It  swims  near  the  surface  in  rivers  and  running 
waters,  always  in  shoals,  which  are  generally  more  numerous  where 
drains  enter  the  stream,  and  it  is  particularly  apt  at  springing  out  ot 
the  water  after  flying  insects,  and  making  more  fuss  than  its  size 
would  lead  one  to  suspect. 

Alopecias.    Plate  xxix.     LAMNIDJE. 

227.     vulpes,          THRASHER.     Upper  lobe  of  tail  as  long  as  body. 

The  Thrasher,  otherwise  the  Fox-shark,  is  unmistakable,  owing 
to  its  peculiar  tail.  It  has  a  stout,  sturdy  body,  with  a  very  large 
pectoral  fin,  a  forked  first  dorsal  about  the  same  size  as  the  pectorals, 
and  very  small  second  dorsal  and  anal.  The  mouth  is  in  the  shape 
of  a  crescent,  the  teeth  are  small,  flat,  and  triangular,  with  smooth 
edges.  The  body  is  darker  above  than  below,  but  the  colour  varies 
very  much,  though  it  is  generally  some  shade  of  grey.  This  energetic 
shark  is  by  no  means  rare  in  British  waters,  and  has  been  caught 
over  15  feet  long. 


GENERA    AND    SPECIES.  75 

Ammodytes.    Plate  xix.     OPHID1IDSE. 

145.  lanceolatus,   SAND  EEL.     Caudal  with  15  rays,  pectorals  with  12  or 

13  rays;  scales  many  ;  fins  of  same  height  throughout ; 
lower  jaw  with  soft  prolongation ;  dorsal  begins  behind 
tip  of  pectoral. 

146.  tobianus,       LESSER  SAND  EEL.     Caudal  with  15  rays ;  pectorals 

with  12  rays;  scales  many;  fins  curved  in  outline; 
dorsal  begins  above  or  before  tip  of  pectorals. 

147.  cicerellus,      SMOOTH  SAND  EEL.     Caudal  with  19  rays;  pectorals 

with  14  rays  ;  scales  few  or  absent ;  fins  waved  in  out- 
line ;  dorsal  begins  over  tip  of  pectorals. 

The  Sand  Eel  has  from  53  to  61  rays  in  its  dorsal  fin,  28  to  33  in 
the  anal  fin,  and  15  in  the  caudal ;  the  pectorals  have  12  or  13  rays, 
and  there  are  no  ventral  fins.  The  anal  starts  from  under  the 
middle  of  the  dorsal  or  thereabouts,  and  both  fins  have  their  outer 
edges  parallel  to  the  very  slight  curve  of  the  body,  and  are  separated 
from  the  caudal  by  a  short  interspace.  The  scales  are  small,  and 
there  are  two  lateral  lines,  one  with  from  190  to  203  scales,  the  other 
being  incomplete.  The  head  is  nearly  flat  on  the  top,  the  mouth 
does  not  extend  to  the  front  edge  of  the  eye,  and  the  lower  jaw  is 
the  longer  and  has  a  long  fleshy  tip.  Teeth  are  absent,  but  are 
represented  by  two  processes  on  the  vomer.  The  Sand  Eel  is 
greenish  above  and  silvery  below,  with  a  bright  stripe  as  a  line  of 
demarcation.  It  is  about  a  foot  long,  but  has  been  caught  measuring 
over  15  inches.  It  is  gregarious,  and  buries  itself  in  the  sand  between 
the  tide-marks. 

The  Lesser  Sand  Eel  has  from  53  to  59  rays  in  its  dorsal  fin,  26 
to  30  in  its  anal  fin,  and  15  in  its  caudal ;  the  pectorals  have  12  rays, 
and  there  are  no  ventrals.  The  dorsal  begins  above  the  last  third  of 
the  pectorals,  and  gradually  increases  in  height  until  it  reaches  the 
middle,  when  it  curves  slightly  downwards  towards  the  tail.  There 
are  two  lateral  lines,  one  incomplete  and  the  other  with  from  125  to 
145  scales.  The  lower  jaw  is  the  longer,  and  the  mouth  extends 
backwards  behind  the  nostrils.  There  are  a  few  small  teeth  on  the 
vomer  and  on  the  base  of  the  tongue.  The  colour  is  olive  green 
above  and  silvery  below,  with  a  bright  stripe  between.  This  species 
also  frequents  the  shore  in  shoals,  and  burrows  in  the  sand  between 
the  tide-marks.  It  measures  about  6  inches  in  length. 

The  Smooth  Sand  Eel  has  from  53  to  59  rays  in  its  dorsal  fin,  28 
to  30  in  its  anal  fin,  and  19  in  its  caudal ;  there  are  14  rays  in  its 
pectorals,  and  the  ventrals  are  absent.  The  dorsal  begins  above 
the  tip  of  the  ventral  and  curves  downwards,  upwards^  downwards, 
and  upwards  again,  and  the  anal  curves  inwards  so  as  to  be  lowest 
in  the  middle.  The  mouth  extends  to  the  eye,  the  lower  jaw 
slightly  projecting.  There  are  no  teeth  and  few  or  no  scales,  and 
consequently  no  lateral  line.  The  brownish  green  of  the  back  and 
the  white  of  the  under  parts  are  divided  by  a  silvery  stripe  that 
reaches  from  the  eye  to  the  tail.  The  only  specimen  caught  in 
British  waters — and  that  was  off  the  Shetlands — was  6  inches  long. 


76  GENERA   AND    SPECIES. 

Anarrhichas.    Plate  x.     BLENNIID&. 
75.     lupus,  CAT-FISH.     Long  curved  teeth  in  the  front  of  each  jaw. 

The  Cat-fish,  Sea-cat,  or  Wolf-fish,  is  the  unprepossessing  indi- 
vidual who,  with  his  head  cut  off,  is  frequently  sold  as  "  rock- 
salmon,"  a  name  really  belonging  to  the  coal-fish.  There  is  a  long 
dorsal  fin  with  72  to  74  rays,  a  long  anal  with  45  to  48  rays,  a  rather 
small  rounded  caudal  with  15  to  18  rays,  broad  ear-shaped  pectorals 
with  19  rays,  and  there  are  no  ventrals.  The  dorsal  begins  at  the 
nape  and  almost  reaches  the  base  of  the  tail,  the  outer  margin  being 
a  gentle  curve  that  dies  away  as  it  reaches  the  end,  while  that  of  the 
anal  terminates  abruptly  exactly  underneath  it.  The  scales  are 
rudimentary,  and  there  is  a  row  of  pores  on  the  head,  which  has  a 
more  ferocious  appearance  than  that  of  any  other  British  fish.  The 
mouth  is  large,  and  extends  beyond  the  eye.  In  the  upper  jaw  there 
are  4  large  curved  canines  and  6  or  8  smaller  conical  teeth  ;  in  the 
lower  jaw  there  are  2  or  3  diverging  canines,  which  are  conical  and 
curved  with  2  smaller  ones  behind,  and  behind  them  are  two 
rows  of  rounded  molars  converging  into  one.  In  the  roof  of  the 
mouth  there  are  3  double  rows  of  teeth,  those  in  the  centre  being 
flat  and  those  at  the  sides  being  pointed.  In  colour  the  Cat-fish  is 
bluish  grey,  darkest  along  the  back,  with  broad  vertical  bands 
stretching  down  the  sides.  It  is  strong,  swift,  and  fierce,  and  feeds 
on  crustaceans  and  molluscs,  using  the  powerful  teeth  for  crushing 
the  shells.  As  a  rule  it  is  found  near  the  bottom  along  rocky 
coasts,  its  food  being  more  abundant  there.  When  a  year  old  it  is 
from  7  to  8  inches  long,  and  when  full  grown  it  attains  from  3  to  6 
feet  or  more. 


Anguilla.    Plate  xxii.     MUR&NIDJE 

166.     vulgaris,       EEL.     Vertical  fins  continuous. 

The  Eel  has  a  pair  of  pectorals  with  from  17  to  iSrays;  the  dorsal, 
caudal,  and  anal  join,  forming  one  long  fin  extending  from  about 
a  quarter  the  length  of  the  body  from  the  snout  to  nearly  the  middle 
of  the  body  underneath.  In  this  fin  there  are  from  480  to  500  rays. 
The  tail  is  prehensile.  The  mouth  extends  to  the  middle  of  the  eye 
or  slightly  beyond,  there  being  no  great  difference  in  the  length  of 
the  jaws.  The  scales  are  small  and  buried  in  the  skin.  In  colour 
the  Eel  is  dark  olive  above  and  whitish  or  yellowish  below.  In 
length  it  may  exceed  a  yard,  but  is  generally  shorter.  In  habits  it 
is  nocturnal,  and  its  haunts  are  rivers  and  pools  near  them  in  which 
the  water  is  clear  and  the  bottom  muddy,  but  it  migrates  to  the  sea 
to  spawn.  In  the  male  the  lips  are  broad,  in  the  female  they  are 
narrow ;  before  the  sexes  were  made  out  these  were  assumed  to  be 
two  different  species.  The  migration  seawards  takes  place  in  the 
autumn  and  the  spawn  is  deposited  not  far  from  the  shore  where  the 
influence  of  the  river  water  is  still  perceptible.  Early  in  January 
young  eels  or  "  elvers,"  as  they  are  called,  are  big  enough  to  be 
noticeable  on  the  ebb  of  the  tide;  in  April  or  thereabouts  they  ascend 
the  rivers,  and  when  mature,  perhaps  in  the  second  or  third  year, 


GENERA   AND    SPECIES.  77 

they  begin  their  journey  to  the  sea,  whence  very  tew  return. 
Eels  will  travel  overland  wherever  it  is  fairly  moist,  and  have  even 
been  reported  by  a  gardener  for  eating  his  peas.  They  are  quick  of 
hearing,  and  in  captivity  will  come  to  be  fed  when  called. 

Aphia.    Plate  ix.     GOBIID/E. 

70.    pellucida.        TRANSPARENT  GOBY.      Teeth  conspicuous   and   in   a 
single  row. 

The  Transparent  Goby,  the  whitebait  of  the  Adriatic,  has  two 
dorsal  fins,  the  first  having  5  spines,  the  second  having  i  spine  and 
from  ii  to  13  rays,  the  anal  has  i  spine  and  13  or  14  rays,  the 
caudal  has  17  rays,  the  pectorals  have  16  rays  and  the  ventrals  have 
the  usual  spine  and  5  rays.  In  the  male  the  first  dorsal  is  higher 
than  in  the  females,  and  in  both  the  anal  is  very  similar  to  the 
second  dorsal  in  shape  and  size.  The  caudal  is  rounded,  and  the 
sides  are  nearly  parallel.  In  the  lateral  line  there  are  26  scales. 
The  scales  are  large  and  cycloid.  The  mouth  extends  to  the  middle 
of  the  eye,  the  under  jaw  being  the  longer ;  and  in  the  male  the 
jaws  become  larger  and  more  oblique  during  the  breeding  season, 
when  the  teeth  also  increase  in  size.  The  Transparent  Goby  is 
generally  transparent  with  a  faint  line  of  yellow,  and  a  few  orange 
dots,  and  is  not  much  more  than  i^  inches  long.  It  is  a  surface- 
swimmer  and  gregarious,  and  in  the  Mediterranean  appears  in  large 
numbers,  but  is  not  very  noticeable  in  our  waters,  though  some 
have  been  taken  all  round  the  coast. 

Argentina.    Plate  xxvii.     SALMONIDJE. 
219.    sphyr&na,     ARGENTINE.     Body  ridged. 

The  dorsal  fin  has  i  or  2  spines  and  8  or  9  rays ;  the  anal  has  2 
or  3  spines  and  9  or  10  rays,  and  the  caudal  has  19  rays;  the 
pectorals  have  13  or  14  rays,  and  the  ventrals  loor  u.  The  ventrals 
start  below  the  last  ray  of  the  dorsal  and  midway  between  the  snout 
and  the  base  of  the  caudal.  Both  dorsal  and  anal  are  higher  in 
front  than  behind.  There  are  from  50  to  53  scales  in  the  lateral 
line,  though  exceptionally  there  are  a  few  less.  The  scales  are  of 
good  size,  thin,  and  not  so  wide  as  they  are  high  ;  on  those  of  the 
back  and  abdomen  are  stellate  or  spiny  ossicles.  The  body  is  four- 
sided  in  shape,  the  back  and  sides  and  abdomen  being  divided  off 
by  4  well-marked  ridges.  The  mouth  extends  to  the  front  edge  of 
the  silvery  eye,  the  upper  jaw  being  the  longer.  In  colour  the 
Argentine  is  yellowish  above,  silvery  blue  on  the  sides,  and  yellow 
below.  It  is  a  deep-water  fish,  rather  uncommon,  and  about  9 
inches  long. 

Argyropelecus,    Plate  xxiv.     STERNOPTYCHIDJE. 

187.     kemigyninvs.     Head  and  trunk  large  and  flat,  and  dotted  along  lower 
edge  with  a  row  of  ocellated  spots. 

The  dorsal  fin  has  6  spines  and  7  or  8  rays,  the  anal  has  11  or  12 
rays,  the  caudal  19  ;  the  pectorals  have  10  rays  and  the  ventrals  6. 
The  fore  part  of  this  curious  fish  is  flat  and  almost  square,  the 


78  GENERA   AND    SPECIES. 

hinder  half  being  narrow  and  joined  on  abruptly  as  if  it  did  not 
belong  to  it.  In  colour  it  is  silvery  yellow,  and  along  the  lower 
edge  are  straight  lines  of  eye-like  spots,  one  under  the  gills,  one 
where  the  hinder  part  joins  on,  and  one  on  the  tail  itself.  It  appears 
in  the  list  owing  to  a  single  specimen  having  been  dredged  up 
between  the  Shetlands  and  the  Faeroes. 

Arnoglossus.    Plate  xx.     PLEURONECTID&. 

156.     Internet,        SCALD  FISH.     Mouth  small,  scales  spiny  on  upper  side. 

There  are  from  87  to  101  rays  in  the  dorsal  fin,  from  64  to  68 
in  the  anal,  and  15  in  the  caudal ;  in  the  pectorals  there  are  10  or 
n,  and  there  are  6  in  the  ventrals.  The  first  rays  of  the  dorsal  fin 
are  occasionally  separate,  and  are  longer  in  the  male  than  in  the 
female.  The  eyes  are  on  the  left  side,  but  the  teeth  and  jaws  are 
equal  on  both  sides.  The  lateral  line  has  48  scales,  and  forms  a 
half-circle  over  the  pectoral ;  the  scales  generally  are  rather  large 
and  deciduous,  and  the  skin  is  thin  and  tears  off  as  easily  as  if  it 
had  been  scalded,  whence  the  fish's  popular  name.  The  small 
mouth  is  at  the  end  of  the  snout,  the  lower  jaw  is  the  longer,  and 
the  teeth  are  small  and  in  one  row.  In  colour  the  Scaldfish,  or 
Scaldback,  as  it  is  often  called,  is  light  brown  above  and  white 
below.  It  is  found  in  rather  deep  water  where  the  bottom  is  sandy, 
but  is  of  no  importance,  and  not  used  for  food. 

Atherina.     Plate  x.     ATHERINID&. 

83,  presbyter,        ATHERINE.     Dorsals  farther  apart  than  the  base  of  the 

second  dorsal  is  long. 

84.  boyeri,  BOYER'S  ATHERINE.     Dorsals  as  far  apart  as  the  base 

of  the  first  dorsal  is  long. 

Of  the  two  dorsals  of  the  Atherine,  the  first  has  from  7  to  9 
spines,  and  the  second  a  spine  and  from  n  to  13  rays,  the  anal  has 
a  spine  and  from  14  to  18  rays,  and  the  caudal  has  17  rays;  in  the 
pectorals  there  are  from  13  to  15  rays,  and  the  ventrals  have  a  spine 
and  5  rays.  In  the  first  dorsal  the  second  and  third  spines  are  the 
longest.  The  lateral  line  has  from  57  to  62  scales.  The  fish  is 
translucent,  with  a  silvery  band  from  the  eye  to  the  base  of  the  tail ; 
on  the  back  it  is  brownish,  and  there  is  a  purple  tinge  on  the  sides. 
It  is  from  7  to  8  inches  long,  and  appears  in  small  shoals  in  harbours 
and  inlets,  returning  to  deeper  water  in  the  winter.  It  seldom 
comes  near  the  surface. 

Boyer's  Atherine  appeared  at  Polperro  on  Trafalgar  Day,  1846. 
11  They  were  aH  near  the  surface,"  says  Couch,  "  not  more  than 
three  or  four  within  a  foot  or  two  of  each  other,  but  the  whole 
scattered  loosely  over  the  water  to  the  number  of  several  thousands. 
Their  heads  were  in  one  direction,  as  if  passing  inward,  and  they 
were  constantly  raising  dimples  on  the  surface,  like  scattered  drops 
of  rain,  by  apparently  examining  or  seizing  some  floating  object ; 
but  however  earnestly  engaged  their  vigilance  was  never  remitted, 
and  it  became  scarcely  possible  to  approach  them,  as  in  an  instant 
they  were  off  in  another  direction  at  the  sight  of  a  moving  object." 


GENERA   AND    SPECIES.  79 

This  mighty  gathering  of  fishes  not  exceeding  three  inches  long 
remained  about  Polperro  for  a  week  and  then  disappeared,  not  even 
a  straggler  having  been  since.  The  few  that  were  caught  have  7  or 
8  spines  in  the  first  dorsal,  a  spine  and  n  or  12  rays  in  the  second 
dorsal,  a  spine  and  12,  13,  or  14  rays  in  the  anal,  and  17  rays  in  the 
caudal ;  in  the  pectorals  there  are  14  or  15  rays,  and  in  the  ventrals 
are  a  spine  and  5  rays.  The  lateral  line  has  from  50  to  57  scales. 
The  mouth  is  cleft  very  obliquely,  and  extends  to  the  front  edge  of 
the  eye,  the  eye  being  much  larger  than  that  of  the  common 
Atherine. 

Auxis.     Plate  vi.     SCOMBRID&. 
43.     rochci.  PLAIN  BONITO.    Dorsals  re  mote  ;  first  dorsal  triangular. 

The  first  dorsal  is  triangular  and  has  10  or  n  rays,  the  second 
dorsal  is  as  far  removed  from  it  as  the  base  of  the  triangle  is  long, 
and  has  n  or  12  rays,  and  behind  it  are  8  or  9  finlets;  the  anal  has 
ii  or  12  rays  followed  by  7  finlets;  the  caudal  has  24  rays ;  in  the 
pectorals  are  21  or  22  rays,  and  the  ventrals  have  the  usual  spine 
and  fin  rays.  The  ventrals  are  beneath  the  pectorals,  and  the  anal 
starts  below  the  first  finlet.  The  lateral  line  becomes  crooked  above 
the  anal  fin.  There  are  3  keels  at  the  base  of  the  caudal,  and  pro- 
longations to  the  corslet.  The  mouth  extends  to  the  middle  of  the 
eye  ;  the  teeth  in  the  jaws  are  small,  and  there  are  none  on  the 
palatines  and  tongue.  In  colour  this  bonito  is  bluish,  with  silvery 
underparts.  In  size  it  measures  about  18  inches.  It  is  rare  in 
British  waters. 

Balistes.     Plate  xv.     BALISTID&. 

120.  maculatus,     TRIGGER  FISH.     Side  spotted  ;  no  plates  behind  gills 

121.  capriscus,      FILE  FISH.     Side  not  spotted  ;  two  plates  behind  gills. 

The  Trigger-fish  has  3  spines  in  its  first  dorsal,  26  or  27  rays  in 
its  second  dorsal,  24  or  25  rays  in  its  anal,  and  12  in  its  caudal ;  in 
its  pectorals  there  are  15  rays,  and  the  ventrals  are  represented  by 
a  movable  bony  knob.  The  dorsal  spines  are  black  and  at  equal 
intervals,  and  the  front  one  is  longer  and  stronger  than  the  others. 
The  scales  are  rough  and  granulated,  and  form  a  carapace.  The 
colour  is  blackish,  and  the  length  is  about  16  inches.  The  species 
is  very  rare  in  our  home  seas,  in  fact  it  is  doubtful  if  it  has  been 
caught  more  than  once. 

The  File  Fish  is  not  quite  so  rare.  In  its  first  dorsal  there  are 
3  spines,  and  in  the  second  27  or  28  rays ;  in  its  anal  there  are  from 
24  to  26  rays,  and  in  its  caudal  12  rays;  there  are  15  rays  in  its 
pectorals,  and  the  ventrals  are  represented  by  a  bony  process  as  in 
the  other  species.  The  first  spine  is  the  longest,  and  the  second  is 
not  so  far  from  it  as  from  the  third.  The  scales  form  a  carapace. 
The  colour  is  yellowish,  darker  on  the  upper  portion ;  the  size  is 
about  16  inches.  The  generic  name  is  derived  from  the  way  in 
which  the  spines  spring  up  when  raising  the  fin.  Like  the  preced- 
ing species  it  is  a  native  of  the  tropical  seas,  where  it  feeds  on  corals 
and  hard-shelled  mollusca. 


8o  GENERA    AND    SPECIES. 

Barbus.    Plate  xxii.     CYPRINIDJE. 

172.     vidgaris,       BARBEL.     Two  pairs  of  barbules. 

The  dorsal  fin  has  3  or  4  spines  and  12  or  13  rays,  the  anal  has 
2  or  3  spines  and  5  rays,  and  the  caudal  has  20  rays  ;  in  the 
pectorals  there  are  18  rays,  and  in  the  ventrals  9  or  10.  The  u  ;>rsal 
begins  over  the  ventrals  in  the  middle  of  the  back,  and  the  tip 
of  the  pectorals  is  half-way  between  their  base  and  the  base  of  the 
ventrals.  The  anal  is  mid-way  between  the  pectorals  and  the 
caudal ;  the  pectorals  are  low  on  the  body  and  the  anal  is  narrow. 
There  are  7  scales  between  the  base  of  the  ventrals  and  the  lateral 
line.  The  lateral  line  has  from  52  to  70  scales.  The  back  is  curved, 
and  the  abdomen  nearly  straight ;  the  snout  is  long  and  the  lips  are 
thick  and  leathery.  The  colour  is  olivaceous,  the  scales  being  pale 
yellow  edged  with  greenish  black,  the  tint  becoming  lighter  on  the 
sides  and  underparts.  The  dorsal  fin  has  a  dark  edge ;  the  other 
fins  are  reddish.  The  Barbel  lives  at  the  bottom  of  gently  flowing 
rivers,  generally  in  the  middle  third  between  the  source  and  the  sea. 
and  searches  for  its  food  routing  about  among  the  stones.  It  feeds 
on  vegetable  matter,  and  on  worms  and  insects,  and  other  aquatic 
animals.  It  reaches  24  inches  in  length,  perhaps  more.  It  is  very 
quick  of  hearing,  and  often  makes  a  noise  when  caught,  and  growls 
under  the  water.  It  bites  with  a  double  knock,  and  tries  to  break  the 
line  by  striking  it  with  its  tail. 

Belone.     Plate  xi.    SCOMBRESOCID&. 

87.     vulgaris,        GARFISH.     No  finlets;  tail  forked,  lower  lobe  slightly 
the  longer. 

The  dorsal  fin  is  opposite  the  anal,  and  placed  in  the  tail  third 
of  the  body  ;  it  has  from  17  to  20  rays,  the  anal  having  from  21  to 
23,  and  the  caudal  15  or  16 ;  in  the  pectorals  there  are  13,  and  in 
the  ventrals  6.  The  jaws  are  lengthened  into  a  beak,  the  lower  jaw 
being  the  longer.  It  is  soft  at  its  outer  end,  the  upper  jaw  being 
sharp  and  pointed,  so  that  it  can  be  driven  into  the  prey.  In  colour 
the  Garfish  is  bluish  green  on  the  back  and  silvery  below.  It  is 
generally  gregarious,  and  swims  near  the  surface,  often  on  the  very 
top  of  the  water,  and  occasionally  springing  over  the  waves.  The 
lower  jaw  is  always  long,  but  in  the  young  the  upper  jaw  is  very 
short  and  increases  in  length  as  the  fish  becomes  mature  until  there 
is  not  very  much  difference  between  them.  There  is  a  Garfish  on 
record  that  was  a  yard  long,  but  about  half  that  length  is  the  usual 
size  when  found,  as  it  often  is,  among  the  mackerel  shoals. 

Blennius.    Plate  x.    BLENNIIDM. 
Eye  spot  on  first  dorsal— 

79.     ocellaris,         BUTTERFLY    BLENNY.     First   spine  long;  a  tentacle 
above  the  eye. 

No  eye  spot  on  first  dorsal— 
8.    pholis,  SHANNY.     No  tentacle  above  the  eye. 


GENERA    AND    SPECIES.  8l 

77.    galerita,          MONTAGU'S    BLENNY.     A  tentacle  above  the  eye  ;   a 
black  band  at  the  base  of  the  pectorals. 

76.    gattorugine,    TOMPOT.    A  tentacle  above  the  eye  ;  no  black  band  at 
the  base  of  the  pectorals. 

The  Butterfly  Blenny,  like  the  others,  has  really  one  dorsal,  but 
the  break  in  the  middle  is  so  marked  that  it  may  conveniently  be 
considered  as  two  fins,  the  first  having  from  u  to  12  spines,  the 
second  14  to  16  rays.  In  the  anal  there  are  from  16  to  18  rays,  in 
the  caudal  n  ;  the  pectorals  have  la  rays  and  the  ventrals  only  2. 
In  addition  to  the  tentacle  over  the  eyes  there  is  one  on  the  fore 
nostril.  The  mouth  extends  to  the  middle  of  the  eye ;  in  the  upper 
jaw  there  are  from  36  to  40  teeth,  and  in  the  lower  jaw  from  34  to 
36,  there  being  a  curved  canine  at  the  back  of  each  jaw.  The 
colour  is  grey  with  bands,  blotches,  and  reticulations,  and  between 
the  fifth  and  ninth  dorsal  spines  there  is  a  large  round  black  spot 
with  a  narrow  white  edging.  This  Blenny,  which  attains  a  length 
of  7  inches,  lives  among  seaweeds,  feeding  upon  them  and  upon 
crustaceans,  molluscs,  and  small  fishes.  Of  late  years  it  has 
become  rare. 

The  Shanny  has  the  first  part  of  the  dorsal  with  n  to  13  spines, 
the  second,  which  is  similar  in  appearance,  but  longer,  having  from 
18  to  20  rays.  In  the  anal,  which  is  just  under  this,  there  are  also 
18  to  20  rays ;  the  caudal  has  13  rays,  the  pectorals  have  13,  and 
the  ventrals  2.  There  is  no  tentacle  over  the  eyes,  but  on  the 
fore  nostril  there  is  a  short  one  divided  into  4  or  5  filaments.  The 
mouth  is  large  and  extends  to  below  the  eye,  the  upper  jaw  having 
from  14  to  20  teeth  and  the  lower  from  12  to  16,  there  being  a  curved 
tooth  at  the  angle.  In  colour  the  Shanny  is  generally  greenish 
yellow,  banded,  blotched,  and  spotted  with  black,  the  fins  are 
yellowish,  with  black  spots,  and  the  anal  has  a  white  edging  over  a 
black  stripe.  It  is  a  solitary  fish,  living  in  rock  pools,  driving  away 
its  would-be  competitors  from  its  hunting  grounds,  creeping  about 
in  and  out  of  the  water,  jumping  up  with  the  aid  of  its  tail,  and 
taking  a  look  round  as  it  stands  on  its  broad  pectorals.  It  feeds  on 
seaweed  and  on  insects,  molluscs,  and  other  small  animals,  and  is 
about  6  inches  long. 

Montagu's  Blenny  has  from  12  to  13  dorsal  spines,  and  15  to  17 
rays,  the  second  half  of  the  dorsal  being  higher  than  the  first,  and 
almost  semi-circular ;  in  the  anal  there  are  from  17  to  18  rays,  and 
there  are  n  in  the  caudal,  12  in  the  pectorals,  and  2  in  the  ventrals. 
The  anal  is  longer  than  the  second  dorsal,  but  ends  at  the  same 
distance  from  the  tail.  Across  the  head  is  an  erectile  crest,  orange 
in  colour,  which  is  united  to  the  dorsal  by  a  row  of  tentacles.  The 
mouth  extends  to  the  back  of  the  eye,  and  in  the  upper  jaw  are 
from  55  to  65  teeth,  there  being  only  35  to  45  in  the  lower  jaw, 
which  also  has  a  curved  canine.  This  is  a  small  fish,  3  inches  long, 
brownish  grey  in  colour,  with  vertical  bands,  bluish  white  spots, 
and  a  line  of  white  blotches  from  the  pectorals  to  the  caudal.  It 
lives  in  rocky  pools  and  shelters  under  stony  ledges. 

The  Tompot  has  from  12  to  14  spines  and  19  to  20  rays  in  its 
dorsal,  which  is  united  by  a  membrane  to  the  caudal ;  the  anal  has 


82  GENERA    AND    SPECIES. 

21  or  22  rays,  and  is  about  the  same  size  as  the  second  half  of  the 
dorsal,  but  unlike  it  is  not  joined  to  the  caudal.  The  caudal  has  12 
or  13  rays,  the  pectorals  have  14,  and  the  ventrals,  unlike  those  of 
the  other  British  Blennies,  have  a  spine  and  2  or  3  rays.  The 
mouth  extends  to  the  front  edge  of  the  eye,  and  there  are  about  40 
teeth  in  the  upper  jaw,  the  lower  having  about  35.  It  is  the  largest 
of  our  Blennies,  being  some  9  inches  long,  and  has  received  its  name 
from  being  frequently  caught  in  lobster  pots,  to  which  it  is  attracted 
by  the  bait.  It  feeds  on  molluscs  and  small  Crustacea,  and  lives 
among  rocks  in  deep  water,  and  not  in  tidal  pools.  In  colour  it  is 
brownish  grey,  banded,  blotched,  and  spotted.  Like  some  of  the 
other  Blennies,  it  uses  its  pectorals  and  ventrals  like  hands  and  feet 
for  crawling  and  feeling. 


Box.     Plate  ii.     SPARIDsE. 

ii.     vulgaris,         BOGUE.     Body  narrow  and  not  compressed. 

The  Bogue  has  a  long  dorsal  fin  with  14  weak  spines  in  the  first 
sweep  of  the  curve,  and  14  or  15  rays  in  the  second ;  in  the  anal  are 
3  spines  and  15  rays,  in  the  caudal  are  17  rays,  in  the  pectorals  are 
21  rays,  and  in  the  ventrals  are  a  spine  and  5  rays.  The  scales 
are  cycloid,  there  are  3  or  4  rows  of  them  on  the  cheeks,  and  there 
are  75  in  the  lateral  line.  In  colour  this  Mediterranean  and  Atlantic 
species,  occasionally  straying  into  British  waters,  is  yellowish  green 
on  the  back  and  silvery  on  the  abdomen,  with  yellow  streaks 
parallel  to  the  lateral  line.  It  is  generally  8  or  9  inches  long,  but 
reaches  16,  and  feeds  mainly  on  seaweeds. 


Brama.    Plate  v.    CORYPH&NID&. 

32.     rail,  RAY'S  BREAM.      First  few  dorsal   rays  much  higher 

than  the  spines,  and  rapidly  decreasing  in  height. 

Ray's  Bream  has  3  or  4  short  spines,  and  29  to  34  rays,  the  fin 
rising  at  once  to  the  tip  of  the  longest  ray  and  then  curving 
suddenly  downwards  to  continue  parallel  to  the  back.  In  the  anal, 
which  is  somewhat  similar  in  curve  to  the  dorsal,  are  2  spines  and 
27  to  28  rays,  in  the  deeply-forked  caudal  are  19  rays,  the  long- 
pointed  pectorals  have  19  to  23  rays,  and  the  ventrals  a  spine  and 
5  rays.  The  mouth,  which  is  very  oblique,  extends  to  the  outer 
edge  of  the  eye,  the  lower  jaw  projecting  to  meet  the  curve  of  the 
head.  The  front  nostril  is  round,  the  hinder  one  is  a  slit.  The 
body  is  flat  and  little  more  than  double  as  long  as  it  is  deep.  In 
colour  it  is  blackish  above,  whitish  below,  with  black  edges  to  the 
vertical  fins.  It  is  a  deep-water  fish,  rare  in  our  seas,  but  ranging 
from  the  Faeroes  to  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  Our  specimens  have 
been  generally  washed  ashore  after  a  storm ;  the  first  was  found 
left  by  the  tide  in  the  Tees  in  September,  1681,  and,  being  described 
by  Ray,  was  named  after  him. 


GENERA    AND    SPECIES.  83 

Brosmius.     Plate  xviii.     GADIDJE 

142.     brosme,         TORSK.     Body  round,  only  one  dorsal. 

The  Torsk  is  a  member  of  the  cod  family  with  but  one  dorsal, 
and  that  extends  from  above  the  middle  of  the  pectorals  nearly  to 
the  caudal.  It  has  from  85  to  TOO  rays ;  the  anal,  which  is  rather 
more  than  half  as  long,  having  from  62  to  76,  the  caudal  having  35, 
the  pectorals  from  21  to  23,  and  the  ventrals  5.  The  ventrals  are 
thick  and  pointed,  and  the  skin  generally  is  tough  and  thick.  The 
colour  is  a  yellowish  grey,  which  becomes  lighter  on  the  edges  of 
the  fins.  The  Torsk  is  a  deep-water  fish,  frequenting  rocky  ground 
in  northern  latitudes,  and  has  never  been  taken  south  of  Yorkshire. 
It  is  generally  about  18  inches  long,  but  grows  to  double  that  length, 
or  rather  more. 

Callionynms.     Plate  ix.     CALLIONYMID&. 

72.  lyra,  DUSKY  SKULPIN.     Dorsal  striped. 

73.  maculatus,      SORDID  DRAGONET.     Dorsal  spotted. 

The  Skulpin  has  two  dorsals,  the  first  with  4  spines,  the  second 
with  Q  rays.  In  the  anal  there  are  9  rays,  in  the  caudal  9,  in  the 
pectorals  20,  and  in  the  ventrals  a  spine  and  5  rays.  In  the  male 
the  first  spine  is  very  long,  in  the  female  it  is  no  longer  than  the 
rays,  but  in  both  the  last  ray  is  the  longest.  The  body  is  long  and 
narrow,  the  head  flat,  the  snout  long,  and  the  upper  jaw  protractile. 
On  the  praeopercle  there  is  a  three-pointed  spine.  It  is  a  solitary 
fish,  from  7  to  12  inches  long,  hiding  in  the  sand  in  bays  and 
estuaries.  The  male  is  orange  in  colour,  marked  with  blue,  with 
the  stripes  purple  on  the  first  dorsal  and  pale  blue  on  the  second  ; 
the  female  is  brown,  with  3  bands  across  the  back,  the  second  dorsal 
being  bluish  with  a  yellow  stripe. 

The  Dragonet  has  4  spines  in  the  first  dorsal  and  9  or  10  rays  in 
the  second,  in  the  anal  are  8  or  9  rays,  in  the  caudal  9  or  10,  in  the 
pectorals  16,  and  in  the  ventrals  the  usual  spine  and  5.  Both 
dorsals  are  high,  the  first  spine  being  very  long,  and  they  are  grey 
in  colour,  with  3  or  4  rows  of  round,  pearl-edged  black  spots  running 
across  them.  This  fish,  which  is  4  inches  long,  appears  in  the  list 
on  the  strength  of  a  solitary  specimen  from  the  Shetlands. 

Cantharus.     Plate  ii.     SPARIDJE. 

10.     lineatus,         BLACK  SEA-BREAM.     Lateral  line  black  and  parallel  to 
back  throughout. 

The  Black  Bream  has  n  spines  and  12  rays  in  its  dorsal  fin. 
3  spines  and  10  rays  in  its  anal  fin,  17  rays  in  its  caudal  fin,  14  rays 
in  its  pectorals,  and  the  normal  spine  and  5  in  the  ventrals.  In  the 
dorsal  the  rays  are  closer  together  than  the  spines,  and  start  at  a 
slightly  higher  level ;  the  fourth  or  fifth  spine  is  the  longest.  The 
body  is  compressed  and  rather  deep,  the  mouth  extends  to  the  front 
edge  of  the  eye ;  the  only  teeth  are  on  the  jaws,  and  they  are  cardi- 
form,  the  outer  row  being  the  largest.  The  general  colour  is  grey, 
with  yellow  streaks  below  the  lateral  line,  and  a  dark  dorsal  with 


84  GENERA    AND    SPECIES. 

two  or  three  rows  of  spots  occasionally  continuous  ;  the  long-pointed 
pectorals,  the  caudal,  which  has  a  light  edging,  and  the  spotted 
anal  are  mainly  pale  yellow.  This  species  feeds  on  seaweeds,  and 
comes  inshore  in  small  shoals,  generally  where  the  ground  is  rocky 
or  there  is  a  breakwater  or  pier  on  which  seaweed  grows.  When 
fully  grown  it  is  about  16  inches  long  and  5  deep. 

Capros.     Plate  iv.     CARANGIDJE. 
28.    aper,  BOAR-FISH.     Body  flat  and  deep ;  colour  red 

The  Boar-fish  has  two  dorsals,  the  first  with  9  spines,  the  second 
with  from  23  to  25  rays,  and  the  anal  is  in  two  distinct  divisions, 
the  first  with  3  spines,  and  the. second  with  23  or  24  rays  ;  the  caudal 
has  12  rays,  the  pectorals  have  13  rays,  and  the  ventrals  have  a 
spine  and  5  rays.  In  the  first  dorsal  the  first  spine  is  rather  short, 
the  second  being  the  longest,  the  others  shortening  one  after  the 
other,  so  that  the  fin  is  triangular ;  the  second  dorsal  increases  in 
height  towards  the  tail ;  the  ventral  spine  is  strong  and  has  a  rough 
fore-edge ;  the  anal  is  similar  to  the  second  dorsal.  The  mouth 
does  not  extend  as  far  back  as  the  eye,  which  is  very  large.  The 
scales  are  small  and  spiny.  The  body  rises  in  a  hollow  curve 
from  the  protractile  snout  to  the  beginning  of  the  first  dorsal,  and 
then  curves  boldly  outwards  to  the  last  ray  of  the  second  dorsal. 
The  lateral  line  follows  the  outline  of  the  body,  and  dies  out 
between  the  dorsals.  The  hinder  nostril  is  large  and  oval,  the 
other  is  small  and  round.  This  unmistakable  red  fish  is  7  inches 
long,  and  feeds  on  the  molluscs  and  crustaceans  it  finds  on  the 
bottom  in  moderately  deep  water.  It  appears  on  the  coast  of 
England  in  May,  and  returns  to  the  Atlantic  in  October,  and  ie  said 
to  grunt  like  a  pig,  but  gets  its  name  from  the  pig-like  snout. 

Caranx.     Plate  iv.     CARANGIDM. 
24.     tracliurus,      HORSE  MACKEREL. 

The  Horse  Mackerel,  perhaps  quite  as  well  known  as  the  Scad, 
has  two  dorsal  fins  coming  close  together,  the  first  with  8  spines, 
the  second  with  i  spine  and  n  or  12  rays.  There  are  two  anals, 
also  close  up,  the  first  with  2  spines,  the  second  with  i  spine  and 
from  26  to  29  rays  ;  in  the  caudal  there  are  17  rays,  in  the  pectorals 
from  19  to  21,  in  the  ventrals  the  usual  spine  and  5  rays.  The 
second  dorsal  is  not  so  high  as  the  first,  and,  like  the  anal,  extends 
almost  to  the  tail.  The  lateral  line  has  73  large  bony  plates, 
which  are  keeled  towards  the  tail  end  where  the  line  becomes 
straight.  Elsewhere  the  scales  are  very  small.  The  mouth  extends 
to  the  first  third  of  the  eye,  the  lower  jaw  being  the  longer.  There 
are  teeth  not  only  on  the  jaws,  but  on  the  vomer  and  palatines,  and 
in  a  band  along  the  middle  of  the  tongue,  and  they  are  all  small. 
The  dark  blue  back  is  marked  off  by  the  lateral  line  from  the 
silvery  sides.  In  food  and  habits  this  fish  resembles  the  mackerel. 
It  is  of  very  wide  distribution,  and  found  solitary  or  in  shoals,  which 
are  sometimes  of  immense  extent.  In  the  spring  it  feeds  on  the 
bottom,  but  in  summer  it  is  a  surface  swimmer.  Large  specimens 
measure  20  inches  in  length. 


GENERA    AND    SPECIES.  85 

Carassius.     Plate  xxii.    CYPRINID&. 

170.  vidgaris,       CRUCIAN  CARP.      Back  greenish,  sides  yellow,  abdomen 

reddish  white ;    lateral  line  over  30 ;   caudal  rays  19 
or  more. 

171.  auratus,        GOLD-FISH.      Gold   or  silver;    lateral  line   under  30; 

caudal  rays  19  or  less. 

It  would  seem  to  be  more  reasonable  to  treat  these  as  two 
varieties  of  the  same  species,  to  which  may  be  added  a  third, 
C.  gibelio,  the  Prussian  Carp,  which  differs  only  in  being  narrower 
in  build  and  having  a  longer  lower  jaw  and  the  tail  more  deeply 
forked. 

In  the  Crucian  Carp  and  the  Prussian  Carp  the  dorsal  has  i  to  4 
spines,  and  14  to  21  rays,  the  anal  has  3  spines  and  5  or  6  rays,  the 
caudal  has  from  19  to  21  rays;  the  pectorals  have  from  13  to  18 
rays,  and  the  ventrals  9  or  10.  The  pectorals  are  twice  as  long  as 
they  are  broad ;  the  dorsal  begins  behind  them  and  over  k  he 
ventrals,  and  ends  over  the  end  of  the  anal.  In  the  lateral  line 
there  are  from  28  to  35  scales.  The  upper  jaw  is  the  longer  ;  the 
snout  is  blunt  and  the  mouth  small,  and  not  reaching  to  the  eye.  In 
habits  this  fish  resembles  the  Carp,  but  it  thrives  in  water  that  would 
kill  any  other,  and  is  generally  small,  rarely  exceeding  7  inches  in 
length. 

The  Gold-fish  is  singularly  varied  in  its  fin  arrangements,  but 
the  typical  form  has  3  or  4  spines  and  16  to  18  rays  in  the  dorsal, 
3  spines  and  5  or  6  rays  in  the  anal,  18  or  19  in  the  caudal,  the 
pectorals  having  from  16  to  17  rays,  and  the  ventrals  9.  The 
pectorals  should  be  three  times  as  long  as  they  are  broad  ;  the 
dorsal  begins  over  their  tip,  which  should  just  reach  the  base  of  the 
ventrals.  In  the  lateral  line  there  are  from  26  to  30  scales.  As  a 
rule  both  jaws  are  alike,  and  the  mouth  is  small.  Gold-fish  are 
generally  kept  in  tanks  or  glass  bowls,  and  lead  an  artificial  sort  of 
life,  feeding  on  worms,  insects  of  all  sorts  and  in  all  stages, 
generally  as  pupae,  and  occasionally  shredded  meat  and  even  grain. 
In  any  water— except  rain-water — be  it  from  the  tap,  the  pump,  the 
stream,  or  the  steam-engine,  provided  it  is  kept  by  frequent  change 
or  continual  movement  from  becoming  stagnant,  they  linger  for 
years,  but  only  really  thrive  in  tanks  or  pools  in  which  there  are 
shady  depths  in  which  they  can  shelter.  In  such  places  they  will 
reach  n  inches  in  length.  In  colour  the  Gold-fish  is  gold  or  silver, 
or  red  or  white  with  gold,  silver,  or  red  markings,  the  colour 
seeming  to  vary  with  the  temperature,  the  warmer  the  water  the 
more  golden  being  the  fish,  the  handsomest  and  healthiest  examples 
being  found  in  the  pools  in  which  waste  steam  is  condensed,  where 
the  average  temperature  is  80  degrees. 

Carcharias.     Plate  xxviii.    CARCHARIID&. 

222.    glaucus,         BLUE  SHARK.      Pectorals  long  and   pointed ;    caudal 
large,  upper  lobe  notched. 

The  Blue  Shark  has  two  dorsal  fins,  the  first  in  the  middle  of  the 
back,  the  second  above  the  anal  close  to  the  tail ;  the  ventrals  are 


86  GENERA    AND    SPECIES. 

placed  midway  between  the  dorsals,  and  the  pectorals  are  almost 
long  enough  to  reach  the  beginning  of  the  dorsal  with  their  pointed 
tips.  There  is  no  fold  at  the  angle  of  the  mouth,  the  mouth  is  deep 
and  wide,  and  the  teeth  are  in  four  or  five  rows.  The  body  is  long 
and  slender,  dark  greenish  blue  above,  shading  off  into  white  below. 
It  reaches  25  feet  in  length,  but  the  British  specimens,  mostly 
caught  in  drift  nets  off  Cornwall,  average  about  7  feet. 

Carelophus.     Plate  x.     BLENNIIDJE. 
80.    ascanii,          YARRELL'S  BLENNY.     Vertical  fins  even. 

Yarrell's  Blenny  has  a  long  dorsal  running  from  the  nape  to 
the  tail,  and  having  from  50  to  52  rays ;  the  anal,  which  begins 
a  little  behind  the  tip  of  the  pectoral,  has  from  36  to  40  rays ;  the 
caudal  has  17  ;  the  pectorals  have  14  and  the  ventrals  have  a  spine 
and  3  rays.  On  the  first  three  rays  of  the  dorsal  are  filaments, 
occasionally  long.  The  mouth  extends  to  the  front  edge  of  the  eye ; 
over  the  eyes  is  a  large  tentacle,  and  at  the  nostrils  are  two  small 
tentacles.  The  colour  is  reddish  brown,  with  dark  bands  and 
mottlings.  The  length  is  about  7^  inches.  This  fish,  which  is  found 
in  crab-pots  and  lives  in  deeper  water  than  the  other  Blennies,  is 
not  of  frequent  occurrence. 

Centrina,     Plate  xxxi.     SPINACID&. 

235.     salviani,        The  spine  in  each  dorsal  curving  forwards  from  the 
middle  of  the  base  of  the  fin. 

Only  one  example  of  this  shark  has  been  caught  in  British 
waters.  There  is  only  one  spine  in  each  dorsal,  and  it  curves  for- 
ward, as  stated,  across  the  fin  and  projects  beyond  the  front  edge. 
There  is  no  anal  fin.  The  length  of  the  captured  specimen  is  about 
2ft.,  but  the  full  size  is  between  4  and  5  feet.  It  is  a  Mediterranean 
species. 

Centriscus.     Plate  xii.     CENTRISCIDJE. 
98.    scolopax,         TRUMPET  FISH.     Snout  long  and  tubular. 

There  are  two  dorsal  fins,  the  first  with  from  5  to  7  spines,  the 
second  with  n  or  12  rays ;  in  the  anal  there  are  18  to  20  rays ;  in 
the  caudal  16 ;  in  the  pectorals  there  are  16  or  17,  and  in  the 
ventrals  5.  The  first  dorsal  spine  is  short,  but  the  second  is  long 
and  thick,  striated  and  serrated.  The  body  is  deep  and  thin,  red 
above  and  silvery  below,  and  about  5  inches  in  length.  Only  a  few 
have  been  taken  in  British  waters. 

Centrolabrus.     Plate  xiv.    L ABRIDGE. 

112.    exohtus,       ROCK  COOK.     Five  spines  in  the  anal  fin. 

The  dorsal  has  from  18  to  20  spines  and  6  rays;  the  anal  has 
5  spines  and  7  or  8  rays  ;  the  caudal  has  15  rays  ;  in  the  pectorals 
are  14  rays,  and  in  the  ventrals  a  spine  and  5  rays.  The  dorsal 
begins  over  the  base  of  the  pectorals,  and  its  spines  are  all  of  the 


GENERA    AND    SPECIES.  87 

same  height,  the  rays,  which  are  also  all  of  the  same  height,  standing 
rather  higher.  In  the  lateral  line  are  from  32  to  35  scales.  The 
mouth  is  small  and  reaches  only  halfway  to  the  eye.  The  lips  are 
fleshy  and  the  jaws  equal.  The  Rock  Cook,  otherwise  the  Small- 
mouthed  Wrasse,  is  the  most  graceful  of  the  wrasses,  and  is  brown 
above,  yellowish  on  the  sides,  with  yellow  stripes  along  the  rows  of 
scales,  blue  stripes  on  the  head  below  the  eye,  and  dark  bands 
along  the  fins.  It  is  5  inches  long,  and  lives  in  deep  water  where 
the  ground  is  rocky  and  weeds  are  plentiful. 

Centrolophus.     Plates  iv.  and  v.     STROMATEID^E. 

30.  britanmcus,     CORNISH  CENTROLOPHUS.     Pectorals  short. 

31.  pompilus,        BLACK-FISH.     Pectorals  long. 

The  Cornish  Centrolophus  has  a  long  dorsal  fin  higher  behind 
than  in  front,  with  46  rays;  the  anal,  which  is  somewhat  similar  in 
shape,  has  30  rays  and  the  caudal  17 ;  the  short  pectorals  have  17 
rays,  and  the  ventrals  a  spine  and  5  rays.  The  dorsal  and  anal 
are  sheathed  with  scales ;  the  scales  are  small,  and  the  lateral  line 
begins  with  a  short  curve  over  the  pectorals,  and  then  continues 
straight  along  the  middle  of  the  long  body.  There  is  only  one  on 
record,  and  that  was  washed  ashore  at  Looe.  It  is  brownish  pink 
above  and  paler  below,  and  is  19  inches  long. 

The  Black-fish  is  fuller  in  the  body.  Its  dorsal,  which  is  highest 
in  the  middle,  has  from  38  to  41  rays  ;  its  anal  has  from  23  to  25, 
and  its  caudal  17  ;  in  the  pectorals  are  21  rays,  and  in  its  ventrals  a 
spine  and  5  rays.  The  pectorals  are  long,  and  the  lateral  line 
becomes  straight  beyond  their  tips.  The  eye  is  large,  and  the 
mouth  extends  to  its  front  edge.  This  is  a  Mediterranean  fish, 
occasionally  straggling  into  British  waters,  following  vessels  in  the 
same  way  as  the  pilot-fish.  It  attains  a  yard  in  length,  but  none 
of  that  length  has  been  caught  off  our  coasts.  In  colour  it  is 
blackish,  with  irregular  markings. 


Centronotus.     Plate  x.     BLENNIIDJE. 
81.    gunnellus,       BUTTER-FISH.     Dorsal  even,  long  and  spotted. 

The  Butter-fish  is  of  much  the  same  shape  as  an  eel.  The  dorsal 
is  long  and  low,  with  from  75  to  82  rays  ;  the  anal  starts  from  the 
middle  of  the  abdomen,  has  2  spines  and  from  39  to  45  rays,  and, 
like  the  dorsal,  is  connected  by  a  membrane  with  the  caudal,  which 
has  15  rays ;  the  pectorals  have  n  or  12  rays,  and  the  ventrals  have 
a  spine  and  i  or  2  rays,  and  are  very  small  and  placed  immedi- 
ately below  the  base  of  the  pectorals.  The  mouth  reaches  to  the 
fore-edge  of  the  eye,  and  has  a  single  row  of  teeth  in  its  jaws.  The 
body  varies  in  colour,  but  is  generally  yellow  ;  there  is  a  dark  stripe 
from  the  eye  to  the  mouth,  and  along  the  base  of  the  dorsal  is  a  row 
of  round  black  spots  with  a  white  edging.  It  is  a  very  slimy  fish — 
hence  its  popular  name — found  between  the  tide  marks  under  the 
seaweed,  and  is  occasionally  left  dry  by  the  tide.  In  length  it  is  about 
ii  inches. 


88  GENERA    AND    SPECIES. 

Cepnaloptera.     Plate  xxxiii.     MYLIOBATIDJE. 
25X'    giorna,         Ox  RAY.     Head  with  horn-like  projections. 

In  general  outline  this  curious  fish  is  not  unlike  a  butterfly.  The 
disk  is  nearly  twice  as  broad  as  it  is  long.  The  upper  and  lower 
halves  are  doubly  curved,  and  join  in  a  point  like  a  bird's  beak. 
The  top  of  the  head,  between  the  horns,  is  perfectly  straight,  and 
the  tail  is  long  with  a  spine  at  the  base  and  a  small  triangular  dorsal 
just  in  front  of  it.  The  skin  is  smooth,  the  colour  greenish-blue 
above,  white  below.  A  straggler  from  the  Mediterranean  was  once 
caught  off  the  coast  of  Ireland,  which  was  45  inches  long,  but  full- 
grown  specimens  are  much  larger. 

Cepola.     Plate  ix.     CEPOLIDJE. 

74.     rubescens,        RED  BAND-FISH.     Body  long;  tail  pointed. 

The  vertical  fins  are  practically  continuous  ;  the  dorsal  has  from 
67  to  74  rays,  the  anal  60  to  70,  and  the  caudal  12 ;  the 
pectorals  have  from  12  to  15  rays,  and  the  ventrals  a  spine  and 
5  rays.  The  dorsal  and  anal  are  of  much  the  same  height  through- 
out ;  the  caudal,  instead  of  having  two  lobes,  ends  in  a  long,  central 
point.  The  scales  are  small  and  oval,  and  become  larger  towards 
the  tail.  The  mouth  is  oblique,  and  extends  to  the  middle  of  the  eye  ; 
the  eye  is  large.  In  colour  this  long,  thin  fish  is  orange,  with  tints  of 
yellow  and  rose.  It  measures  about  22  inches  in  length,  and  swims 
like  a  snake  at  moderate  depths  over  rocky  ground,  where  it  feeds 
mainly  on  crustaceans. 

Chimsera.     Plate  xxvii     CHIM^ERIDJE. 
221.    monstrosa,    CHIM/ERA.     Tail  finless  and  filamentary. 

This  is  the  King-of-the-herrings,  so  called  from  the  spiny  knob  on 
the  head,  or  the  Rabbit-fish  (from  the  rodent-like  teeth),  and  is  un- 
mistakable though  not  easily  described.  The  girth  is  greatest  at 
the  gills,  the  body  tapering  gradually.  There  are  three  dorsals,  the 
first  high  and  triangular,  with  a  strong,  serrated  spine  in  front,  the 
second  long  and  low,  extending  to  the  last  quarter  of  the  body,  where 
it  is  separated  by  a  mere  notch  from  the  third  of  equal  height,  which 
soon  dies  out  along  the  whip-like  tail.  The  pectorals  are  very  large 
and  almost  reach  the  ventrals,  which,  in  the  male,  have  claspers. 
There  are  two  anals,  about  equal  in  length,  and  divided  from  each 
other  by  a  similar  notch  as  that  which  separates  the  second  and 
third  dorsals,  and  is  immediately  above  it.  The  so-called  "crown  " 
on  the  head  is  like  a  hook  with  a  rounded  end.  The  Chimasra  is 
about  48  inches  long,  and  in  colour  is  blue  above  and  white  below, 
with  metallic  reflections. 

Clupea.    Plate  xxiv.     CLUPEIDJE. 

190.     harengus,      HERRING.     Dorsal   halfway  between   snout   and   base 
of  tail;  ventrals  behind  commencement  of  dorsal. 

192.     sprattus,        SPRAT.     Dorsal  nearer  tail  than  head  ;  ventrals  before 
commencement  of  dorsal. 


GENERA    AND    SPECIES.  89 

191.    pikhanlus,    PILCHARD.     Dorsal   nearer   head   than   tail;    ventrals 
below  middle  of  dorsal,  and  with  from  6  to  8  rays. 

193.  alosat  ALLIS  SHAD.     Dorsal  nearer  head  than  tail ;  ventrals 

below  third  ray  of  dorsal  and  with  9  or  10  rays ;  gill- 
rakers  from  60  to  80. 

194.  finta,  TWAIT  SHAD.     Dorsal  nearer  head  than  tail ;  ventrals 

below  third  ray  of  dorsal  and  with  9  rays ;  gill-rakers 
from  20  to  28. 

The  Herring  has  from  17  to  19  rays  in  the  dorsal  fin,  16  to  19  in 
its  anal,  18  or  19  in  its  caudal,  17  in  its  pectorals,  and  9  in  its 
ventrals.  In  its  lateral  line  there  are  from  53  to  60  scales  ;  the 
scales  are  moderate  in  size.  The  mouth  extends  to  the  centre  of 
the  eye,  which  has  an  adipose  lid  on  each  side;  the  lower  jaw  is 
longer  than  the  upper,  and  is  tipped  with  black.  There  are  no 
radiating  lines  on  the  gill-covers.  The  abdomen  is  keeled,  but  the 
spines  on  it  are  short  and  weak.  In  colour  the  Herring  is  greenish- 
blue  above,  becoming  silvery  and  iridescent  on  the  sides  and  below. 
In  length  it  ranges  from  about  8  inches  to  15.  It  feeds  on  smaller 
fish,  and  minute  Crustacea  and  other  marine  invertebrates,  and 
swims  at  any  depth,  always  in  shoals,  but  is  captured  as  a  surface 
swimmer.  It  squeaks  like  a  mouse  when  caught.  Its  migrations 
do  not  take  it  out  of  the  northern  seas,  though  it  is  found  in  the 
Pacific  as  well  as  in  the  Atlantic.  When  caught  young  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Thames  it  is  known  as  whitebait. 

The  Sprat  has  from  16  to  18  rays  in  its  dorsal  fin,  17  to  20  in  its 
anal,  19  in  its  caudal,  16  or  17  in  its  pectorals,  and  7  in  its  ventrals. 
In  its  lateral  line  there  are  47  scales,  which  are  rather  larger  than 
those  of  the  herring,  and  are  smooth  and  deciduous.  The  mouth 
extends  to  the  first  third  of  the  eye,  which  has  adipose  lids.  The 
lower  jaw  is  the  longer,  and  has  no  black  tip.  There  are  no 
radiating  lines  on  the  gill-covers.  The  abdomen  is  keeled,  and  the 
spines  on  it  are  strong  and  sharp.  In  colour  the  Sprat  is  slaty- 
blue  above,  becoming  silvery  and  slightly  iridescent  on  the  sides  and 
below.  In  length  it  ranges  from  4  to  6£  inches.  Its  food  is 
apparently  similar  to  that  of  the  herring,  but  it  is  known  only  as  a 
surface  swimmer.  It  migrates  as  far  south  as  the  Mediterranean. 
When  caught  young  at  the  mouth  of  the  Thames  it  is  known  as 
whitebait,  as  the  herring  is  ;  in  fact,  whitebait  consists  almost  entirely 
of  the  young  of  these  two  fishes. 

The  Pilchard  has  the  dorsal  fin  at  the  centre  of  gravity,  so  that 
the  body  hangs  horizontally  when  held  up  by  the  first  rays  of  the 
fin.  The  dorsal  has  17  or  18  rays,  the  anal  17  or  18,  the  caudal  19, 
the  pectorals  16  or  17,  and  the  ventrals  6  or  8.  In  its  lateral  line 
are  29  or  30  scales  ;  the  scales  are  the  largest  among  the  British 
representatives  of  the  family.  The  mouth  extends  to  the  first  third 
of  the  eye,  the  lower  jaw  being  the  longer.  Like  the  foregoing 
species,  there  are  eyelids,  but — unlike  them — there  are  radiating 
lines  on  the  gill-covers.  The  abdomen  is  rounded  and  the  spines 
weak.  In  colour  the  Pilchard  is  olive  green  above,  and  silvery 
below ;  in  length  it  ranges  from  8  inches  to  14.  It  has  been 
seen  feeding  on  the  bottom,  but  is  caught  as  a  surface  swimmer  in 
enormous  shoals  that  crowd  together  during  the  day,  but  spread 

G 


go  GENERA  AND  SPECIES. 

out  at  night,  and  are  frightened  off  at  the  slightest  noise.  The 
Pilchard  ranges  into  the  Mediterranean,  and  is  the  same  fish  as  the 
Sardine,  the  Sardine  being  merely  the  Pilchard  caught  off  the  coast 
of  France  before  it  is  large  enough  to  have  a  roe. 

The  Allis  Shad  has  from  19  to  21  rays  in  its  dorsal  fin,  20  to  24  in 
its  anal,  and  20  in  its  caudal,  and  it  has  15  or  16  in  its  pectorals  and  9 
or  10  in  its  ventrals.  The  ventrals  are  almost  level  with  the  beginning 
of  the  dorsal,  and  the  lower  lobe  of  the  caudal  is  rather  longer  than 
the  upper.  In  its  lateral  line  there  are  from  70  to  80  scales.  The 
abdomen  is  sharply  keeled,  and  has  strong  spines.  The  body  is 
much  deeper  in  proportion  than  those  of  the  foregoing  species.  The 
mouth  extends  to  the  hinder  edge  of  the  eye,  and  the  upper  jaw  is 
notched  in  the  middle,  the  lower  jaw  being  the  longer.  There  are 
radiating  lines  on  the  gill  covers  and  below  the  eye,  the  eye  having 
vertical  eyelids  like  the  rest  of  the  family.  In  colour  the  Allis  Shad 
is  greenish  blue,  with  silvery  sides  ;  in  length  it  ranges,  when  fully 
grown,  from  2  feet  to  4  feet.  It  is  solitary  at  sea,  and  gregarious 
when  it  enters  the  rivers  to  spawn ;  and  it  is  as  quick  of  hearing  and 
fond  of  music  as  the  Twait  Shad. 

The  Twait  Shad  has  from  1 8  to  20  rays  in  its  dorsal  fin,  20  to 
25  in  its  anal,  19  in  its  caudal,  15  or  16  in  its  pectorals,  and 
9  in  its  ventrals.  The  ventrals  are  under  the  seventh  ray  of  the 
dorsal,  and  the  caudal  is  deeply  forked,  the  lobes  being  equal. 
In  its  lateral  line  there  are  from  60  -to  75  scales.  The 
spines  on  the  abdomen  are  strong  and  sharp.  The  body  is 
about  a  third  as  deep  as  it  is  long.  The  mouth  reaches  the  hinder 
edge  of  the  eye,  and  the  upper  jaw  has  a  notch  in  the  middle,  the 
lower  jaw  being  the  longer.  The  gill  covers  have  radiating  lines, 
and  the  gill-rakers  are  thick,  sharp,  and  under  29  in  number.  In 
colour  the  Twait  Shad  is  blue  above,  silvery  below,  with  a  row  of 
dark  blotches  in  a  line  from  the  head  to  behind  the  dorsal,  which 
are  only  found  in  the  Allis  Shad  when  young.  In  length  it  rarely 
exceeds  16  inches.  It  ascends  the  rivers  to  spawn  in  May,  a  month 
later  than  the  Allis  Shad,  and  returns  in  July.  It  is  quick  of  hearing, 
frightened  at  thunder,  and  so  fond  of  music  that  the  Germans  attach 
little  bells  to  their  shad  nets,  which  ring  under  water,  and  not  only 
attract  the  fish,  but  keep  them  lost  in  admiration  as  the  nets  are 
drawn  in  1 


Cobitis.     Plate  xxiii.     CYPRINW&. 

183.     tcenia,  SPINY  LOACH.     A    double-pointed    spine    below    the 

hind  nostril. 

The  Spiny  Loach,  otherwise  the  Groundling,  has  from  8  to  10 
rays  in  its  dorsal,  the  first  two  or  three  of  which  are  spiny ;  in  its 
anal  are  7  or  8  rays,  two  or  three  of  which  may  perhaps  be  called 
spines ;  in  its  caudal  are  16  rays,  in  its  pectorals  8  or  9,  in  its 
ventrals  6  or  7.  The  dorsal,  which  is  high  in  proportion  to  its  width, 
is  over  the  ventrals,  midway  between  the  eye  and  the  base  of  the 
caudal,  and  the  anal  is  midway  between  the  ventral  and  the  caudal, 
which  is  wide  at  its  base,  the  body  tapering  gently  with  but  a  very 
slight  curve.  The  mouth  extends  to  the  hind  nostril,  and  on  the  upper 
jaw  and  snout  are  6  barbules.  This  Loach  is  not  common ;  it  is  pale 


GENERA   AND    SPECIES.  gl 

brown  in  colour,  with  dark  markings  on  the  back,  and  white  below, 
the  fins  being  banded.  It  is  3  inches  long,  lives  where  the  bottom 
is  muddy,  and  makes  a  guttural  noise  when  touched. 

Conger.     Plate  xxii.     MURJSNID&. 

167.     vulgaris,       CONGER.     Head  large;  eyes  large;  upper  jaw  longer 
than  lower  ;  teeth  conspicuous. 

The  Conger  has  the  vertical  fins  continuous,  the  rays 
of  the  united  dorsal,  caudal,  and  anal  numbering  between  500  and 
550  ;  in  the  pectorals  there  are  from  16  to  19  rays ;  there  are  no  ven- 
trals.  The  dorsal  starts  from  the  tip  of  the  pectoral,  the  anal  from 
the  middle  of  the  body.  The  tail  is  prehensile.  The  mouth  reaches 
the  hinder  edge  of  the  eye.  In  colour  the  Conger  is  dark  grey  above 
and  lighter  or  even  quite  white  below,  and  it  has  white  spots  along 
its  lateral  line.  It  attains  a  length  of  7  or  8  feet,  and  shelters  among 
rocks  in  deep  water,  feeding  most  actively  at  night,  generally  on  flat 
fish.  Like  young  eels  it  can  swim  backwards  as  well  as  forwards, 
and  tail  first  escapes  from  the  lobster  pots  it  robs  of  their  bait. 

Coregonus.     Plate  xxvii.     SALMON  ID  JE. 

214.  oxyrhynchus,  HAUTIN.     Snout  projecting. 

215.  clupeoides,       GWYNIAD.     Snout  truncated. 

216.  vandesius,      VENDACE.     Lower  jaw  the  longer. 

217.  pollan,  POLLAN.     Jaws  equal ;  snout  not  truncated. 

The  Hautin  has  two  dorsal  fins,  in  the  first  it  has  14  or  15  rays, 
the  second  is  adipose  ;  in  its  ana.!  it  has  i.;.  or  15  rays,  and  there  are 
20  in  its  caudal ;  in  its  pectorals  it  has  15  or  16,  and  in  its  ventrals  12 
or  13.  The  first  dorsal  is  nearer  to  the  snout  than  to  the  base  of  the 
tail,  and  the  second  dorsal  is  slightly  behind  the  beginning  of  the 
anal.  In  the  lateral  line  there  are  from  75  to  80  scales.  The 
mouth  extends  to  the  first  third  of  the  eye,  and  the  upper  jaw,  which 
ends  in  a  conical  black  snout,  is  the  longer.  It  is  a  sea  fish  entering 
fresh  water,  and  rather  rare.  In  colour  it  is  grey  above  and  silvery 
below,  and  in  length  measures  from  7  to  14  inches. 

The  Gwyniad  has  two  dorsals,  the  second  of  which  is  adipose, 
the  first  having  from  13  to  15  rays  ;  the  anal  has  from  13  to  16 
rays,  the  caudal  19 ;  in  the  pectorals  there  are  17  rays,  and  in  the 
ventrals  n  or  12.  The  ventrals  are  below  the  middle  of  the  first 
dorsal.  In  the  lateral  line  there  are  from  73  to  90  scales.  The 
mouth  extends  to  the  first  third  of  the  eye,  and  the  snout  is  cut 
off  short  and  square.  It  is  the  silvery  fish  with  darkish  fins, 
which  is  frequently  called  the  freshwater  herring,  and  is  hardly 
ever  found  in  running  water.  It  is  confined  to  some  of  the  lakes 
in  North  Wales,  the  North  West  of  England,  and  Loch  Lomond, 
and  attains  a  length  of  16  inches. 

The  Vendace  has  two  dorsals,  the  second  being  adipose,  the 
first  having  n  rays;  in  the  anal  there  are  13  or  14  rays,  in  the 
caudal  23;  the  pectorals  have  15  or  16,  and  the  ventrals  n.  The 
first  dorsal  begins  half-way  between  the  snout  and  the  second 
dorsal  ;  the  ventrals  are  under  the  middle  of  the  dorsal.  In  the 


92  GENERA    AND    SPECIES. 

lateral  line  there  are  from  66  to  70  scales.  The  mouth  extends 
to  the  middle  of  the  eye,  the  lower  jaw  being  conspicuously 
longer  than  the  upper.  It  also  is  a  lake  fish,  keeping  to  the  bottom 
in  the  heat  of  the  day  when  the  weather  is  warm.  It  is  found  in 
Derwentwater  and  Bassenthwaite  in  the  English  lake  district,  but  is 
better  known  as  a  native  of  the  Castle  Loch  and  Mill  Loch  at 
Lochmaben,  in  Dumfries.  In  colour  it  is  silvery,  with  a  greenish 
blue  back  and  dark  fins,  and  in  length  is  about  9  inches. 

The  Pollan  has  13  or  14  rays  in  its  first  dorsal,  the  second 
dorsal  being  adipose ;  in  its  anal  are  from  12  to  14  rays,  in  its 
caudal  23  ;  its  pectorals  have  15  or  16,  and  its  ventrals  n  or  12. 
The  second  dorsal  is  over  the  middle  of  the  anal,  and  the  first 
is  midway  between  the  hinder  edge  of  the  anal  and  the  snout ; 
the  ventrals  are  below  the  hinder  half  of  the  first  dorsal.  There 
are  from  80  to  88  scales  in  the  lateral  line,  and  9  between  it  and 
the  base  of  the  ventrals.  The  mouth  extends  to  the  first  third  of 
the  eye,  and  the  jaws  are  equal,  the  outline  of  the  head  being 
easy  and  graceful.  In  colour  the  Pollan  is  silvery,  with  a  bluish 
back  and  dark  fins,  and  it  is  about  13  inches  long.  It  is  an  Irish 
lake  fish,  best  known  as  living  in  Lough  Neagh  and  Lough  Erne. 

Coris.    Plate  xiv.    LABRID1E. 

113.    julis,  RAINBOW  WRASSE. 

This  species  has  a  long  dorsal  with  9  spines  and  12  or  13  rays ; 
the  anal  has  3  spines  and  n  or  12  rays ;  the  caudal  has  13  or  14; 
the  pectorals  have  12  or  13 ;  and  the  ventrals  have  a  spine  and  5 
rays.  The  dorsal  begins  over  a  spot  on  the  hinder  angle  of  the  gill 
cover,  and  in  the  male  the  3  first  spines  are  long,  the  others  being 
shorter  than  the  rays ;  while  in  the  female  the  spines  are  all  the  same 
height,  which  is  very  little  less  than  that  of  the  rays.  In  the  lateral 
line,  which  follows  the  curve  of  the  back,  there  are  from  75  to  80 
scales.  The  mouth  extends  to  the  hinder  nostril,  the  snout  being 
longer  in  the  males  than  in  the  females,  and  in  both  there  are  four 
long  teeth  in  front  of  each  jaw,  and  a  canine  at  the  angle.  The 
colours  vary,  but  are  generally  purplish  above  and  silvery  below, 
with  always  a  more  or  less  indented  whitish  stripe  along  the  side. 
The  male  has  a  spot  between  the  longer  spines.  In  the  female  the 
side  stripe  is  not  indented.  In  length  this  handsome  wrasse  is  about 
7  inches.  It  lives  among  rocks,  in  fairly  deep  water,  and  feeds  on 
molluscs  and  crustaceans. 

Coryphsenoides.    Plate  xix .     MA  CR  URID& . 

148.     rupestris,      Body  tapering  from  the  large  head  to  the  pointed  tail, 
This  is  a  silvery  deep-water  fish,  about  10  inches  long,  of  which 
only  one  or  two  specimens  have  been   dredged  up  between   the 
Faeroes  and  Shetlands. 

Cottus.     Plate  vii.     COTTWM. 

*i      quadricornus,  FOUR-HORNED  COTTUS.     Four  short  horns  on  top  of 
head. 


GENERA    AND    SPECIES.  93 

48.  gobio,  MILLER'S  THUMB.      No  horns ;    spines  on  gill-covers 

less  than  7 ;  ventrals  with  a  spine  and  4  rays. 

49.  scorpius,         FATHER  LASHER.    No  horns ;  no  spiny  ridge  on  occiput  ; 

spines  on  gill-covers  over  7  in  number,  stout  and  short ; 
ventrals  with  2  rays  and  no  spine. 

50.  bubalis,          LONG-SPINED  COTTUS.     No  horns  ;    a  spiny  ridge  on 

occiput ;  spines  on  gill-covers  over  7  in  number,  slender 
and  long ;  ventrals  with  a  spine  and  3  rays. 

The  Four-horned  Cottus  has  two  dorsals,  the  first  lower  than  the 
second.  In  the  first  are  9  spines,  in  the  second  14  rays ;  the  anal 
having  13  to  15  rays,  the  caudal  13,  the  pectorals  17,  and  the 
ventrals  a  spine  and  3  rays.  The  anal  is  placed  under  the  second 
dorsal;  the  caudal  is  rounded,  and  the  pectorals  are  broad  and 
reach  to  the  end  of  the  first  dorsal.  There  are  no  scales.  The 
mouth  extends  to  the  middle  of  the  eye.  The  so-called  horns  are 
really  rough  tubercles.  In  colour  this  species  is  greyish  brown 
above,  with  more  or  less  red  and  yellow,  and  whitish  below ;  in 
length  it  averages  about  a  foot.  As  might  be  expected  from  its  large 
fins,  it  is  a  rapid  swimmer,  and  it  lives  among  seaweed  in  ambush 
for  its  prey. 

The  Miller's  Thumb  has  from  6  to  8  spines  in  its  first  dorsal,  and 
from  16  to  18  rays  in  its  second  ;  in  its  anal  are  from  12  to  14  rays,  in 
its  caudal  n  ;  in  its  pectorals  are  14,  and  in  its  ventrals  are  a  spine 
and  4  rays.  The  first  dorsal  is  not  half  the  height  of  the  second ; 
the  second  extends  further  back  than  the  anal,  but  begins  above  it, 
the  pectorals  just  reaching  to  a  line  joining  the  fore  ends  of  their 
bases.  The  head  is  broad  and  flat,  the  mouth  wide  but  shallow 
and  reaching  to  the  middle  of  the  eye.  There  are  usually  only 
4  spines,  but  occasionally  there  are  6.  In  colour  this  bullhead  is 
dusky  yellow  above  and  whitish  underneath.  It  is  3  inches  long, 
and  shelters  among  the  gravel  in  clear  running  water,  being 
especially  partial  to  mill-streams.  It  is  not  a  vegetarian,  but  feeds 
on  anything  animal  in  a  small  way. 

The  Father  Lasher,  otherwise  the  Short-spined  Cottus,  has  9  or  10 
spines  in  its  first  dorsal,  and  from  13  to  17  rays  in  the  second  ;  in  the 
anal  there  are  9  to  14,  in  the  caudal  there  are  n  ;  in  the  pectorals 
16  or  17,  in  the  ventrals  only  2.  The  dorsals  are  equal  in  height,  the 
anal  is  shorter  than  the  second  dorsal,  the  pectorals  overlapping 
the  front  of  the  second  dorsal,  but  not  reaching  that  of  the  anal ;  and 
the  tail  is  cut  square.  There  are  spines,  often  20  in  number,  dis- 
tributed mostly  over  the  gill  covers  and  scapulars.  The  head  is  wide 
and  flat,  and  the  mouth  reaches  to  the  eye.  This  northern  sea-fish 
is  common  on  our  coasts.  It  is  usually  4  or  5  inches  long,  but  has 
been  known  to  attain  15  inches.  In  colour  it  is  mottled  grey  above 
and  yellowish  below,  the  males  having  white  spots  on  the  under 
parts.  When  caught,  the  Father  Lasher  thrills  his  throat  as  if 
producing  some  sound  that  might  be  audible  under  water. 

The  Loag-spined  Cottus  has  the  dorsals  of  the  same  height  and 
length,  and  the  anal  of  similar  length,  but  not  quite  so  high.  In  the 
first  dorsal  there  are  8  spines,  in  the  second  n  or  12  rays,  in  the 
anal  there  are  9  rays,  in  the  caudal  10,  in  the  pectorals  16,  in  the 
ventrals  a  spine  and  3  rays.  The  fins  are  all  comparatively  large ; 


94  GENERA    AND    SPECIES. 

the  pectorals  extend  to  the  front  edges  of  the  anal  and  second 
dorsal ;  the  caudal  is  square.  The  lateral  line  has  bony  plates. 
The  head  is  broad  and  flat ;  the  mouth  extends  to  the  middle  of  the 
eye.  This  fish,  which  is  about  a  foot  long,  is  reddish  or  brownish, 
with  white  spots  on  the  side.  It  is  a  coast-fish  like  the  last,  but 
haunts  the  rocks  and  stony  ground  in  rather  deeper  water,  and  is 
fairly  common. 

Crenilabrus.     Plate  xiv.     L ABRIDGE. 

108.  melops,         CONNER.     Purplish  above ;  lighter  below. 

109.  cornubicus,    GOLDSINNY.     Greenish  above ;  yellow  below. 

The  Conner  has  the  usual  wrasse-like  dorsal,  with  from  14  to  17 
spines  and  8  or  9  more  closely-set  rays ;  in  the  anal  there  are  3 
spines  and  9  or  10  rays,  in  the  caudal  14  rays,  in  the  pectorals  14 
rays,  and  in  the  ventrals  a  spine  and  5  rays.  The  dorsal  spines 
become  longer  as  they  approach  the  rays,  and  the  rays  are  higher 
than  any  of  them.  In  the  lateral  line  are  from  32  to  35  scales  ;  it 
follows  the  curve  of  the  back,  and,  like  it,  runs  straight  in  the  tail 
portion,  the  tail  having  almost  parallel  sides  and  the  caudal  being 
nearly  square.  The  mouth  does  not  reach  the  eye  ;  the  hinder  edge 
of  the  gill-cover  is  toothed.  In  colour  this  wrasse  is  purplish  or 
reddish,  with  or  without  bands  and  spots.  It  is  9  inches  long,  and 
swims  in  shoals  among  the  rocks  in  shallower  water  than  any  of  the 
other  wrasses  except  the  Goldsinny. 

The  Goldsinny  differs  from  the  Conner  only  in  colour,  it  being 
greenish  brown  above  and  yellow  below,  with  6  faint  bands  on  the 
body,  and  no  spots  on  the  fins,  though  there  is  a  spot  at  the  base  of 
the  caudal  fin.  It  can  be  conveniently  considered  as  one  of  the 
varieties  of  the  Conner,  the  typical  coloration  of  which  is  purple,  with 
8  or  9  distinct  bands  on  the  body,  round,  ocellated  spots  on  the 
second  dorsal  and  caudal,  round,  blackish  spots  on  the  anal,  and 
stripes  across  the  cheeks  and  gill-covers.  When  there  is  no  black 
mark  behind  the  eye,  and  the  reddish  back  is  spotted  with  green, 
and  the  abdomen  with  silver,  and  the  fins  have  red  bands,  we  have 
C.  rone.  When  there  is  a  black  spot  behind  the  eye,  another  at  the 
vent,  and  another  at  the  tail,  and  the  cheeks  are  banded  with  colour, 
the  variety  is  C.  pennantii  ;  when  the  body  and  fins  are  marbled  with 
brown,  and  there  is  no  spot  behind  the  eye,  it  is  C.  norvegicus  ;  and 
when  the  fins  are  striped  with  red  and  green,  and  there  is  a  spot  at 
both  eye  and  tail,  it  is  C,  couchii. 

Crystallogobius.    Plate  ix.     GOBIIDJE. 
71.    nihsonii,        NILSSON  s  GOBY.     Scaleless  and  transparent. 

This  rare  little  fish  is  an  inch  and  a  half  long.  It  has  2  spines 
in  its  first  dorsal,  19  or  20  rays  in  the  second  dorsal,  21  rays  in  the 
anal,  14  or  15  in  the  caudal,  30  or  31  in  its  pectorals,  and  a  spine 
and  5  rays  in  its  ventrals.  Its  dorsal  spines  are  wide  apart,  and  its 
tail  fin  curves  inwards  on  each  of  the  three  outer  edges.  It  has 
been  dredged  from  rather  4eep  water  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
North  Sea, 


GENERA    AND    SPECIES.  95 

Ctenolabrus.     Plate  xiv.     LA  BRIDGE. 

1 10.  rnpestris,  JAGO'S  GOLDSINNV.  A  notch  between  the  spines  and 
rays  of  dorsal,  owing  to  the  last  spine  being 
much  shorter  than  the  last  but  one. 

There  are  from  16  to  18  spines  in  the  dorsal,  and  from  8  to  10 
rays  ;  in  the  anal  there  are  3  spines  and  8  rays,  in  the  caudal  there 
are  15  rays,  in  the  pectorals  14,  in  the  ventrals  a  spine  and  5  rays, 
The  dorsal  is  almost  straight  along  the  outer  edge,  gradually  rising 
from  the  back  until  the  last  spine ;  the  rays  are  higher.  In  the 
anal  the  spines  lengthen  from  the  first  to  the  third.  The  lateral 
line  has  from  38  to  40  scales,  and  follows  the  curve  of  the  back. 
The  mouth  is  small,  and  does  not  quite  extend  to  the  eye ;  the  snout 
is  pointed.  In  general  colour  this  wrasse  is  pinkish  or  golden, 
with  a  few  blotches,  and  it  is  occasionally  banded  or  striped.  It  is 
a  deep-water  species,  not  entering  estuaries  or  harbours,  and  is 
5  inches  long. 

Cyclopterus.        Plate  viii.     CYCLOP7 'ERIDSE. 

60.     himpus,       LUMP-FISH.     Sucker  formed  by  union  of  the  ventrals. 

This  ugly  fish  with  an  ugly  name  has  really  two  dorsal  fins,  the 
first  being  hidden  beneath  the  skin  when  the  fish  is  fully  grown, 
The  hidden  dorsal  has  from  4  to  6  rays,  the  second  dorsal  having  10 
or  ii.  The  anal  has  9  or  10  rays,  the  caudal  10  or  n,  the  pectorals 
have  20  or  21,  and  the  ventrals  have  a  spine  and  5  rays,  the  two  ven» 
trals  uniting.  There  are  tubercles  on  the  body,  the  largest  of  which 
are  arranged  in  three  rows  on  each  side  and  one  along  the  back, 
extending  over  the  first  dorsal  fin.  The  male  is  blue  above  and  red 
below,  the  female  is  blackish  blue,  the  young  are  green  or  green 
and  yellow.  When  fully  grown  the  Lump-fish  is  2  feet  long.  By 
means  of  the  sucker  it  sticks  to  the  rocks  and  to  floating  objects. 
The  young  use  it  for  sticking  themselves  on  to  the  male  as  he  carries 
them  off  with  him  out  of  danger  into  deeper  waters.  It  is  not  an 
uncommon  fish,  and  is  known  all  round  the  coasts  of  the  North 
Atlantic. 

Cyprinus.     Plate  xxii.     CYPR1NID&. 
169.     carpio,     CARP.     Four  barbules. 

The  Carp  has  from  21  to  25  dorsal  rays,  the  first  two  or  three 
being  bony  and  higher  than  the  others  ;  the  anal  has  7  or  8  rays, 
with  the  first  2  or  3  bony.  There  are  20  rays  in  the  caudal,  15 
or  16  in  the  pectorals,  8  in  the  ventrals.  The  ventrals  are  placed 
midway  along  the  abdomen,  and  the  dorsal  begins  a  little  in 
front  of  them  ;  the  anal  begins  halfway  between  the  front  edge  of 
the  ventrals  and  the  base  of  the  caudal ;  the  pectorals  just  reach 
the  front  edge  of  the  dorsal.  In  the  lateral  line  there  are  from 
35  to  40  scales;  the  scales  are  large.  The  mouth  is  small,  and 
reaches  about  half-way  to  the  eye ;  it  is  toothless,  the  only  teeth 
being  on  the  lower  pharyngeal  bones ;  the  lips  are  leathery.  In 
colour  the  Carp  is  golden  brown,  paler  below.  'It  occasionally 


96  GENERA    AND    SPECIES. 

reaches  30  inches  in  length.  It  thrives  in  ponds  and  sluggish 
waters  where  the  bottom  is  soft  or  muddy,  spending  the  winter 
in  the  mud,  and  rising  to  the  surface  in  summer  among  the 
weeds,  when  it  can  be  heard  grunting  like  a  pig.  It  is  very 
quick  of  hearing  and  discriminating  in  attacking  its  food,  but  it 
can  be  tamed  so  as  to  feed  from  the  hand,  and  will  come  for  its 
dinner  when  the  bell  rings. 

Dentex,     Plate  i.     PERCIDM. 

7.     vulgaris,     DENTEX.     Four  large  teeth  in  front  of  each  jaw. 

The  dorsal  fin  has  10  or  n  weak  spines  and  n  or  12  rays;  the 
anal  has  3  spines  and  8  rays ;  the  caudal  has  17  rays ;  in  the 
pectorals  are  15  rays,  and  in  the  ventrals  a  spine  and  5  rays.  The 
fourth  and  fifth  spines  are  the  highest  in  the  dorsal,  which  curves 
downwards  from  them  and  rises  again  when  the  rays  are  reached. 
The  pectorals  are  long  and  pointed,  and  extend  to  the  middle  of  the 
dorsal.  There  are  from  60  to  65  scales  in  the  lateral  line.  The 
mouth  does  not  quite  reach  to  the  eye,  which  is  golden,  with  a  blue 
pupil.  The  fish  is  brilliantly  clothed  in  silver,  and  blue,  and  gold, 
and  light  red,  and  averages  40  inches  in  length,  though  it  has  been 
recorded  up  to  56  inches.  It  does  not  swim  in  shoals,  and  it  is  not 
often  caught. 

Echeneis.     Plate  vii.    SCOMBRIDM. 

44.     remora,      REMORA.     First  dorsal  modified  into  an  adhesive  disk. 

This  sucking-fish  is  recognisable  at  a  glance  by  its  being  darker 
below  than  above,  and  by  the  first  dorsal  having  developed  into  the 
disk  of  which  its  17  or  18  rays  are  the  laminae.  The  second  dorsal 
has  from  22  to  24  rays,  the  anal  from  22  to  25,  the  caudal  19 ;  in 
the  pectorals  there  are  from  20  to  24,  and  in  the  ventrals  a  spine  and 
5  rays.  By  its  disk  it  attaches  itself  to  fishes  and  other  objects, 
and  gets  a  lift  on  its  lonely  way.  It  is  between  4  and  5  inches  long, 
and  greyish  brown  in  colour. 

Echinorhinus.     Plate  xxxi.    SPINACID^E. 

236.     spinosus,      SPINOUS   SHARK.     Two   small  dorsals    near    tail ;  no 
anal. 

The  ventrals  begin  at  three-quarters  of  the  distance  from  the 
snout  to  the  heel  of  the  tail ;  the  first  dorsal  starts  in  a  line  with 
their  beginning,  and  the  second  in  a  line  with  their  after  end. 
Ventrals  and  pectorals  are  of  about  the  same  size.  The  skin  is 
studded  with  spiny  scales.  In  colour  this  shark  is  brownish  grey, 
with  a  white  lateral  line,  and  in  length  it  ranges  up  to  9  feet. 

Engraulis.     Plate  xxiv.     CLUPEIDM. 

189.     encrasicholus ,       ANCHOVY.     Upper  jaw  the  larger  and  longer. 

The  Anchovy  has  from  15  to  18  rays  in  its  dorsal  fin,  16  to  18  in 
jts  anal,  21  in  its  caudal,  16  or  17  in  its  pectorals,  and  7  in  its 


GENERA    AND    SPECIES.  97 

ventrals.  The  dorsal  rises  behind  the  ventrals  and  in  the  middle  of 
the  back,  and  the  anal  is  halfway  between  the  ventrals  and  the 
caudal.  There  are  from  48  to  50  scales  in  the  lateral  line.  The 
scales  are  large  and  deciduous.  The  mouth  is  very  deep  and 
reaches  beyond  the  eye.  The  body  is  slender,  and  thicker  along  the 
back  than  below.  The  greenish  blue  of  the  back  is  marked  oft 
from  the  silvery  lower  parts  by  a  steely  stripe.  The  Anchovy  is 
from  5  to  8  inches  long,  and  swims  in  shoals,  which,  coming  up  the 
Channel  at  night,  can  be  detected  by  their  phosphorescence. 

Esox.     Plate  xxiv.     ESOCID&. 

185.     hicius,  PIKE.     Dorsal  and  anal  fins  opposite  and  near  caudal 

body  long  ;  head  long ;  mouth  large. 

There  are  from  20  to  23  rays  in  the  dorsal  fin,  of  which  the  first 
6  or  8  are  stronger  than  the  others.  In  the  anal  there  are  from  17 
to  19  rays,  of  which  the  first  6  or  8  are  also  stronger  than  the  rest ; 
in  the  caudal  there  are  19  rays ;  in  the  pectorals  13  or  14,  and  in  the 
ventrals  9  or  10.  The  pectorals,  ventrals,  anal,  and  caudal  are 
almost  at  equal  distances  from  one  another.  The  dorsal  begins  just 
in  front  of  the  anal,  and  ends  at  exactly  the  same  short  distance 
from  the  caudal,  where  the  body  suddenly  narrows.  In  the  lateral 
line  there  are  from  125  to  130  scales.  The  scales  are  small,  bifid  at 
the  base,  and  extend  on  to  the  head.  The  back  is  almost  straight 
from  the  eye  to  the  dorsal ;  the  abdomen  is  very  slightly  curved  ; 
the  head  is  long  and  flattened  above ;  the  mouth  reaches  to  the  eye, 
the  lower  jaw  being  the  longer.  There  are  no  teeth  on  the  max- 
illary ;  those  on  the  mandible  are  large  at  the  sides  and  smaller  in 
front ;  there  are  small  teeth  on  the  vomer  and  tongue,  and  larger 
ones  on  the  palatines.  In  colour  the  Pike  is  greenish  or  greyish, 
with  yellowish  marblings  and  other  markings  ;  in  size  it  exceeds 
3  feet,  and  is  said  to  have  attained  7  feet  in  Kirkcudbrightshire.  It 
is  generally  found  in  slow-running  weedy  rivers  and  ponds,  close  to 
the  surface  in  warm  weather,  and  swimming  deeper  at  other  times. 
It  is  quick  of  sight  and  hearing,  ferocious,  audacious,  and  persistent, 
and  mostly  carnivorous,  but  will  eat  anything,  even  model  yachts. 

Exoccetus.     Plate  xi.     SCOMBRESOCID&. 

89.  volitans,         GREATER  FLYING-FISH.     Anal  with  9  rays. 

90.  evolans,          FLYING-FISH.    Anal  with  from  13  to  15  rays. 

The  Greater  Flying-Fish  has  from  n  to  13  dorsal  rays;  in  its  anal 
are  9  rays,  in  its  caudal  19,  in  its  pectorals  15  to  17,  and  in  its  ventrals 
6.  The  pectorals  are  placed  high  up,  not  far  from  the  gills,  and 
extend  to  the  base  of  the  tail ;  the  ventrals  overlap  the  anal.  The 
lower  jaw  is  the  longer,  the  snout  is  pointed,  and  the  head  wide  and 
flat  between  the  eyes.  In  the  lateral  line  there  are  63  scales.  In 
colour  it  is  bluish  on  the  back,  silvery  below;  the  pectoral  fins  are 
grey,  with  whitish  edges.  It  exceeds  20  inches  in  length.  It  swims 
in  shoals,  but  in  British  waters  is  only  known  as  a  straggler.  When 
in  the  water  the  pectorals  are  held  close  to  the  body,  but  when  it 
springs  above  the  surface  it  extends  them  to  increase  the  length  of 
its  leap,  but  it  never  flaps  them,  so  that  it  glides  rather  than  flies. 


98  GENERA    AND    SPECIES. 

The  Lesser  Flying-Fish  has  from  12  to  14  dorsal  rays ;  in  its  anal 
there  are  from  13  to  15  rays,  in  its  caudal  17  to  19,  in  its  pectorals  14 
to  16,  and  in  its  ventrals  6.  The  pectorals  extend  to  the  base  of  the 
caudal ;  the  ventrals  do  not  overlap  the  anal.  Like  the  foregoing 
species  the  lower  lobe  of  the  caudal  is  longer  than  the  upper.  There 
are  from  40  to  42  scales  in  the  lateral  line.  In  colour  it  is  bluish  on 
the  back,  lighter  on  the  sides,  and  silvery  below  ;  its  pectorals  are 
grey  or  black,  edged  with  whitish.  In  length  it  measures  about  9 
inches.  In  habits  it  resembles  the  Greater  Flying-Fish,  but  it  is  much 
rarer  on  the  British  coast. 

Fierasfer.     Plate  xviii.     OPHIDIID&. 

144.    dentatus,        DRUMMOND'S   ECHIODON.      Colour  red,   with   dotted 
sides ;  vertical  fins  continuous. 

This  rare  fish  has  180  rays  in  its  dorsal,  180  in  its  anal,  12  in  its 
caudal,  and  16  in  its  pectorals,  and  has  no  ventral  fins.  The  dorsal 
and  anal  each  begin  about  halfway  along  the  pectorals,  and  are  con- 
tinuous with  the  caudal,  the  middle  rays  of  which  are  the  longest. 
The  body  tapers  to  a  point  from  the  gills,  and  is  about  n  inches 
long.  The  colour  is  pale  red,  with  many  dots  and  a  few  brownish 
markings. 

Gadus.     Plate  xvi.    GADID& 

Upper  jaw  the  longer— 

129.  merlangus,     WHITING.     Without  barbule. 

125.  morrhua,      COD.     With  barbule  ;  lateral  line  white. 

126.  eglefinus,      HADDOCK.     With  barbule  ;  lateral  line  black. 

127.  luscus,          WHITING  POUT.     With  barbule  ;    lateral  line  brown ; 

9       body  copper  coloured,  with  broad  bands,  fins  bluish 
black. 

128.  minitttis.        POWER.     With    barbule  ;    lateral   line  brown ;    body 

yellow  and  silvery,  without  bands. 

Lower  jaw  the  longer — 

131.  virens,  COALFISH.     With  barbule. 

130.  poutassou,    COUCH'S    WHITING.     Without     barbule;  lateral    line 

straight ;     body     silvery     with    yellow    stripe,    back 
brownish. 

132.  pollachius,    POLLACK.     Without    barbule ;    lateral    line    curved ; 

body  grey,  back  greenish. 

The  Whiting  has  from  13  to  16  rays  in  the  first  dorsal,  18  to  23  in  the 
second  dorsal,  and  19  to  2 1  in  the  third  ;  in  its  first  anal  are  from  30  to  35 
rays,  and  in  its  second  anal  from  20  to  24 ;  in  its  caudal  are  28  rays,  in  its 
pectorals  19,  in  its  ventrals  6.  The  3  dorsals  do  not  join;  the  first  anal  is 
under  the  first  two  dorsals,  the  second  anal  being  under  the  third 
dorsal:;  the  ventrals  are  some  distance  in  front  of  the  pectorals.  The 
lateral  line  becomes  straight  under  the  middle  of  the  second  dorsal. 
The  eye  is  large  ;  the  mouth  extends  to  the  middle  of  the  eye,  and 
the  snout  is  conical.  In  colour  the  Whiting  is  greyish  yellow,  with 


GENERA    AND    SPECIES.  Q9 

yellow  stripes  along  the  silvery  sides.  In  length  it  reaches  16  inches 
or  more.  It  appears  near  the  coast  in  shoals  in  spring  and  summer, 
but  in  winter  retires  to  deeper  water.  It  feeds  mainly  on  small 
fishes  and  crustaceans,  and  hence  is  most  often  found  in  the  vicinity 
of  rocks  and  sandy  bays,  where  its  food  is  plentiful. 

The  Cod  has  three  dorsal  fins,  with  13  to  15  rays  in  the  first,  16 
to  19  in  the  second,  17  to  21  in  the  third;  and  it  has  2  anals,  the 
first  with  from  17  to  19  rays,  the  second  from  16  to  18.  In  the 
caudal  there  are  28  rays,  in  the  pectorals  from  16  to  19,  in 
the  ventrals  6.  The  dorsals  are  close  together ;  the  ventrals  are 
before  the  base  of  the  pectorals,  and  the  pectorals  reach  to  the 
beginning  of  the  second  dorsal.  The  white  lateral  line  follows  the 
curve  of  the  back  until  about  halfway  between  the  first  anal  and 
second  dorsal,  where  it  begins  its  straight  run  to  the  tail.  In  colour 
the  Cod  varies,  but  is  mostly  brownish  or  olive  grey,  with  or  without 
spots ;  the  lower  parts  being  white,  and  the  fins  grey.  In  length  it 
exceeds  5  feet.  It  feeds  near  the  ground  in  enormous  numbers,  and 
indulges  in  very  miscellaneous  eating,  including  birds,  hares,  turnips, 
and  tallow  candles,  though  its  main  diet  is  evidently  crustaceans, 
molluscs,  and  small  fishes. 

The  Haddock  has  14  to  16  rays  in  its  first  dorsal,  20  to  24  in  its 
second,  and  19  to  21  in  its  third  ;  in  its  first  anal  it  has  24  or  25,  and 
in  its  second  anal  from  20  to  22  ;  in  its  caudal  it  has  25,  in  its 
pectorals  19  or  20,  and  in  its  ventrals  6.  The  first  dorsal  is  pointed, 
and  its  base  is  the  same  length  as  the  pectorals,  above  which  it  is 
placed;  the  second  anal  is  similar  to  the  third  dorsal,  and 
immediately  below  it.  The  lateral  line,  which  is  black,  straightens 
under  the  third  dorsal.  In  colour  the  Haddock  is  greyish  bronze 
above,  lighter  on  the  sides,  and  whitish  beneath,  and  generally,  but 
not  always,  there  is  a  black  blotch  on  the  side  beneath  the  first 
dorsal.  In  length  it  has  been  known  to  exceed  a  "yard,  but  the 
average  of  well-grown  fish  is  about  2  feet.  It  is  a  ground-feeder, 
rarely  found  in  the  same  localities  as  the  cod,  but  quite  as  gregarious 
and  voracious,  and  living  on  crustaceans,  molluscs,  echinoderms, 
worms,  and  young  herrings  and  other  fishes. 

The  Whiting  Pout  has  12  rays  in  its  first  dorsal,  from  20  to  23  in 
the  second,  and  19  or  20  in  the  third  ;  in  the  first  there  are  from  27 
to  32  rays,  in  the  second  from  17  to  20 ;  there  are  25  rays  in  the  caudal, 
17  in  the  pectorals  and  6  in  the  ventrals.  The  first  dorsal  is  close 
to  the  second,  which  is  joined  at  the  base  to  the  third.  The  first 
dorsal  is  rather  narrow,  long  and  pointed,  and  the  second  begins 
with  a  short  ray  ;  the  first  ray  of  the  ventrals  is  about  twice  as  long 
as  the  second.  In  proportion  to  its  length  this  fish  is  the  deepest  of 
the  British  representatives  of  the  genus.  In  colour  it  is  coppery, 
with  broad  vertical  bands ;  the  fins  are  .bluish  black,  and  there  is  a 
black  blotch  on  the  base  of  the  pectorals.  In  length  it  reaches  16 
inches.  It  frequents  rocky  ground  and  seaweeds,  and  congregates 
near  pier  piles  and  other  timbers,  sheltering  during  the  day  and 
feeding  from  the  evening  to  the  early  morning.  In  cold  and  stormy 
weather  it  generally  moves  into  deeper  water,  to  return  when  the 
weather  is  warmer  or  more  settled. 


100  GENERA    AND    SPECIES. 

The  Power  has  from  12  to  15  rays  in  its  first  dorsal,  19  to  25  in 
the  second,  17  to  22  in  the  third  ;  in  the  first  anal  it  has  from  25  to 
29,  in  the  second  from  17  to  24 ;  in  the  caudal  there  are  26,  in  the 
pectorals  from  13  to  16,  in  the  ventrals  6.  The  dorsals  are  joined  at 
their  base  ;  the  barbule,  the  ventrals,  and  the  first  anal  are  at  equal 
distances  from  each  other.  The  snout  is  rather  large  and  obtuse. 
In  colour  it  is  brownish  yellow,  without  bands.  In  length  it  is 
about  8  inches.  It  feeds  on  crustaceans,  and  lives  among  rocky 
ledges  in  somewhat  deep  water. 

The  Coalfish  has  12  to  14  rays  in  the  first  dorsal,  19  to  22  in  the 
second,  20  to  22  in  the  third  ;  in  the  first  anal  there  are  from  24  to 
27,  in  the  second  20  to  23;  in  the  caudal  there  are  36,  in  the 
pectorals  19,  in  the  ventrals  6.  The  dorsals  are  not  joined.  In 
colour  it  is  greenish  black  above,  silvery  below,  with  an  almost 
straight  white  lateral  line.  In  length  it  reaches  42  inches  or  more. 
It  is  gregarious  and  voracious,  and  frequents  deep,  rocky  coasts, 
but  is  well  known  as  a  surface  feeder  under  more  names  than  any 
other  British  fish. 

Couch's  Whiting  has  12  or  13  rays  in  its  first  dorsal,  from  12 
to  14  in  the  second,  from  22  to  24  in  the  third ;  in  its  first  anal  are 
from  34  to  38,  in  the  second  from  20  to  25  ;  in  the  caudal  there  are 
from  25  to  29,  in  the  pectorals  20,  in  the  ventrals  6.  The  first  and 
second  dorsals  are  narrow  and  pointed,  with  a  much  less  interval 
between  them  than  that  between  the  second  and  third  ;  the  first 
anal  is  long,  low,  and  level.  The  lateral  line  is  nearly  straight,  and 
the  body  is  long  in  proportion  to  its  depth,  and  flat  in  its  curves. 
In  colour  it  is  brownish  above,  with  a  yellow  stripe  above  the  lateral 
line,  and  one  or  more  lower  down  the  silvery  sides.  It  is  15  inches 
long,  and  is  a  deep-water  species,  common  in  the  Mediterranean, 

The  Pollack  has  from  n  to  13  rays  in  the  first  dorsal,  16  to  20  in 
the  second,  15  to  19  in  the  third ;  in  its  first  anal  there  are  from  24 
to  31,  in  the  second  16  to  21  ;  in  the  caudal  there  are  31,  in  the 
pectorals  19,  in  the  ventrals  6.  The  first  ray  of  each  dorsal  is  rather 
short ;  the  second  dorsal  has  an  indentation  in  the  middle.  The 
lower  jaw  projects  considerably.  The  lateral  line  straightens  at  the 
beginning  of  the  second  dorsal.  In  colour  the  Pollack  is  dark  green 
on  the  back,  and  golden  and  silvery  on  the  sides.  In  length  it 
ranges  as  a  rule  from  18  inches  to  30,  but  it  has  been  known  to 
reach  36.  It  is  found  in  moderately  deep  water,  where  the  rocks  are 
covered  with  seaweed,  and  seems  to  feed  on  molluscs,  worms,  and 
crustaceans  when  young,  and  on  fishes  when  large  enough  to 
swallow  them.  It  is  best  known  as  a  surface  feeder,  and  is  rarely 
found  far  away  from  the  shore.  It  is  unknown  on  the  western 
coast  of  the  Atlantic,  and  does  not  range  much  further  south 
than  the  Mediterranean. 


Galeus.    Plate  xxviii.     CARCHARIIDSE. 

223.     vulgaris,      TOPE.     Back  grey  and  unspotted  ;  snout  conical  and 
long. 

The  Tope  has  the  dorsals  far  apart  and  the  ventrals  midway 
between  them ;  the  lower  lobe  of  the  caudal  fin  is  notched  and 


GENERA   AND    SPECIES.  IOI 

much  wider  than  the  upper.  The  teeth  are  large  and  sharp,  and 
have  the  inner  edge  serrated.  The  colour  is  grey  above  without 
spots,  and  whitish  below.  The  largest  British  specimen  measured 
7  feet. 

Casterosteus.     Plate  xii.     GASTEROSTEIDM. 

Spines  more  than  three — 

97.  spinachia,  FIFTEEN-SPINED  STICKLEBACK.  Spines  15  or  more; 
snout  produced,  body  long. 

96.    pungitius,       NINE-SPINED  STICKLEBACK.     Spines  8  ton 
95.     spinulosus,     FOUR-SPINED  STICKLEBACK.     Spines  4. 

Spines  three — 

94.  gymnurus,  SMOOTH-TAILED  STICKLEBACK.  Plates  extending  to 
tip  of  pectoral. 

93.  scwiarmatus,  HALF-ARMED  STICKLEBACK.  Plates  extending  half- 
way to  base  of  caudal. 

92.  trachitms,  ROUGH-TAILED  STICKLEBACK.  Plates  keeled  at  base  of 
caudal. 

91.     acidcatus,       THREE-SPINED  STICKLEBACK.     Spines  very  short. 

The  Fifteen-spined  Stickleback  is  a  sea  fish,  and  in  other  ways 
differs  greatly  from  the  others.  The  fore  part  of  its  dorsal  fin  is  repre- 
sented by  15  or  17  isolated  spines,  the  hinder  part  consisting  of  6  or 
7  rays  ;  in  the  anal  there  are  also  6  or  7  rays  ;  in  the  caudal  there 
are  12  or  14 ;  in  the  pectorals  9  or  10 ;  and  the  ventrals  have  only 
one  spine  and  one  ray.  The  second  dorsal  is  over  the  anal,  and 
begins  in  the  middle  of  the  back,  the  hinder  portion  of  the  fish  being 
long  and  slender.  Along  the  body  is  a  row  of  ridged  plates,  with 
shorter  ridges  above  and  below  it,  all  three  ending  at  the  base  of 
the  tail.  The  snout  is  long,  and  the  eye  is  placed  halfway  between 
its  tip  and  the  first  spine.  In  colour  this  species  is  olive,  with 
silvery  underparts,  and  it  has  a  silver  stripe  along  the  snout ;  but 
under  excitement  the  colour  is  changeable.  In  length  it  measures 
7  inches.  It  is  found  in  rocky  pools  and  among  seaweed-covered 
rocks,  where  it  makes  a  nest  under  one  of  the  overhanging  fronds, 
lacing  together  and  affixing  to  it  a  sort  of  open  ball  of  the  softest 
and  silkiest  weeds  around.  This  nest  is  watched  over  by  the  male 
until  the  young  are  about  a  month  old. 

The  Nine-spined,  otherwise  the  Ten-spined,  Stickleback  is  a 
fresh-water  species.  The  isolated  spines  representing  the  fore-half 
of  the  first  dorsal  number  from  8  to  n,  the  rays  number  9  or  10, 
and  have  a  short  spine  to  begin  with.  In  the  anal  there  is  a  short 
spine  and  8  or  10  rays ;  in  the  caudal  there  are  12  rays ;  in  the 
pectorals  10 ;  and  the  ventrals  are  represented  by  a  spine  and  a 
ray,  or  are  absent  altogether.  In  colour  this  species  is  olive  green 
or  brown  above,  the  sides  silvery  spotted  and  dotted  with  black,  and 
the  fins  transparent.  In  the  breeding  season  the  underparts  become 
blue  or  red.  The  length  is  from  2  to  3  inches.  The  nest  built  by 
this  species  is  like  a  muff  in  shape,  and  consists  of  soft-leaved 
water  plants,  the  finest  being  confervoid  filaments. 


102  GENERA   AND    SPECIES. 

The  other  Sticklebacks  are  little  better  than  varieties  of  one 
species,  and  can  only  be  briefly  dealt  with  as  such.  As  far  as  the 
fins  go  they  can  be  tabulated  : 

No.  91.  Dorsal,  3  spines  and u  rays;  anal,  a  spine  and  8  or  9  rays; 
caudal  12  rays ;  pectorals  10  to  12  ;  ventrals,  a  spine 
and  a  ray. 

No.  92.  Dorsal,  3  spines  and  n  rays;  anal,  a  spine  and  8  fays; 
caudal  12  rays;  pectorals  10 ;  ventrals,  a  spine  and 
a  ray. 

No.  93.  Dorsal,  3  spines  and  n  rays;  anal,  a  spine  and  9  rays; 
caudal  12  rays  ;  pectorals  10 ;  ventrals,  a  spine  and  a 
ray. 

No.  94.  Dorsal,  3  spines  and  n  rays;  anal,  a  spine  and  8  rays; 
caudal  12  rays;  pectorals  10;  ventrals,  a  spine  and  a 
ray. 

No.  95.  Dorsal,  4  spines  and  10  rays;  anal,  a  spine  and  8  rays; 
caudal  12  rays;  pectorals  10  rays;  ventrals,  a  spine 
and  a  ray. 

The  body  is  short  and  compressed,  and  not  over  3^  inches  long ; 
in  colour  it  is  grey  with  greenish  or  golden  reflections,  and  spots  arid 
stripes.  During  the  breeding  season  the  underparts  are  red.  As 
a  rule  these  are  inland  fishes,  but  they  descend  the  rivers 
in  shoals  to  the  sea,  so  that  they  are  fresh-water,  estuarine,  and 
marine.  When  in  sea-water  they  are  darker  and  bluer  in  colour 
than  when  in  fresh.  In  fresh- water  the  male  builds  his  nest  of  straws, 
and  lines  and  laces  it  with  confervas,  in  sea-water  he  uses  algae,  as 
does  his  fifteen-spined  relative. 


Gobio.     Plate  xxii.     CYPRINIDJE. 

173.    fluviatilis.     GUDGEON.     Two    small    barbules;    abdomen    nearly 
straight ;  bands  of  spots  on  dorsal  and  caudal. 

The  Gudgeon  has  9  or  10  rays  in  its  dorsal  fin,  8  in  its  anal,  19  in 
its  caudal,  15  or  16  in  its  pectorals,  and  8  or  9  in  its  ventrals.  The 
dorsal  rises  in  the  middle  of  the  back,  over  the  tip  of  the  pectorals 
and  in  front  of  the  ventrals,  the  ventral  being  half  way  between  the 
pectorals  and  the  anal.  In  the  lateral  line,  which  is  straight,  there 
are  from  36  to  44  scales ;  the  scales  are  large  and  angular.  The 
back  is  rather  sharply  curved,  and  is  highest  slightly  in  front  of  the 
dorsal ;  the  abdomen  is  nearly  straight  from  the  jaw  to  the  anal  fin, 
along  the  base  of  which  it  curves  upwards,  and  continues  almost 
straight  again  to  the  caudal.  The  mouth  is  small,  and  the  upper 
jaw  the  longer,  with  a  barbule  at  each  corner  like  the  end  of  a 
moustache.  In  colour  the  Gudgeon  is  olive  above  and  silvery  below, 
with  lines  of  spots  on  the  vertical  fins.  In  length  it  reaches  8  inches 
or  more.  In  habits  it  is  gregarious,  and  prefers  running  water  with 
a  sandy  or  gravelly  bed  whereon  it  can  feed  on  the  molluscs,  and 
worms,  and  plants,  but  it  is  not  particular  as  to  the  purity  of 
the  water. 


GENERA    AND    SPECIES.  103 

Gobius.     Plate  ix.     GOBI  ID  &. 
Seven  spines— 

63.  ruthensparri,  TWO-SPOTTED  GOBY.     A  spot  under  pectorals,  and  a 

spot  at  base  of  caudal. 
Six  spines — 

69.     quadrimaculatus ,   FOUR-SPOTTED   GOBY.     Dorsals   close,  first  dorsal 
long;  four  spots  in  a  line  in  hinder  half  of  body. 

66.  minutus,         ONE-SPOTTED     GOBY.      Dorsals     wide    apart;    black 

ocellated  spot  on  first  dorsal. 

67.  parnelli,         SPECKLED    GOBY.     Dorsals    close ;    first    ending  in  a 

black  blotch  ;  fins  black  with  white  lines. 

68.  pictus,  PAINTED  GOBY.     Dorsals  close  and  banded  with  spots. 

64.  paganellns,     PAGANELLUS.     Dorsals  close,  with  an  orange  band; 

body  nearly  black. 

65.  niger,  ROCK  GOBY.     Dorsals  close ;  fins  brown  with  whitish 

lines  ;  body  mottled  greyish  brown. 

The  Two-spotted  Goby  has  7  spines  in  the  first  dorsal,  and  a 
spine  and  10  or  n  rays  in  the  second,  in  the  anal  there  are  a  spine 
and  10  or  ii  rays,  in  the  caudal  there  are  15  rays,  in  the  pectorals 
19,  in  the  ventrals  a  spine  and  5  rays.  The  dorsals  are  some  distance 
apart,  and  the  caudal  is  square.  In  the  lateral  line  there  are  from 
34  to  40  scales.  The  mouth  is  oblique,  the  lower  jaw  being  the 
longer.  There  are  teeth  in  both  jaws,  the  longest  being  in  front. 
The  colour  is  reddish  brown,  with  undulating  bands,  and  a  dark 
band  from  the  eye  to  the  corner  of  the  mouth.  The  spots  are  dis* 
tinct.  In  length  this  goby  is  2%  inches.  It  swims  among  seaweeds, 
near  the  surface,  over  rocky  ground. 

The  Four-spotted  Goby  has  6  spines  in  its  first  dorsal,  a  spine  and 
9  or  10  rays  in  its  second  dorsal,  also  a  spine  and  9  or  10  rays  in 
its  anal ;  there  are  13  rays  in  its  caudal,  17  in  its  pectorals,  and 
a  spine  and  5  rays  in  its  ventrals.  The  dorsals  are  close  together. 
The  first  dorsal  is  triangular,  the  secand  spine  being  much  the 
longest ;  the  caudal  is  spatulate.  There  are  from  37  to  40  scales  in 
the  lateral  line.  The  body  is  narrow,  the  back  and  abdomen  being 
almost  parallel  to  each  other.  In  colour  it  is  a  yellowish  grey,  with  a 
dark  mark  descending  from  the  eye.  Besides  the  four  dark  spots  on 
the  body,  there  are  spots  on  the  dorsals,  and  the  caudal  and  anal 
have  dark  edges.  In  length  it  is  2  inches.  Its  only  occurrence  out 
of  the  Mediterranean  is  in  deep  water  off  the  Shetlands. 

The  One-spotted  Goby  has  6  spines  in  its  first  dorsal,  and  a 
spine  and  10  or  11  rays  in  its  second  dorsal;  in  its  anal  it  has  a 
spine  and  from  10  to  12  rays  ;  in  its  caudal  it  has  n  ;  in  its  pectorals 
27 ;  in  its  ventrals  6.  In  the  dorsals  the  spines  are  but  a  trifle 
higher  than  the  rays,  and  neither  are  higher  than  the  body  is  deep. 
In  the  lateral  line  there  are  from  60  to  70  scales.  The  mouth  extends 
nearly  to  the  eye.  In  the  female  the  eye  is  more  forward  in 
the  head  than  in  the  male.  The  colour  is  yellowish  brown,  with 
spots  and  vertical  bands,  and  is  darker  in  the  male  than  in  the 
female.  The  dorsals  are  faintly  spotted  with  brown,  but  the  black 
ocellated  spot  is  conspicuous.  This  goby  is  from  3  to  4  inches 
long,  and  is  generally  caught  in  sandy  bays,  where  it  lives  on  small 
Crustacea. 


104  GENERA  AND  SPECIES. 

The  Speckled  Goby  has  6  spines  in  its  first  dorsal,  and  a  spine 
and  9  or  10  rays  in  its  second  dorsal ;  in  its  anal  it  has  a  spine  and 

9  or  10  rays  ;  in  its  caudal  13  rays ;  in  its  pectorals  19  ;  and  in  its 
ventrals  a  spine  and  5  rays.     The  tail  is  cut  square,  and  does  not 
widen  towards  the  tip,  its  edges  being  in  line  with  those  of  the  body. 
There  are  40  scales  in  the  lateral  line.     The  scales  are  smaller  in 
the  fore-part   of  the   fish   than   in  the   hinder  half.    The  head  is 
broader  than  it  is  high.     In  colour  this  goby  is  bluish  grey,  with 
blackish  bands.     The  fins  are  black  with  whitish  streaks.     In  length 
it  is  about  2^  inches.     It  is  found  on  shallow  shores  in  which  the 
tide  ranges  over  a  wide  distance  of  sand  and  mud. 

In  the  Painted  Goby  the  first  dorsal  has  6  spines  and  the  second 

10  rays;  the  anal  has  9  rays;  the  caudal  13  ;  the  pectorals  20  ;  and 
the  ventral  a  spine  and  5  rays.     The  pectorals  are  broad  and  reach 
to  the  second  dorsal,  which  is  very  little  higher  than  the  anal.     The 
caudal  is  long  and  rounded  and  rather  narrow.     There  are  from 
35  to  40  scales  in  the  lateral  line.     In  colour  the  Painted  Goby  is 
light  brown  with  bands,  and  two  short  black  streaks  from  the  lower 
edge  of  the  eye.     The  caudal  has  a  dark  inner  margin,  and  the 
dorsals  are  iridescent,  with  spots  and  a  dark  edging.     In  length  it  is 
about  2  inches. 

The  Paganellus  has  6  spines  in  the  first  dorsal ;  a  spine  and 
from  14  to  16  rays  in  the  second  dorsal ;  a  spine  and  from  14  to 
15  rays  in  its  anal ;  13  rays  in  its  caudal ;  20  in  its  pectorals  ;  and  a 
spine  and  5  rays  in  its  ventrals.  The  dorsals  are  close  together, 
and  the  caudal  is  rounded.  There  are  from  54  to  58  scales  in  its 
lateral  line.  The  teeth  in  the  upper  jaw  are  conspicuously  large 
and  curved;  the  lips  are  thick  and  bear  papillae.  The  colour  is 
blackish  above,  lighter  below,  and  the  dorsals  are  banded  with 
orange.  In  length  this  species  attains  4  inches,  and  is  generally 
caught  in  seaweed  among  rocks. 

The  Rock  Goby  is  not  as  black  as  its  specific  name  would  imply. 
It  has  6  spines  in  its  first  dorsal;  a  spine  and  12  or  13  rays  in  its 
second  dorsal ;  a  spine  and  from  10  to  12  rays  in  its  anal ;  13  rays 
in  its  caudal;  18  in  its  pectorals;  and  a  spine  and  5  rays  in  its 
ventrals.  In  its  lateral  line  are  from  39  to  41  scales.  The  tail 
curves  inwards  from  its  base,  so  as  to  resemble  the  section  of  a 
cone.  The  jaws  are  equal  in  length.  In  colour  it  is  a  dull  brown, 
with  indistinct  bands  and  mottlings ;  the  dorsals  and  caudal  have 
lines  of  spots.  This  is  the  largest  of  the  British  gobies,  and 
reaches  6  inches  in  length.  Its  home  is  among  rocks,  and  it  feeds 
on  the  small  fishes  and  crustaceans  that  lurk  in  the  clumps  of 
seaweed.  It  is  an  active,  voracious  sea  fish  that  will  live  in  fresh 
water,  at  least,  for  a  time. 

Hippocampus.    Plate  xv.    SYNGNATHID&. 

1 19.     antiquorum,   SEAHORSE.     Head  crested,   and    somewhat  like  that 

of  a  horse ;  tail  tapering,  finless,  and  prehensile. 

The  Seahorse  has  either  3  or  4  fins,  the  dorsal  which  has  from 
1 8  to  20  rays,  the  anal  which  has  5  rays,  and  is  present  only  in  the 
female,  and  the  pectorals  which  have  from  15  to  17  rays.  The  body 


GENERA    AND    SPECIES.  IO5 

is  armed  with  a  series  ot  osseous  rings,  of  which  there  are  about  a 
dozen  between  the  head  and  the  vent,  and  about  three  dozen  from 
that  point  to  the  tip  of  the  tail.  The  head  and  body  are  covered 
with  tubercles,  and  the  head  is  flattened  and  rises  into  a  crest  above 
the  long  gill  covers.  The  colour  is  brown  of  a  greenish  hue  with 
whitish  dots,  and  frequently  the  tail  is  whitish.  In  size  the  Seahorse 
measures  about  6  inches  along  the  curve.  It  is  a  quaint,  intelligent 
fish,  which  swims  upright.  The  female  transfers  the  ova  to  the 
male,  who  hatches  them  in  its  breeding  pouch,  and  looks  after  them 
during  their  infancy.  Seahorses  call  each  other  with  a  sort  of 
cough. 

Hippoglossoides.     Plate  xix.     PLEURONECTID& 

150.     limandoidcs,  LONG  ROUGH  DAB.     Scales  ctenoid  and  spiny  on  the 
hinder  edge  ;  mouth  large. 

The  Long  Rough  Dab  has  from  76  to  87  rays  in  its  dorsal  fin,  60 
to  69  in  its  anal,  14  to  16  in  its  caudal,  10  in  its  pectorals,  and  6  in 
its  ventrals.  The  dorsal  rises  for  two-thirds  of  its  length,  and  then 
takes  a  straight  slope  towards  the  caudal,  and  the  anal  rises  for  half 
its  length,  and  slopes  at  a  similar  angle.  The  lateral  line  has  from 
85  to  95  scales,  and  is  nearly  straight.  The  eyes  are  on  the  right 
side,  the  mouth  extends  to  the  middle  of  the  eye,  the  jaws  being 
alike  on  both  sides.  The  colour  is  brownish  grey  on  the  upper  side, 
generally  without  spots,  and  it  is  white  on  the  under  side.  This 
flat-fish  is  about  15  inches  long,  and  lives  in  the  northern  seas  in 
rather  deep  water,  feeding  on  crustaceans  and  molluscs. 


Hippoglossus.     Plate  xix.     PLEURONECTIDJE. 

149.     vulgaris,       HALIBUT.     Scales  cycloid  and  not  spiny  ;  lateral  line 
curved. 

This  is  the  longest,  narrowest,  and  thickest  of  our  flat  fish.  Its 
dorsal  rays  number  from  99  to  107 ;  in  its  anal  it  has  from  73  to  82, 
in  its  caudal  from  15  to  18;  its  pectorals  have  from  14  to  18,  and  its 
ventrals  6.  The  dorsal  and  anal  are  low  at  their  beginning,  and 
reach  their  highest  point  at  about  half-way.  The  lateral  line  curves 
boldly  above  the  pectorals,  whereas  in  the  last  species  it  has  little 
more  than  a  shiver.  The  scales  are  smooth.  The  eyes  are  on  the 
right  side,  the  jaws  alike  on  both  sides ;  there  is  a  double  row  of 
teeth  in  the  upper  jaw  ;  the  mouth  reaches  the  back  of  the  eye.  In 
colour  the  upper  side  is  marbled  olive,  the  under  is  white.  The 
ordinary  size  is  from  3  to  7  feet,  but  it  has  reached  20  feet.  The 
Halibut  is  not  often  found  in  the  Channel,  and  it  is  confined  to  deep 
v/ater,  the  larger  specimens  being  taken  on  rocky  ground. 

Labrax.     Plate  i.     PERCW1E. 

2.     lupus,  .  BASS.     Spines  in  dorsals,    anal,    and    ventrals ;  gill  cover 
serrated  ;  colours  slaty  blue  and  silver. 

The  Bass  is  like  a  slender  Perch.  Its  first  dorsal  consists  of  8  or 
9  prickly  spines;  in  its  second  dorsal  are  a  spine  and  12  or  13  rays, 
in  its  anal  are  3  spines  and  10  or  n  rays,  in  its  caudal  are  17  rays, 

H 


X0  GENERA    AND    SPECIES. 

in  its  pectorals  16,  and  in  its  ventrals  a  spine  and  5  rays.  The  first 
dorsal  is  almost  semicircular,  being  highest  in  the  middle;  the 
second  dorsal  is  not  so  high  ;  in  the  anal  the  third  spine  is  the 
longest ;  in  the  ventrals  the  spine  is  strong.  The  lateral  line  has  72 
scales,  and  curves  gently  downwards  from  the  first  dorsal.  The  mouth 
reaches  to  the  eye ;  there  are  2  distinct  spines  on  the  operculum, 
and  well  marked  serrations  on  the  hinder  edge  of  the  praeoperculum. 
In  colour  the  Bass  is  a  deep  bluish  grey  above,  and  silvery  below, 
with  a  dark  spot  on  the  gill  cover  under  the  spines ;  the  vertical 
fins  are  grey,  the  others  yellowish ;  the  eye  is  silvery.  In  length  it 
reaches  18  inches.  It  is  a  summer  fish,  returning  from  the  deep 
sea  to  the  coast  from  May  to  November,  occasionally  ascending 
some  distance  up  the  rivers,  but  usually  found  among  rocks  or  near 
wooden  piers,  feeding  close  to  the  surface  on  small  fishes,  Crustacea, 
and  seaweeds. 


Labrus.    Plates  xiii.  and  xiv.,    LABRID&. 

104.  maculatus,    BALLAN     WRASSE.     Body    plentifully    spotted    with 

white  above  and  below  the  lateral  line. 

105.  donovani,     COMBER     WRASSE.     Body    with  a    few    white    spots 

below  the  lateral  line,  and  with  an  incomplete  white 
stripe. 

106.  lineatus,        GRKEN  WRASSE.     Green  with  yellow  streaks. 

107.  mixtus,         STRIPED  WRASSE.     Orange  with  blue  stripes  and  no 

vertical  bars. 

The  Ballan  Wrasse  has  a  long  dorsal,  in  which  there  are  20  or 
21  spines,  and  from  9  to  n  rays;  in  the  anal  are  three  spines, 
and  from  8  to  10  rays,  in  the  caudal  are  14  rays,  in  the  pectorals 
14  or  15,  and  in  the  ventrals  a  spine  and  5  rays.  The  dorsal  rays 
are  half  as  long  again  as  the  spines,  which  are  all  of  much  the 
same  height.  The  dorsal  begins  just  behind  the  base  of  the 
pectorals.  In  the  lateral  line  there  are  from  41  to  47  scales.  Mouth 
extends  to  the  fore  nostril ;  lips  very  thick ;  teeth  in  a  single  row  on 
the  jaws,  and  prominent.  Praeoperculum  serrated  when  young.  In 
colour  this  species  varies,  but  it  nearly  always  has  spots,  and  never  has 
a  white  side  stripe  or  is  green  with  yellow  streaks.  It  attains  over  16 
inches  in  length.  It  lives  in  moderately  deep  water,  on  rocky 
ground  where  seaweeds  are  plentiful. 

The  Comber  Wrasse  and  the  Green  Wrasse  are  really  varieties  of 
the  Ballan,  and  resemble  it  in  every  way  except  in  colour,  as  noted 
above. 

In  the  Striped  Wrasse  there  are  from  16  to  18  spines  in  the 
dorsal,  and  from  n  to  14  rays;  in  the  anal  there  are  3  spines  and 
from  10  to  12  rays,  in  the  caudal  from  13  to  15  rays,  in  the  pectorals 
17  rays,  in  the  ventrals  a  spine  and  5  rays.  The  dorsal  begins  just 
over  the  base  of  the  pectorals,  and  is  level  throughout,  the  spines 
and  rays  being  of  the  same  height.  In  the  lateral  line  there  are 
from  50  to  60  scales.  The  lips  are  very  thick  and  the  teeth 
prominent.  Orange,  lighter  below,  is  generally  its  colour,  the  male 
having  blue  stripes  radiating  from  the  eye,  two  of  which  extend  to 
the  caudal,  one  above  the  lateral  line  and  the  other  below  it,  the 


GENERA    AND    SPECIES. 

female  having  2  dark  blotches  at  the  base  of  the  dorsal  rays,  and  a 
third  one  at  the  root  of  the  tail.  This  species  is  13  inches  long,  and 
is  found  not  in  sandy  bays,  but  on  rocky  coasts,  where  the  molluscs 
and  crustaceans  that  form  its  food  are  abundant.  It  is  frequently 
caught  in  crab-pots,  which  it  enters  to  feed  on  the  bait. 

Lsemargus.     Plate  xxx.     SPINACIDJE. 

234.     borealis,        GREENLAND    SHARK.      Body    stout ;    dorsals    without 
spines  ;  anal  fin  absent. 

In  the  Greenland  Shark  the  fins  are  all  small  in  proportion 
to  the  girth  of  the  body.  The  first  dorsal  is  in  the  middle  of  the 
back,  and  also  half-way  between  the  pectorals  and  ventrals.  The 
second  dorsal  begins  above  the  hinder  edge  of  the  ventrals.  The 
lower  lobe  of  the  caudal  fin  is  much  larger  than  the  upper. 
The  snout  is  prolonged,  and  the  curve  from  its  tip  to  the  mouth  is 
that  of  a  clipper  bow.  The  mouth  extends  to  the  eye,  which  is 
small  and  without  a  lid.  The  gill-slits  are  small.  This  is  an  Arctic 
species,  known  only  as  a  straggler  in  British  waters.  It  reaches  25 
feet  in  length,  and  is  grey  above,  lighter  below. 

Lamna.     Plate  xxviii.     LAMNID&. 

226.    cornubica,     PORBEAGLE.     Body   stout;   side  of  tail    keeled;  anal 
fin  present. 

This  is  the  second  of  the  three  stout-bodied  sharks  in  our  list, 
the  third  being  the  Basking  Shark.  It  is  distinguishable  by  the 
large  size  of  its  first  dorsal,  caudal,  and  pectoral  fins.  The  second 
dorsal  and  anal  are  small  and  opposite.  The  first  dorsal  is  half- 
way between  the  snout  and  the  second  dorsal,  and  the  ventrals  are 
halfway  between  the  two  dorsals.  The  upper  lobe  of  the  caudal  is 
large,  and  notched  near  the  tip.  Along  the  side  of  the  tail  there  is 
a  conspicuous  keel.  It  is  fairly  common,  and  attains  a  length  of  9 
feet,  the  colour  being  greyish  above  and  whitish  below. 

Lampris.     Plate  v.     CORYPHSENID&. 

33.     luna,  OPAH.    Iridescent,  with  oval  silver  spots  ;  fins  pointed. 

This  is  the  moat  brilliantly  coloured  of  British  fishes.  There  are 
from  53  to  55  rays  in  the  dorsal  fin ;  38  to  41  in  the  anal ;  22  in  the 
caudal ;  24  in  the  pectorals,  and  from  14  to  16  in  the  ventrals.  The 
dorsal  is  very  long  in  front,  and  in  about  a  quarter  of  its  length 
suddenly  shortens  and  becomes  very  low  and  level  with  the  back 
until  near  the  end.  The  anal  is  low  and  straight ;  the  caudal  is 
deeply  forked  ;  the  pectorals  are  pointed,  and  extend  beyond  the 
middle  of  the  dorsal.  The  lateral  line  is  a  semicircle  for  half  its 
length,  and  then  becomes  perfectly  straight.  The  shape  is  a  deep 
oval,  the  body  being  flat.  In  colour  it  is  best  described  as  iridescent, 
the  reds,  greens,  blues,  and  purples  mingling  and  changing  according 
to  the  point  of  view,  the  conspicuous  feature  being  a  number  of 
large,  well-defined  oval  spots  of  silver.  The  fins  are  mainly  red. 
In  size  the  Opah  attains  6  feet.  Notwithstanding  its  bright  colours 
it  seems  to  be  a  northerly  fish,  and  is  only  found  in  deep  waters. 
Though  not  common,  it  has  been  frequently  taken  in  the  North  Sea. 


108  GENERA    AND    SPECIES. 

Lepadogaster.     Plate  xiii.     GOBIESOCIDsE. 

99.     gouanii,          CORNISH  SUCKER.     Vertical  fins  continuous. 

100.  decandollii,     SUCKER.      Vertical  fins  not  continuous  ;  no  black  spot 

under  tip  of  pectoral. 

101.  Umaculatus ,    DOUBLY-SPOTTED       SUCKER.       Vertical       fins        not 

continuous ;  black  eye-spot  under  tip  of  pectoral. 

The  Cornish  Sucker  has  from  16  to  20  rays  in  its  dorsal  fin ;  9  to 
1 1  in  its  anal ;  19  in  its  caudal ;  20  to  25  in  its  pectorals ;  and  a 
spine  and  4  rays  in  its  ventrals.  The  dorsal  begins  beyond  the 
middle  of  the  back,  and,  like  the  anal,  which  begins  nearer  the  tail, 
is  continuous  with  the  caudal.  The  pectorals  are  connected  by  a 
membrane  with  the  ventrals.  The  spine  of  the  ventrals  is  imbedded 
in  skin  ;  between  them  is  the  sucking  disk,  with  a  deep  groove  in 
the  middle.  The  skin  is  loose  and  tough,  the  snout  spatulate,  the 
upper  jaw  the  longer.  The  mouth  extends  to  the  middle  of  the  eye, 
and  the  eyes,  like  those  of  the  other  suckers  and  those  of  the 
blennies,  can  be  moved  independently  of  each  other.  In  colour 
this  species  is  red  as  a  rule,  though  sometimes  brown  or  green,  and 
there  are  two  dark  spots  on  the  nape  which  have  a  light  edging. 
In  length  it  rarely  exceeds  4  inches,  and  it  is  generally  found  under 
stones  between  the  tide  marks. 

The  Sucker  has  from  14  to  16  rays  in  its  dorsal;  8  to  n  in  its 
anal ;  18  in  its  caudal ;  25  in  its  pectorals ;  and  a  spine  and  4  rays  in 
its  ventrals.  The  dorsal  begins  in  the  hinder  half  of  the  back,  and, 
ike  the  anal,  is  distinctly  separate  from  the  caudal,  although  in  each 
case  a  membrane  extends  from  the  hinder  edge.  The  pectorals  are 
connected  with  the  ventrals.  The  snout  is  spatulate  and  the  upper 
jaw  the  longer,  the  mouth  extending  to  almost  the  middle  of  the 
eye.  The  body  tapers  very  slightly ;  the  head  is  the  widest  part, 
and  is  flat  at  the  top.  The  sucker  is  of  the  same  character  as  that 
of  the  last  species.  In  colour  this  species  is  red  with  light  spots. 
In  length  it  is  i\  inches,  and  it  is  generally  found  clinging  to  stones 
between  the  tide  marks. 

The  Doubly-spotted  Sucker  has  only  from  5  to  7  rays  in  its 
dorsal  fin;  in  its  anal  are  from  4  to  6;  in  its  caudal  12;  in  its 
pectorals  17  ;  and  in  its  ventrals  5.  The  dorsal  and  anal  are  small, 
and  though  in  the  hinder  part  of  the  body,  are  some  distance  from 
the  tail.  The  pectorals  are  not  joined  to  the  ventrals,  as  in  the  other 
two  species,  though  the  sucking  disk  is  of  the  same  character.  The 
colour  is  orange,  with  reddish  bands.  The  characteristic  ocellus 
is  just  covered  by  the  tip  of  the  pectorals.  In  length  this  species  is 
2  inches  or  more.  It  is  found  near  low-water  mark  in  rather  deeper 
water  than  the  other  two.  Like  them,  it  has  no  scales  on  its  body. 

Lcpidopus.     Plate  iii.     TRICHIURID&. 

23.     caudatus,        SCABBARD  FISH.     Body  long,  thin,  and  tapering ;   tail 

small  and  forked. 

In  the  dorsal  there  are  from  100  to  105  rays,  in  the  anal  18  to  25 
rays,  in  the  caudal  16  to  18,  in  the  pectorals  12.  The  ventrals  are 
represented  by  the  pair  of  scales  from  which  the  fish  takes  its  name 


GENERA    AND    SPECIES.  IOQ 

(lepidopus — scale  foot).  The  dorsal  begins  on  the  nape  and  extends 
almost  to  the  tail.  The  lateral  line  is  long,  straight,  and  well 
marked.  There  are  about  20  teeth  in  each  jaw,  with  2  or  3  barbed 
canines  ;  the  lower  jaw  is  the  longer,  and  the  mouth  extends  to  the 
eye.  This  rare  fish  is  silvery  in  colour,  with  yellowish  grey  fins  ;  it 
attains  a  length  of  6  feet. 


Lepidorhombus.     Plate  xx.     PLEURONECTIDM. 

155.  megastoma,  MEGRIM.  Eyes  left;  eyes  large;  mouth  large;  jaws 
alike. 

In  the  dorsal  fin  there  are  from  85  to  91  rays,  in  the  anal  61  to 
75,  in  the  caudal  15,  in  the  pectorals  13,  in  the  ventrals  6.  The 
dorsal  is  highest  in  its  hinder  half.  The  lateral  line  makes  a  semi- 
circular curve  over  the  pectorals;  it  has  from  104  to  no  scales. 
The  scales  are  rough,  and  easily  detached.  The  body  is  oval  and 
thin  ;  the  jaws  have  two  rows  of  small  teeth  ;  the  mouth  extends  to 
the  back  of  the  eyes  ;  and  the  eyes  are  yellow,  and  unusually  large  for 
those  of  a  flat  fish.  In  colour  thie  fish  is  brownish  yellow,  spotted 
with  dark  brown,  many  of  the  spots  being  arranged  in  rings.  In 
length  it  is  about  18  inches.  It  lives  in  comparatively  deep  water. 
It  is  said  to  come  ashore  in  the  Orkneys  with  its  tail  in  the  air 
scudding  before  the  wind,  whence  its  name  of  Sail  Fluke.  It  is  also 
known  as  the  Whiff  and  as  the  Merry  Sole. 

Leuciscus.     Plate  xxiii.     CYPRINIDJE. 
Lateral  line  incomplete — 

178.  phoxinus,  MINNOW.  Incomplete  lateral  line  with  from  80  to  90 
scales. 

Lateral  line  complete — 

174.  rutilus,         ROACH.     Bluish    or    greenish,    lighter  on  sides  and 

below ;  base  of  dorsal  |  of  height ;  4  rows  of  scales 
between  lateral  line  and  ventrals. 

175.  cephalus,       CHUB.     Bluish  or  greenish,  lighter  on  sides  and  below  ; 

base  of  dorsal  £  of  height ;  3  rows  of  scales  between 
lateral  line  and  ventrals  ;  cheeks  with  red  and  gold 
reflections. 

176  vulgar  is,  DACE.  Bluish  above,  silvery  on  sides  and  below  ;  base 
of  dorsal  §  of  height ;  5  rows  of  scales  between 
lateral  line  and  ventrals. 

177.  erythrophthalmus,  RUDD.  Silvery  glossed  with  red ;  eye  red ; 
4  rows  of  scales  between  lateral  line  and  ventrals. 

The  ubiquitous  Minnow  has  9  or  10  rays  in  its  dorsal  fin,  10  or 
ii  in  its  anal,  19  in  its  caudal,  15  in  its  pectorals,  and  9  or  10  in  its 
ventrals.  The  dorsal  begins  behind  the  ventrals,  and  ends  in  a  line 
with  the  commencement  of  the  anal ;  the  pectorals,  ventrals,  and 
caudal  are  at  equal  intervals.  The  upper  jaw  is  the  longer ;  the 
mouth  reaches  to  the  first  third  of  the  eye.  In  colour  this  fish  is 
silvery,  occasionally  dotted  or  striped  with  black.  In  size  it  is  generally 


HO  GENERA    AND    SPECIES. 

about  3  inches,  but  it  has  been  recorded  as  long  as  7.  Its 
favourite  haunt  is  in  running  shallow  water,  where  it  assembles  in 
shoals  near  the  surface  or  among  the  weeds.  It  feeds  on  plants  and 
worms  and  watep  animals,  including  the  dead  bodies  of  its  own 
species. 

The  Roach  has  from  n  to  13  rays  in  its  dorsal  fin,  from  12  to  13 
in  its  anal,  19  in  its  caudal,  from  16  to  18  in  its  pectorals,  and  9  or 
i(5  in  its  ventrals.  The  first  two  or  three  rays  in  the  dorsal  and 
anal  are  bony.  The  dorsal  is  over  the  ventrals ;  the  ventrals  are 
midway  between  the  pectorals  and  anal.  The  lateral  line  has  from 
42  to  45  scales  •  it  curves  slightly  downwards  to  the  tip  of  the 
pectorals,  and  Jnen  runs  straight.  The  jaws  are  equal  in  length  ; 
the  mouth  reaches  to  the  hinder  nostril.  The  silvery  underparts 
become  reddish  in  the  breeding  season ;  the  lower  fins  are  tinged 
with  red,  and  the  dorsal  and  caudal  have  blackish  edge's.  In  length 
it  attains  15  inches.  It  is  found  in  shoals  in  cleaF,  deep,  still,  or 
slowly  running  water,  where  there  is  gravel  or  sand,  keeping  close  to 
the  bottom  in  running  water,  and  not  so  deep  in  still.  It  feeds  on 
water  plants,  worms,  crustaceans,  and  other  water  a'nimals.  It 
gathers  in  large  numbers  at  certain  spots  for  breeding  purposes,  and 
its  eggs  can  be  identified  by  their  being  greenish  and  becoming  red 
when  boiled.  Though  a  typical  fresh- water  fish,  the  Roach  is 
occasionally  caught  in  estuaries. 

The  Chub  is  rather  more  slender  in  build,  and  has  a  larger  head. 
It  has  ii  rays  in  its  dorsal,  from  10  to  12  in  its  anal,  ,19  in  its 
caudal,  16  or  17  in  its  pectorals,  and  9  or  10  in  its  ventrals. 
The  first  3  rays  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  are  bony.  The  dorsal 
begins  behind  the  ventrals ;  the  pectorals,  ventrals,  anal,  and 
caudal  are  at  equal  intervals.  The  pectorals  are  very  close  to  the  gill 
cover  ;  the  curve  of  the  back  is  low.  The  lateral  line  has  from  43 
to  48  scales,  and  is  slightly  concave  throughout,  reaching  its  lowest 
point  over  the  tips  of  the  ventrals.  The  jaws  are  equal,  the  snout 
blunt,  and  the  mouth  reaches  the  front  edge  of  the  eye.  It  is  much 
the  same  colour  as  the  Roach,  but  rather  lighter  below,  the  ventrals 
and  anal  are  reddish,  and  the  edges  of  the  dorsal  and  caudal  are 
dark  in  colour.  There  is  a  decided  blush  of  red  on  its  cheeks  as  a 
rule.  It  attains  a  length  of  21  inches.  It  frequents  deep 
holes  in  clear  water  flowing  over  gravel,  sand,  or  marl,  and  comes 
to  the  surface  in  warm  weather.  It  feeds  on  plants,  worms,  and 
insects.  It  is  very  quick  of  sight  and  hearing,  and  will  sink  to  the 
bottom  at  a  passing  shadow  or  the  slightest  sound. 

The  Dace  is  the  slenderest  and  most  graceful  fish  of  the  five.  It 
has  9  or  10  rays  in  its  dorsal;  10  or  n  in  its  anal ;  19  or  20  in  its 
caudal ;  15  or  r6  in  its  pectorals ;  and  9  or  10  in  its  ventrals.  The 
first  2  or  3  rays  in  the  dorsal  and  anal  are  bony.  The  dorsal  is 
nearly  over  the  ventrals  ;  the  ventrals  are  nearer  to  the  anal  than 
to  the  pectorals,  and  the  anal  is  midway  between  the  ventrals  and 
the  caudal,  which  is  deeply  forked.  In  the  lateral  line  there  are  from  48 
to  52  scales  ;  it  is  concave,  with  the  lowest  point  under  the  hinder 
end  of  the  dorsal.  At  the  base  of  the  ventrals  there  is  an  angular 
scale.  The  upper  jaw  is  the  longer  ;  the  mouth  does  not  quite 
reach  the  eye.  The  curve  of  the  back  is  easy  and  rather  slight ; 


GENERA    AND    SPECIES.  Ill 

the  abdomen  is  nearly  straight  ;  the  head  is  almost  as  long  as  the 
body  is  deep.  In  colour  the  Dace  is  silvery,  with  a  bluish  back  and 
greenish  fins,  the  ventrals  and  anal  being  tinged  with  red.  In  length 
it  attains  12  inches.  It  is  a  gregarious  fish,  living  in  clear  running 
water,  feeding  on  plants,  worms,  and  insects,  and  often  swimming 
near  the  surface  and  leaping  out  of  the  water.  At  breeding  time  it 
gathers  in  large  numbers  in  weedy  shallows.  It  is  a  fast  swimmer, 
quick  of  sight  and  hearing,  and  will  dart  for  some  distance  out  of 
danger  when  alarmed. 

The  Rudd  has  n  or  12  rays  in  the  dorsal,  from  13  to  15  in  the 
anal,  from  19  to  21  in  the  caudal,  16  or  17  in  the  pectorals,  and 
9  or  10  in  the  ventrals.  The  first  2  or  3  rays  in  the  dorsal  and  anal 
are  bony.  The  dorsal  is  placed  on  the  highest  point  of  the  back  ; 
the  pectorals,  ventrals,  anal,  and  caudal  are  at  equal  intervals. 
There  are  from  40  to  44  scales  in  the  lateral  line,  which  curves 
downwards,  the  lowest  point  being  over  the  tip  of  the  ventrals.  The 
body  is  elevated  and  flat  ;  the  head  is  small,  and  has  rather  a 
hollow  curve  over  the  eye ;  the  mouth  extends  to  the  hinder  nostril. 
The  colour  varies,  but  as  a  rule  it  is  silvery,  with  the  dorsal,  caudal, 
and  pectorals  tipped  with  black,  and  the  anal  and  ventrals  yellow. 
The  eye  is  always  red,  hence  the  fish  is  widely  known  as  the  Red- 
eye.  In  length  it  does  not  exceed  9  inches.  It  is  mainly  confined 
to  gently-flowing  rivers,  particularly  to  their  broads  or  expansions, 
frequenting  deep  water  and  pools.  It  feeds  on  plants,  worms, 
molluscs,  and  insects,  and  will  rise  to  flies  when  swimming  near  the 
surface. 

Lichia.    Plate  iv.     CARANGIDJE. 

27.    glauca,     DERBIO.     First  dorsal  consisting  simply  of  5  or  6  spines, 
the  first  of  which  points  forwards. 

The  Derbio  has  two  dorsals,  the  front  one  being  a  row  of  5  or 
6  short  isolated  spines,  the  first  of  which  points  forwards  parallel  to 
the  lateral  line.  The  second  dorsal  has  a  spine  and  from  24  to  27 
rays.  There  are  also  two  anals,  the  first  of  which  consists  of  2 
isolated  spines,  the  second  anal  having  a  spine  and  from  23  to  25 
rays.  In  the  caudal  there  are  17  rays,  in  the  pectorals  17,  and  in 
the  ventrals  a  spine  and  5  rays.  The  caudal  is  deeply  forked.  The 
scales  are  small  and  cycloid.  In  colour  this  fish  is  sea-green  with 
yellowish  sides,  the  fins  being  yellowish  and  stained  with  black.  In 
length  it  reaches  15  inches.  It  is  very  rare  in  British  waters; 
independently  of  its  spines  it  can  easily  be  recognised  by  its  black- 
tipped  tail,  the  lobes  of  which  are  quite  three  times  as  long  as  their 
extreme  width. 

Liparis.     Plate  viii.     CYCLOPTERID&. 

61.  vulgaris,         SEA  SNAIL.     Body  streaked. 

62.  montagui,       MONTAGU'S  SUCKER.     Body  spotted. 

The  Sea  Snail  has  from  34  to  36  rays  in  its  dorsal,  27  or  28  in  its 
anal,  12  to  14  in  its  caudal,  28  in  its  pectorals,  and  a  spine  and  5 
rays  in  its  ventrals.  The  pectorals  are  deeply  notched,  and  extend 


112  GENERA    AND    SPECIES. 

under  the  throat ;  the  ventrals  surround  the  disk.  The  head  is 
broad  and  round;  the  mouth  extends  to  the  front  edge  of  the 
eye  ;  the  upper  jaw  is  the  longer.  In  colour  this  species  is  brown 
or  pale  grey,  with  many  narrow  stripes;  in  length  it  is  about  6 
inches. 

Montagu's  Sucker  has  from  26  to  30  rays  in  its  dorsal  fin,  24  in 
its  anal,  14  in  its  caudal,  30  in  its  pectorals,  and  6  in  its  ventrals. 
The  pectorals  are  notched,  and  extend  under  the  throat  as  in  the 
foregoing  species,  but  there  are  only  5  long  rays  on  the  lower  side 
instead  of  6.  In  colour  it  is  brownish,  covered  with  dark  spots,  and 
its  length  is  3  inches.  Like  the  Sea  Snail,  it  is  found  just  below 
low-water  mark  along  the  coast  and  in  estuaries,  and  seems  to  use 
its  sucker  to  hold  on  by  as  the  tide  runs  out. 


Lophius     Plate  vii.    LOPHIID& 

47.    piscatorius,    ANGLER.    Anterior  dorsal  spines  modified  into  tentacles. 

The  dorsal  fin  of  the  Angler  is  in  four  divisions,  the  first  con- 
sisting of  2  long  isolated  spines,  the  second  of  a  long  spine  at  some 
distance  from  them,  the  third  of  3  spines  united  by  a  membrane  at 
their  base,  and  the  fourth  of  an  ordinary  sort  of  fin  containing  n 
rays ;  in  the  anal  are  from  9  to  n  rays,  in  the  caudal  8,  in  the  pec- 
torals 13,  in  the  ventrals  a  spine  and  5  rays.  The  pectorals  are 
large  and  not  unlike  feet ;  by  their  means  the  Angler  can  not  only 
walk  but  cling  to  anything  so  as  to  be  carried  from  place  to  place, 
and  with  them  it  digs  a  hole  in  sand,  in  which  it  hides,  dangling  the 
filaments  attached  to  its  anterior  spines  over  its  mouth  as  a  bait. 
Its  mouth  is  a  quarter  as  wide  as  the  fish  is  long,  and  there  are 
two  rows  of  teeth  in  the  jaws,  the  inner  row  being  the  larger  and 
being  movable  backwards.  The  eye  is  well  developed,  as  is  also 
the  organ  of  hearing.  In  colour  the  Angler  is  dirty  brown,  with 
dark  reticulations ;  in  length  it  measures  from  4  to  7  feet ;  and  it 
feeds  on  fishes  and  crustaceans. 


Lota.     Plate  xviii.     GADIDM. 

136.     vulgaris,     BURBOT.     Two  dorsals,  one  anal,  and  a  long  barbule. 

The  Burbot  is  a  fresh-water  member  of  the  Cod  family.  It  has 
2  dorsals,  the  first  short  with  12  to  14  rays,  the  second  long  with 
from  67  to  76  rays  ;  the  anal  has  from  65  to  71  rays,  the  caudal  30, 
the  pectorals  19  to  21,  and  the  ventrals  7.  The  vertical  fins  are 
nearly  continuous  ;  the  caudal  is  rounded,  the  lower  half  beginning 
nearer  the  head  than  the  lower  half.  The  lateral  line  is  almost 
straight ;  the  scales  are  small.  The  head  is  broad,  the  mouth  wide, 
the  jaws  equal,  the  mouth  extending  to  the  middle  of  the  eye.  In 
colour  the  Burbot  is  brownish,  mottled  or  banded  with  darker  brown  ; 
in  length  it  reaches  30  inches.  It  is  found  in  clear  streams  and 
lakes,  mainly  in  the  Trent  and  rivers  of  the  north-east  coast,  and  is 
nocturnal  in  habit,  hiding  under  stones  or  in  the  mud  or  in  holes 
in  the  banks. 


GENERA    AND    SPECIES.  113 

Luvarus.     Plate  v.     CORYPHMNID&. 

35.     imperialis.     Grey  with  a  scarlet  stripe  ;  tail  forked  and  keeled. 

This  Mediterranean  fish  is  of  rare  occurrence  round  these  islands. 
In  full-grown  specimens  the  dorsal  has  a  spine  and  from  n  to  13 
rays,  the  anal  a  spine  and  14  rays,  the  caudal  16,  the  pectorals  14  to 
18,  and  the  ventrals  a  spine  and  4.  The  rays  of  the  dorsal  and 
anal  are  wide  apart ;  both  fins  are  in  the  hinder  half  of  the  body, 
which  is  pyriform  in  shape,  with  a  curious  head,  small  mouth,  and 
large  eyes.  In  colour  it  is  grey  above,  silvery  below,  with  a  red 
stripe  along  the  side,  and  red  fins.  In  length  it  attains  5  feet. 

Maurolicus.     Plate  xxiv.     STERNOPTYCHIDsE. 

1 88.    pennantii,     PEARLSIDES.    Anal  fin  in  three  portions,  of  different 

heights. 

The  dorsal  fin  has  10  rays;  the  anal  has  10  longish  rays, 
then  12  short  rays,  then  from  4  to  13  rays  rather  higher  than 
the  middle  group.  The  caudal  has  19  rays,  the  pectorals 
16,  the  ventrals  7.  Sometimes  there  is  an  adipose  dorsal. 
In  the  lateral  line  are  28  scales ;  the  scales  are  cycloid,  and  are 
higher  than  they  are  wide.  The  head  is  unusually  square,  and  the 
body  tapers  gradually  backwards  from  the  cheeks.  The  back  is 
blackish,  the  sides  silvery;  there  are  many  luminous  spots,  and 
under  the  spots  are  black  marks.  The  average  length  seems  to  be 
3  inches.  This  is  a  deep-sea  form,  and  the  few  British  examples 
have  been  found  after  storms. 

Merluccius.     Plate  xvii.     GADID&. 

133-     vulgaris,     HAKE.     No  barbule ;  anal  highest  behind;  eye  round; 

teeth  many  and  large. 

The  first  dorsal  has  10  rays,  the  second  from  36  to  40,  the  anal 
36  to  38,  the  caudal  22,  the  pectorals  14,  the  ventrals  7.  The  first 
dorsal  is  short  and  triangular,  the  second  is  long,  lowest  in  the 
middle  and  highest  at  the  end  ;  the  anal,  which  is  the  same  length 
as  the  second  dorsal,  is  also  highest  near  the  tail ;  the  caudal  is 
square,  the  pectorals  and  ventrals  are  pointed.  The  lateral  line  is 
straight,  and  is  black  with  a  white  edging.  The  mouth  is  large,  and 
its  inner  surface  and  that  of  the  gill  cavities  are  black.  The  teeth 
are  long  and  sharp,  and  in  two  rows,  the  inner  being  the  larger.  In 
colour  the  Hake  is  greyish  brown  above  and  white  below  ;  in  shape 
it  is  long  and  slender;  in  length  it  reaches  48  inches.  It  is  a 
voracious  fish  of  wide  distribution,  active  generally  at  night,  and 
following  the  shoals  of  mackerel,  herring,  and  so  forth  round  the 
coasts. 

Molva.     Plate  xvii.     GADIDM. 

135.    vulgaris,    LING.     Long    barbule ;    anal    level    throughout ;     eye 
oval. 

The  Ling — that  is,  the  "long  "  fish — has  two  dorsal  fins,  the  first 
with  13  to  16  rays,  the  second  with  from  63  to  70 ;  in  the  anal  there 
are  from  57  to  66  rays,  in  the  caudal  from  35  to  38,  in  the  pectorals  19, 


114  GENERA    AND    SPECIES. 

in  the  ventrals  6.  The  dorsals  are  of  the  same  height ;  the  first  is 
rounded,  the  second  long  and  rather  higher  behind ;  both  it  and 
the  anal  almost  join  the  caudal,  which  is  spatulate.  The  fins  are 
narrow  and  flexible.  The  lateral  line  curves  downwards  to  the 
second  dorsal  and  then  becomes  straight.  The  upper  jaw  is  the 
longer.  The  teeth  are  not  so  conspicuous  as  in  the  Hake.  In 
colour  the  Ling  is  greenish  grey,  with  white  underparts,  the  ver- 
tical fins  becoming  dark  towards  their  edges,  which  are  bordered 
with  white.  In  length  it  reaches  7  feet,  but  the  usual  size  is  about 
3  feet.  It  is  a  night-feeding  fish,  keeping  to  the  bottom,  and  rarely 
found  where  the  ground  is  not  rocky. 


Motella.     Plate  xviii.    GADID&. 

137.  mustela,  FIVE-BEARDED    ROCKLING.     Barbules  5. 

138.  cimbria,  FOUR-BEARDED    ROCKLING.     Barbules  4. 

139.  tricirrata,  THREE-BEARDED   ROCKLING.     Barbules  3  ;   body 

spotted. 

140.  macrophthalma,     Barbules  3  ;  body  unspotted. 

In  the  Five-bearded  Rockling  the  first  dorsal  has  a  spine  and  20 
low  rays,  the  second  dorsal  has  from  47  to  55  rays,  the  anal  from 
40  to  47,  the  saudal  20  or  21,  the  pectorals  15,  and  the  ventrals 
7  or  8.  The  first  dorsal  is  a  sort  of  fringe,  headed  by  a  spine  which 
is  the  same  height  as  the  rays  of  the  second  dorsal ;  the  dorsals  are 
continuous.  The  second  dorsal  is  curved,  and  ends  close  to  the 
caudal ;  the  anal  ends  in  a  similar  manner,  but  is  not  so  high  ;  the 
caudal  is  rounded.  The  mouth  extends  to  the  middle  or  back  of  the 
eye.  In  colour  this  species  is  brownish  with  brown  fins.  It  is  18 
inches  long,  and  feeds  on  molluscs  and  crustaceans  in  rocky  and 
sandy  localities, 

The  Four-bearded  Rockling  has  also  a  spine  and  20  rays  in  its 
fringe-like  dorsal,  the  second  dorsal  having  50  rays ;  the  anal  has 
44  rays,  the  caudal  31,  the  pectorals  15,  and  the  ventrals  6.  There 
is  one  barbule  on  the  upper  lip  instead  of  two,  one  on  each  side  of 
the  snout  and  one  on  the  chin.  The  anal  begins  further  back  than 
in  the  foregoing  species.  In  colour  it  is  chestnut  on  the  back,  lighter 
below.  In  length  it  reaches  14  inches,  and,  like  the  others,  it  is 
found  in  rocky,  sandy  places  abounding  in  molluscs  and  small 
crustaceans. 

The  Three-bearded  Rockling  has  a  spine  and  20  rays  in  its  first 
dorsal,  and  from  55  to  57  rays  in  the  other ;  in  the  anal  are  from 
48  to  50  rays,  in  the  caudal  21,  in  the  pectorals  16  to  18,  in  the 
ventrals  6  or  7.  There  are  two  barbules  on  the  upper  lip,  and  one 
on  the  chin.  The  upper  jaw  is  the  longer ;  the  mouth  extends 
behind  the  eye.  The  colour  above  is  black  or  brown,  with  round 
spots  and  blotches,  and  white  below.  This  Rockling  is  20  inches 
long,  and  is  a  ground  feeder,  living  among  seaweeds  on  rocky  shores. 

The  fourth  species  of  Rockling  is  small  and  but  little  known.  It 
has  a  spine  and  20  rays  in  its  first  dorsal,  55  rays  in  its  second  dor- 


GENERA    AND    SPECIES.  115 

sal,  55  in  its  anal,  32  in  its  caudal,  15  in  its  pectorals,  and  6  in  its 
ventrals.  It  has  a  barbule  on  each  side  of  the  snout,  and  one  on  the 
lower  jaw.  In  colour  it  is  brownish,  becoming  paler  on  the  sides  ; 
and  in  length  it  reaches  at  least  4^  inches. 


Mugil.     Plate  xi.     MUGILID&. 

85.  capita,     GREY  MULLET.     Anal  begins  almost  half-way  between  the 

dorsals. 

86.  chelo,     LESSER    GREY   MULLET.     Anal -begins  almost   in  a   line 

with  second  dorsal. 

In  the  Grey  Mullet  there  are  4  spines  in  the  first  dorsal,  in  the 
second  there  are  a  spine  and  8  or  9  rays ;  in  the  anal  are  3  spines 
and  8  or  9  rays,  in  the  caudal  17  rays,  in  the  pectorals  17  rays,  in 
the  ventrals  a  spine  and  5  rays.  The  caudal  is  large ;  the  dorsals 
are  wide  apart.  The  upper  lip  is  not  thickened.  In  colour  this 
fish  is  silvery,  with  stripes  along  the  back  and  sides  ;  the  fins  are 
grey.  It  attains  a  length  of  3  feet,  and  is  a  surface  feeder  in  shallow 
waters,  moving  up  rivers  in  shoals  with  the  tide,  and  apparently 
delighting  in  oily  foods. 

The  Lesser  Grey  Mullet  has  4  spines  in  the  first  dorsal,  and  a 
spine  and  8  rays  in  the  second  ;  in  the  anal  are  3  spines  and  9  or  10 
rays,  in  the  caudal  15  rays,  in  the  pectorals  17,  in  the  ventrals 
a  spine  and  5  rays.  The  caudal  is  large  and  the  scales  are  large. 
The  upper  lip  is  thickened,  and  has  rows  of  papillae.  In  colour 
this  species  is  grey  with  bronze  reflections,  and  dark  lines  along 
the  scales.  It  generally  measures  a  foot,  but  has  been  known  as 
large  as  3  feet  in  length.  Like  the  other,  it  is  very  quick  of 
hearing,  and  is  gregarious  and  generally  found  in  estuaries.  It 
burrows  in  search  of  food,  and  seems  to  have  some  special  fondness 
for  the  grass-wrack,  Zoster  a  marina. 


Mullus.     Plate  ii.     MULLIDJE. 

8.  barbatus,         RED  MULLET.     Body  not  striped. 

9.  surmulletus,     STRIPED  MULLET.     Body  striped. 

The  Red  Mullet  has  7  or  8  spines  in  the  first  dorsal,  and  a  spine 
and  8  rays  in  the  second ;  in  the  anal  are  2  spines  and  6  rays,  in  the 
caudal  15  rays,  in  the  pectorals  from  16  to  18  rays,  in  the  ventrals  a 
spine  and  5  rays.  The  spines  of  the  first  dorsal  are  flat  and  weak 
at  the  ends,  and  the  front  spine  is  very  short.  The  scales  are  large  ; 
there  are  from  38  to  40  in  the  lateral  line,  the  tubes  of  which  are 
much  branched.  The  forehead,  nape,  cheeks,  and  gill  covers  are 
scaly.  In  colour,  this  rather  rare  fish  is  a  plain  red ;  in  length  it 
reaches  17  inches.  It  feeds  at  the  bottom  as  well  as  at  the  surface, 
and  for  most  of  the  year  keeps  out  at  sea,  but  in  July  comes  into 
shallow,  sandy  ground  among  seaweed-covered  rocks. 

The  Striped  Mullet  is  little  better  than  a  variety.  Its  fins  are 
similar  in  all  respects,  except  that  the  dorsals  are  banded.  The 
profile  is  more  oblique.  The  body  is  pale  pink,  with  yellowish 


lib  GENERA    AND    SPECIES. 

stripes  along  the  sides  above  and  below  the  lateral  line.  The 
caudal  is  often  banded.  This  is  the  common  Red  Mullet  which 
comes  in  with  the  mackerel  in  shoals  in  the  summer,  but  spends 
most  of  the  year  out  at  sea.  It  reaches  the  same  size  as  the  other, 
but  is  generally  smaller. 


Mursena.     Plate  xxii.    MUR&NID&. 

168.     helena,     MURRY.     Purplish  brown  with  yellow  markings. 

The  vertical  fins  of  this  brightly-coloured  Eel  are  continuous,  and 
together  have  about  550  rays.  The  snout  is  pointed;  the  month 
ends  in  a  black  spot,  and  extends  behind  the  eye,  the  upper  jaw 
being  the  longer.  The  gill  opening  is  in  a  black  spot.  In  length 
this  species  reaches  52  inches.  It  is  of  very  rare  occurrence  in 
British  waters. 


Mustelus.     Plate  xxviii.     CARCHARIIDJE. 

225.     vulgaris,     SMOOTH  HOUND.     Dorsals  far  apart ;  anal  under  second 
dorsal. 

The  pectorals  are  under  the  last  three  gill  slits ;  the  first  dorsal 
is  behind  the  pectorals ;  the  ventrals  are  halfway  between  the 
pectorals  and  the  anal,  and  the  anal  is  under,  but  begins  rather 
behind,  the  second  dorsal ;  caudal  notched  at  tip.  The  colour  is 
bluish,  with  or  without  spots,  lighter  below.  The  length  is  from 
3  to  6  feet.  It  swims  near  the  ground,  and  comes  in-shore  in  the 
summer  months,  retiring  to  deep  water  in  the  winter.  Though  not 
sought  after  this  shark  is  not  wasted,  as  it  is  used  up  among  the 
"  snacks  "  in  fried-fish  shops. 

Myliobatis.     Plate  xxxiii.     MYLIOBATID&. 

250.     aquila,     WHIP   RAY.     No   horns ;    tail   very  long,   with  serrat.  d 
spine  near  the  roc  t 

The  disk  is  diamond-shaped,  nearly  twice  as  broad  as  long,  with 
undulating  edges.  On  the  tail  is  a  small  square  dorsal,  the  serrated 
spine  being  just  behind  it.  The  tail  is  like  a  whip.  The  teeth  are 
hexagonal  and  in  7  rows.  The  colour  is  white  below,  greenish 
above ;  the  head  and  backbone  being  clearly  shown.  This  fish, 
often  known  as  the  Eagle  Ray,  from  its  appearance  when  swimming, 
has  been  found  as  much  as  50  inches  in  length.  It  is  active  in  its 
habits,  and  swims  much  faster  than  would  be  supposed. 

Naucrates.     Plate  iv.     CARANGIDJE 

25.     ductor,     PILOT  FISH.     Body  blue,  with  5  or  6  broad  dark  vertical 
bands. 

The  Pilot  Fish  has  from  3  to  6  spines  representing  the  first 
dorsal,  and  a  spine  and  from  26  to  28  rays  in  the  second  dorsal ;  the 
anal  has  2  isolated  spines  in  front,  and  then  from  26  to  28  rays ;  the 
caudal  has  17  rays,  the  pectorals  from  19  to  21,  and  the  ventrals  a 


GENERA   AND    SPECIES.  117 

spine  and  5  rays.  The  second  dorsal  is  highest  in  front.  The 
lateral  line  curves  to  the  first  third  of  the  anal,  and  then  forms  a 
raised  keel  towards  the  caudal.  The  fins  are  grey,  the  dorsal  and 
anal  being  tipped  with  black.  The  length  is  about  9  inches.  This 
fish  is  usually  caught  in  roadsteads,  to  which  it  has  accompanied 
some  vessel ;  occasionally  it  is  found  in  shoals,  as  at  Falmouth, 
when  3  dozen  were  caught  at  a  time. 

Nemachilus.     Plate  xxiii.     CYPRINID^E. 
184.     barbatula,     LOACH.     Barbules  6. 

The  Loach  has  10  rays  in  the  dorsal  fin,  7  or  8  in  the  anal,  17  in 
the  caudal,  10  to  12  in  the  pectorals,  and  8  or  9  in  the  ventrals. 
The  dorsal  is  over  the  ventrals,  and  midway  between  the  eye  and  the 
caudal ;  the  caudal  is  wide  at  the  base  and  oblong  in  shape.  The 
back  is  but  slightly  curved,  and  the  abdomen  is  straight.  The 
lateral  line  runs  from  the  top  of  the  eye  along  the  upper  half  of  the 
body.  The  snout  overhangs  the  mouth,  which  extends  to  beneath 
the  hind  nostril ;  there  is  no  spine  at  the  nostril.  The  colour  is 
greenish,  with  white  underparts,  and  the  length  5  inches.  The 
Loach  avoids  muddy  water,  and  frequents  clear  streams  and  pools 
with  a  gravelly  bottom,  where  it  lurks  under  the  stones  and  among 
floating  grass,  looking  out  for  worms  and  insects.  It  is  very  sensi- 
tive to  changes  of  temperature,  and  is  occasionally  kept  in  glass 
bowls  as  a  weather  indicator. 


Nerophis.     Plate  xv.    SYNGNATHID&. 

116.  aquoreus,  OCEAN  PIPE-FISH.     Rings  28  to  31,  and  56  to  61. 

117.  ophidian,  STRAIGHT-NOSED    PIPE-FISH       Rings    28    or  29, 

and  65. 

118.  lumbriciformis,    WORM  PIPE-FISH.     Rings  18  or  19,  and  49. 

The  Ocean  Pipe-fish  has  from  37  to  44  rays  in  its  dorsal.  The 
anal,  pectorals,  and  ventrals  are  always  absent,  the  caudal  usually 
so.  The  number  of  osseous  rings  mentioned  above  are  given  as 
before  and  behind  the  vent.  The  colour  is  olive,  darkest  along  the 
back,  with  black-edged  bluish  bands,  there  being  a  purple  stripe 
along  the  snout,  and  the  dorsal  rays  being  yellow.  In  length  this 
Pipe-fish  reaches  41  inches.  It  lives  in  deepish  water.  The  tail  is 
prehensile. 

The  Straight-nosed  Pipe-fish  has  from  34  to  38  rays  in  its  dorsal, 
which  stands  on  12  rings,  8  of  which  are  beyond  the  vent.  The 
snout  turns  upwards  a  little.  The  colour  is  greenish,  spotted  with 
white,  there  being  a  black  band  across  the  gill  cover.  In  length 
this  fish  measures  about  12  inches.  It  lives  in  moderately  deep 
water,  and  between  the  tide-marks. 

The  Worm  Pipe-fish  has  from  24  to  26  rays  in  its  dorsal,  which 
stands  on  8  rings,  of  which  6  are  beyond  the  vent.  The  snout  is 
turned  up.  In  colour  the  body  is  olive  brown,  with  white  lines  and 
dots.  In  length  it  reaches  9  inches.  This  fish  is  found  among  the 
seaweeds  in  rocky  pools,  and  is  unknown  below  low-water  mark. 


Il8  GENERA    AND    SPECIES. 

Notidanus.     Plate  xxix.     NOTIDANID&. 
229.    griseus,     BROWN  SHARK.     Gill-slits  6. 

There  is  one  dorsal,  which  is  smaller  than  the  ventrals,  and 
placed  between  them  and  the  anal.  The  pectorals  are  close  to  the 
gill-slits.  The  tail  is  long,  with  the  lower  part  of  the  caudal  fin 
highest  near  the  base,  and  tapering  off  towards  the  tip,  where  it  is 
but  little  higher  than  the  upper  portion,  which  is  of  the  same  height 
throughout.  The  colour  is  grey ;  the  length  over  26  feet.  This  is 
a  common  Mediterranean  species,  rare  in  our  seas. 

Ophidium.     Plate  xix.     OPHIDIID&. 

143.     barbatum,      BEARDED     OPHIDIUM.       Vertical     fins     continuous  ; 
ventrals,  a  pair  of  filaments  under  throat. 

There  is  apparently  no  caudal  fin,  the  long  and  level  dorsal  and 
anal  being  continuous,  and  having  from  230  to  260  rays.  The 
pectorals  have  from  20  to  23  rays.  The  filaments  representing  the 
ventrals  are  bifid.  The  lateral  line  is  in  the  upper  half  of  the  body. 
The  colour  is  greyish  brown,  and  the  length  10  inches.  A  Mediter- 
ranean fish,  of  which  only  one  specimen  is  recorded  as  British. 

Orcynus.     Plate  vi.     SCO M BRIDGE 

39.  thynnus,     SHORT- FINNED     TUNNY.       Pectorals     not    reaching    to 

finlets. 

40.  germo,       LONG-FINNED  TUNNY.     Pectorals  reaching  to  finlets. 

The  Short-finned  Tunny  has  13  or  14  spines  in  its  first  dorsal,  i 
or  2  spines  and  13  rays  in  its  second  dorsal,  and  8  or  9  finlets 
between  the  second  dorsal  and  the  caudal ;  the  anal  has  2  spines 
and  12  rays,  with  7  or  8  finlets  behind  it ;  the  caudal  ha£  from  32  to 
35  rays,  the  pectorals  have  31,  and  the  ventrals  have  a  spine  and  5 
rays.  The  dorsals  are  close  together  ;  the  pectorals  are  in  a  groove. 
The  first  dorsal  is  triangular ;  the  other  fins  are  pointed  ;  the  lobes 
of  the  caudal  are  narrow  and  long,  the  fork  being  deep  and  broad. 
The  scales  in  the  fore  part  of  the  body  form  a  corslet,  with  three 
prolongations.  In  colour  this  Tunny  is  dark  blue  on  the  back,  grey 
netted  with  darker  grey  along  the  sides,  and  white  below ;  the 
pectorals  are  edged  with  white,  In  length  it  reaches  9  feet  or  more. 
It  is  generally  observed  in  shoals,  but  only  a  few  stragglers  have  been 
caught  round  the  British  Islands. 

The  Long-finned  Tunny  has  14  spines  in  its  first  dorsal,  3  spines 
and  12  rays  in  the  second,  with  7  or  8  finlets  behind  ;  the  anal  has 
3  spines  and  12  rays,  with  8  or  9  finlets  behind  it ;  the  caudal  has  35 
rays,  the  pectorals  37,  the  ventrals  a  spine  and  5  rays.  The  pectorals 
are  in  a  groove,  and  are  curved  and  pointed  and  a  third  as  long  as 
the  fish ;  the  ventrals  are  close  together,  with  only  one  scale  between 
them.  The  colour  is  deep  blue  above  and  silvery  below,  with  narrow 
stripes  occasionally  present.  The  few  British  examples  have  been 
between  2  and  3  feet  in  length.  This  Tunny  ranges  from  the  Bay  of 
Biscay  to  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  migrates  in  shoals. 


GENERA   AND    SPECIES.  Iig 

Orthagoriscus.     Plate  xv.     DIODONTIDJE. 

123.  mola,  SUN-FISH.     Hinder  end  rounded ;  skin  rough. 

124.  truncatus,     OBLONG  SUN-FISH.     Hinder  end  straight ;  skin  smooth. 

The  Sun-fish  has  from  16  to  18  rays  in  the  dorsal,  15  to  17  in  the 
anal,  12  to  16  in  the  caudal,  n  to  13  in  the  pectorals,  and  is  without 
ventrals.  The  dorsal  and  anal  are  narrow,  high,  and  pointed ;  the 
pectorals  are  short  and  rounded.  The  skin  is  granulated,  and  at 
first  is  spiny.  The  eye  has  a  lid  in  front  with  which  the  eye  can  be 
covered.  In  colour  this  fish  is  pearly  brown,  and  luminous  in  the 
dark,  and  in  length  has  been  known  to  reach  8  feet.  It  swims  in  an 
undulating  way,  and  sometimes  leaps  out  of  the  water.  It  groans 
loudly  when  it  dies,  and  when  hooked  sighs  and  grunts  like  a  pig. 

The  Oblong  Sun-fish  has  from  16  to  19  rays  in  its  dorsal,  16  in 
its  anal,  18  to  22  in  its  caudal,  12  or  13  in  its  pectorals,  arid  the 
ventrals  are  missing.  The  dorsal  and  anal  are  joined  to  the  caudal, 
which  is  little  better  than  a  fringe.  The  skin  has  hexagonal 
divisions.  The  colour  above  is  purple  or  bluish  grey.  This  is  much 
rarer  in  British  waters  than  the  other  species,  and  has  not 
exceeded  25  inches  in  length. 

Osmerus.     Plate  xxvii.    SALMONID&. 

213.     eperlanus.     SMELT.     Skin  transparent,  and  having  a  silver  stripe. 

The  first  dorsal  has  10  or  12  rays,  the  second  is  adipose ;  the 
anal  has  from  13  to  17  rays,  the  caudal  19,  the  pectorals  have  u  or 
12,  and  the  ventrals  8  or  9.  The  first  dorsal  is  midway  between  the 
eye  and  the  base  of  the  caudal ;  the  adipose  dorsal  is  over  the  middle 
of  the  anal ;  the  ventrals  are  under  the  beginning  of  the  first  dorsal. 
In  the  lateral  line  there  are  from  60  to  65  scales ;  the  scales  are 
cycloid,  and  there  are  6  rows  between  the  lateral  line  and  the  base 
of  the  ventrals.  The  body  is  long,  the  sides  rather  flat,  the  back 
more  curved  than  the  abdomen,  the  mouth  deeply  cleft,  the  lower 
jaw  the  longer.  The  eyes  are  silvery.  The  Smelt  has  been  caught 
12  inches  in  length.  It  is  gregarious  and  voracious,  and  generally 
found  in  estuaries  and  harbours  feeding  on  small  fish  and  shrimps, 
being  particularly  numerous  in  fishing  ports  frequented  by  shrimp 
smacks. 

ragellus.     Plates  ii  and  iii.     SPARID&. 

14.  centrodontus,     SEA  BREAM.     Scarlet,  lighter  below;    a  black  spot 

where  the  lateral  line  begins. 

15.  bogaraveo,        SPANISH  BREAM.     Pinkish    above,  white  below;     a 

dark  axillary  spot. 

16.  owenii,  AXILLARY    BREAM.     Carmine    above,  white  below; 

fins  paler  than  body. 

17.  acarne,  Red,  with  golden  reflections. 

18.  erythrinus,      PANDORA.     Red,  with  purple  and  silvery  reflections : 

ventrals  colourless. 

The  Sea  Bream  has  12  spines  and  12  rays  in  its  dorsal,  3  spines 
and  12  rays  in  its  anal,  19  rays  in  its  caudal,  17  in  its  pectorals,  and 


I2O  GENERA    AND    SPECIES. 

a  spine  and  5  rays  in  its  ventrals.  The  fourth  and  fifth  dorsal 
spines  are  the  longest ;  the  pectorals  are  as  long  as  the  head.  In 
the  lateral  line  the  scales  number  75.  The  hinder  nostril  is  oval  and 
oblique,  and  larger  than  the  other.  This  fish  attains  a  length  of 
15  inches.  It  lives  among  rocks  and  seaweed,  and  feeds  on  sea- 
weed, small  fishes,  and  crustaceans  ;  it  is  very  sensitive  to  cold,  and 
sometimes  appears  in  shoals.  The  characteristic  black  spot  is  a 
mark  of  maturity. 

The  Spanish  Bream  has  12  spines  and  12  rays  in  its  dorsal,  3 
spines  and  n  or  12  rays  in  its  anal,  17  in  its  caudal,  17  in  its 
pectorals,  and  a  spine  and  5  rays  in  its  ventrals.  The  fourth  and 
fifth  dorsal  spines  are  the  longest ;  the  pectorals  overlap  the  anal. 
There  are  71  scales  in  the  lateral  line.  There  is  a  dark  base  to  the 
pectorals,  as  well  as  the  axillary  spot,  and  the  body  is  spotted  with 
blue.  In  length  this  rather  rare  species  measures  about  12  inches. 
It  has  never  been  observed  in  shoals. 

The  Axillary  Bream  has  12  spines  and  u  or  12  rays  in  the 
dorsal,  3  spines  and  10  rays  in  the  anal,  21  rays  in  the  caudal,  17  in 
the  pectorals,  and  a  spine  and  5  rays  in  the  ventrals.  The  fourth 
and  fifth  dorsal  spines  are  the  highest ;  the  last  2  dorsal  rays  are  in 
a  sheath.  The  third  anal  spine  is  the  longest,  and  the  last  2  rays 
are  in  a  sheath.  The  pectorals  are  two-thirds  as  long  as  the  head, 
and  the  ventrals  three-quarters  as  long  as  the  pectorals.  There  are 
from  68  to  70  rays  in  the  lateral  line.  There  is  a  rosy  tint  on  the 
sides,  and  the  fins  are  of  a  beautiful  pale  rose.  The  length  is  14 
inches.  It  is  not  a  common  species. 

No.  17  is  also  a  rare  species  in  our  waters.  In  its  dorsal  it  has 
12  spines  and  n  or  12  rays,  in  its  anal  3  spines  and  10  rays,  in  its 
caudal  17  rays,  in  its  pectorals  17,  and  in  its  ventrals  a  spine  and 
5  rays.  The  third  spine  in  the  dorsal  and  anal  is  the  longest,  and 
in  both  fins  the  last  2  rays  are  in  a  sheath.  The  pectorals  reach  to 
the  anal  spines.  The  lateral  line  has  from  70  to  72  scales.  The 
length  is  about  13  inches. 

The  Pandora  has  12  spines  and  10  rays  in  its  dorsal,  3  spines 
and  8  or  9  rays  in  its  anal,  17  rays  in  its  caudal,  15  in  its  pectorals, 
and  a  spine  and  5  rays  in  its  ventrals.  The  third  dorsal  is  the 
longest,  the  hindermost  rays  are  not  sheathed ;  the  second  and  third 
anal  spines  are  equal  in  length.  The  lateral  line  has  from  56  to  60 
scales.  In  length  this  fish  reaches  16  inches.  It  is  not  found  in 
shoals,  and  appears  in  our  waters  during  the  summer  months, 
retiring  to  the  deep  sea  for  the  winter. 


Pasrus.     Plate  ii.     SPARID&. 

12.  vulgaris,     COUCH'S  SEA  BREAM.     Colour,  red. 

13.  auratus,     GILT-HEAD.     Colour,  silvery. 

Couch's  Sea  Bream  has  12  spines  and  10  rays  in  its  dorsal,  3 
spines  and  8  rays  in  its  anal,  17  rays  in  its  caudal,  15  in  its  pec- 
torals, and  a  spine  and  5  rays  in  its  ventrals.  In  the  lateral  line  are 
from  53  to  58  scales.  The  lower  jaw  is  the  larger,  the  teeth  in  the 
outer  row  are  conical  and  conspicuous,  and  on  each  side  of  the 
mandible  are  2  large  canines.  This  fish  varies  in  colour,  but  is 


GENERA    AND    SPECIES.  121 

always  red  on  the  back  and  in  front.  There  is  only  one  British 
example,  and  that  measures  20  inches,  but  the  species  is  fairly 
common  in  the  Atlantic  and  Mediterranean. 

The  Gilt-head  has  n  spines  and  13  rays  in  its  dorsal,  3  spines 
and  ii  or  12  rays  in  its  anal,  17  rays  in  its  caudal,  16  in  its  pectorals, 
and  a  spine  and  5  rays  in  its  ventrals.  The  lateral  line  has  from  75 
to  86  scales ;  the  scales  are  marked  with  lines  and  have  irregular 
edges.  The  upper  jaw  is  the  larger;  the  teeth  are  not  prominent. 
There  are  faint  stripes  along  the  body,  a  dark  spot  at  the  base  of 
the  pectoral,  and  a  golden  crescent  between  the  eyes  ;  the  head  is 
greenish  on  the  top.  This  is  a  rare  fish,  some  15  inches  in  length, 
found  in  rocky  localities,  where  it  feeds  mainly  on  crustaceans. 

Pammelas.     Plate  iv.     CARANGID^E. 
26.    peniformis,     RUDDER  FISH.     First  dorsal  of  6  or  7  isolated  spines. 

The  first  dorsal  is  represented  by  6  or  7  free  spines,  the  second 
has  a  spine  and  22  rays,  the  anal  has  3  spines  and  from  26 
to  29  rays,  the  caudal  has  21  rays,  the  pectorals  23  rays,  the  ventrals 
a  spine  and  5  rays.  The  two  first  spines  of  the  anal  are  nearly 
imbedded  in  the  skin,  In  the  lateral  line  there  are  78  scales.  The 
lower  jaw  is  the  longer,  and  the  mouth  reaches  to  the  eye.  The 
teeth  are  in  a  single  row  and  wide  apart.  The  colour  is  purplish  on 
the  back  and  grey  on  the  sides,  the  head  mottled;  the  length  is 
15  inches.  This  fish,  which  is  quite  as  well  known  as  the  Black 
Pilot,  is  a  North  American  species,  of  which  only  one  example  has 
appeared  in  our  seas.  That  was  found  six  miles  off  Penzance  im- 
prisoned in  a  packing  case  of  which  only  one  of  the  boards  of  the 
lid  was  missing,  so  that  the  fish  had  got  in  and  could  not  get  out, 
the  result  being  that  it  drifted  across  the  Atlantic  into  the  British 
list. 

Paralepis.     Plate  xxiv.     SCOPELIDJE. 

1 86    coregonoides,     Colour,  silver  and  lilac,  darker  on  abdomen. 

This  is  a  small  straggler  from  the  Atlantic  and  Mediterranean. 
The  head  and  body  are  long  and  compressed,  the  eyes  large,  the 
cleft  of  the  mouth  very  wide.  The  dorsal  is  short  and  placed  well 
back,  though  there  is  a  small  adipose  fin ;  the  ventrals  are  below  the 
dorsal,  and  the  anal  extends  to  the  tail. 

Pelamys.     Plate  vi.     SCOMBRID&. 

42.    sarda,  BELTED  BONITO.     Two  series    of  bands  are  broad 

and  vertical,  the  other  narrow  and  oblique. 

There  are  two  dorsals,  the  first  with  22  spines,  the  second  with  2 
spines  and  13  or  14  rays,  succeeded  by  8  or  9  finlets ;  the  anal  has  2 
spines  and  13  rays,  behind  which  are  7  finlets ;  the  caudal  has 
26  rays,  the  pectorals  25 ;  the  ventrals  have  a  spine  and  5  rays.  There 
is  a  corslet  extending  beyond  the  pectorals.  The  lateral  line  is  undu- 
lated. The  colour  is  dark  blue  above,  with  broad  vertical  bands 
crossed  by  a  series  of  narrow  bands  that  slope  from  the  back  down- 

I 


122  GENERA    AND    SPECIES. 

wards  and  forwards.  The  second  dorsal  and  anal  are  yellowish,  the 
caudal  and  pectorals  blackish.  In  length  this  fish  reaches  36  inches, 
but  the  few  British  specimens  have  been  smaller.  It  is  a  surface- 
feeder,  migrating  in  shoals,  and  leaping  into  the  air  after  its  prey. 


Perca.     Plate  i.    PERCIDJE. 

i,    fluviatilis,     PERCH.     Body  with  vertical  bands  ;  large  spinous  dorsal. 

The  Perch  has  two  dorsal  fins,  the  first  with  14  or  15  strong 
spines,  the  second  with  one  or  two  very  short  spines  and  13  or  14 
rays ;  in  the  anal  are  2  spines  and  8  or  9  rays,  in  the  caudal  18  rays, 
in  the  pectorals  14,  in  the  ventrals  a  spine  and  5  rays.  In  the 
lateral  line  there  are  from  55  to  60  scales.  There  are  villiform 
teeth  on  the  jaws,  vomer,  and  palatines,  and  none  on  the  tongue. The 
mouth  extends  to  the  middle  of  the  eye  ;  the  gill  cover  has  a  strong, 
flat  spine,  and  the  edges  of  the  opercles  are  serrated.  The  colour 
is  olive  green  above,  with  dark  vertical  bands,  and  the  underparts  are 
yellowish,  tinged  with  pink.  The  first  dorsal  is  grey,  with  one  or  two 
black  spots;  the  eyes  are  a  rich  yellow.  The  Perch  is  5  inches  long 
when  two  years  old,  and  when  old  attains  a  length  of  29  inches. 
Though  occasionally  found  In  brackish  and  even  salt  water,  the 
Perch  is  a  fresh- water  fish,  mainly  found  in  ponds  and  rivers  where 
the  current  is  slow,  keeping,  as  a  rule,  near  the  bank,  and  in  deep 
holes,  but  in  the  breeding  season  betaking  itself  to  shallow  parts 
where  the  stream  runs  fairly  fast.  It  feeds  on  insects,  crustaceans, 
worms,  and  small  fishes,  and  is  best  known  when  under  a  foot  in 
length.  It  breeds  in  its  third  year,  and  in  the  breeding  season 
becomes  very  bright  in  colour,  with  a  good  deal  of  red  about 
the  fins. 


Peristethus.     Plate  viii.    DACTYLOPTERIDJE. 
59.     cataphraclum,     ARMED  GURNARD.     Snout  bifid. 

There  are  two  dorsals ;  the  first  with  7  long  spines,  the  second 
with  a  spine  and  18  or  19  rays.  In  the  anal  there  are  from  18  to  21 
rays,  in  the  caudal  n,  in  the  pectorals  12,  with  2  free  appendages, 
and  in  the  ventrals  a  spine  and  5  rays.  The  spines  of  the  first  dorsal 
extend  some  distance  above  the  membrane.  The  lateral  line  has  29 
or  30  scales;  the  scales  are  large  and  bony;  there  are  three  angular 
scales  at  the  base  of  the  caudal,  and  3  bony  plates  between  the 
throat  and  the  anal  fin.  Along  the  body  are  4  spiny  ridges,  and 
the  body  is  octagonal  in  shape.  The  snout  is  long  and  spiny,  and 
divides  into  two  projections ;  there  are  spines  on  the  gill  covers, 
barbules  along  the  mouth,  and  one  under  the  chin.  In  colour  this 
fish  is  scarlet  above  and  yellow  below,  the  dorsals  and  anal  being 
crimson.  The  few  that  have  been  caught  in  British  waters  have  not 
exceeded  a  foot  in  length,  but  it  grows  to  double  that  size  in  the 
Mediterranean. 


GENERA   AND    SPECIES.  123 

Phycis.     Plate  xvii.     GADIDJE. 

134.     blennoides,     GREATER  FORKBEARD.      Ventrals    represented    by    a 
long,  forked  filament. 

The  first  dorsal  has  9  or  10  rays,  the  second  from  54  to  62,  the  anal 
has  from  54  to  58,  the  caudal  22,  the  pectorals  15,  and  the  ventrals 
only  the  filament  just  mentioned.  The  first  dorsal  is  triangular,  and 
nearly  joins  the  long,  level  second,  which  does  not  quite  join  the 
caudal.  The  lateral  line  has  ji2  scales.  The  colour  is  brownish 
grey,  paler  on  the  sides,  and  whitish  along  the  abdomen ;  the  length 
does  not  exceed  2  feet.  It  is  a  ground  feeder,  living  among  rocks 
in  deep  water. 

Pleuronectes.     Plates  xx.  and  xxi.     PLEURONECTID&. 

157.  platessa,  PLAICE.     With  orange  spots  ;  tubercles  on  head. 

158.  mtcrccephalus,    LEMON    SOLE.     With    dark    spots ;    head  small ; 

skin  slimy. 

159.  cynoglossus,        WITCH.     Unspotted  ;  lateral  line  straight. 

160.  limanda,  DAB.     Lateral    line    curved    over    pectorals ;     no 

tubercles  along  bases  of  fins  or  along  lateral  line. 

161.  flesus,  FLOUNDER.    Tubercles  along  bases  of  fins  and  at 

beginning  of  lateral  line. 

The  Plaice  has  from  66  to  77  rays  in  the  dorsal,  50  to  57  in  the 
anal,  17  or  18  in  the  caudal,  10  or  n  in  the  pectorals,  and  6  in  the 
ventrals.  There  is  a  short  spine  in  front  of  the  anal.  The  eyes  are 
on  the  right  side  ;  the  mouth  is  at  the  end  of  trTe  snout ;  the  teeth 
are  larger  on  the  blind  side;  the  scales  are  small,  cycloid,  and 
imbedded.  There  are  bony  tubercles  on  the  head  behind  the  eyes. 
The  curve  in  the  lateral  line  is  very  slight.  The  lower  jaw  is  the 
longer ;  the  front  teeth  are  broad  and  flat,  and  end  in  straight  edges, 
those  in  the  throat  are  rounded.  The  colour  is  brown,  the  orange 
spots  being  numerous  and  distinct.  In  shape  this  fish  is  oval,  and 
in  length  it  occasionally  reaches  36  inches.  It  feeds  mainly  on 
molluscs,  preferring  those  with  two  shells,  but  it  also  eats  worms 
and  crustaceans,  though  not  many.  It  lives  on  sandy,  muddy  ground, 
in  which  it  can  hide. 

The  Lemon  Sole  is  perhaps  more  definitely  known  as  the  Smear 
Dab,  "  Lemon  Sole  "  being  a  market  term  applied  to  several  fishes. 
It  has  from  85  to  93  rays  in  its  dorsal,  70  to  76  in  its  anal,  15  in  its 
caudal,  10  in  its  pectorals,  and  5  or  6  in  its  ventrals.  The  anal  has 
no  spine  in  front.  The  eyes  are  on  the  right  side,  the  mouth  is  at 
the  end  of  the  snout,  the  teeth  are  larger  on  the  blind  side,  and  are 
conical  and  blunt.  The  mouth  and  head  are  small.  The  lateral  line 
is  very  slightly  curved  over  the  pectorals,  and  has  130  scales.  The 
shape  is  a  long  regular  oval ;  the  colour  a  yellowish  brown,  marbled 
with  round  and  oval  blotches.  In  length  this  fish  reaches  17  inches. 
Its  names  are  many ;  it  is  not  only  the  Smear  Dab,  but  the  Merry 
Sole,  the  Lemon  Dab,  the  Smooth  Dab,  and  the  Sand  Fleuk,  and 
from  Yarmouth,  Lowestoft  and  Grimsby  is  the  chief  species  invoiced 
as  Lemon  Sole. 


J24  GENERA    AND    SPECIES. 

The  Witch  has  from  102  to  115  rays  in  the  dorsal,  86  to  100  in 
the  anal,  18  in  the  caudal,  10  to  12  in  the  pectorals,  and  5  or  6  in  the 
ventrals.  The  eyes  are  on  the  right  side  ;  the  mouth  is  at  the  end 
of  the  snout ;  the  teeth  are  larger  on  the  blind  side.  The  eye  is 
large  ;  the  body  is  long,  oval,  and  thin.  The  bones  of  the  head  are 
pitted  ori  the  blind  side.  In  the  lateral  line  there  are  115  scales;  it 
does  not  curve  over  the  pectorals,  and  it  gives  off  a  dorsal  branch. 
The  scales  are  cycloid  on  the  blind  side,  and  ctenoid  on  the  upper 
side.  In  colour  this  fish  is  plain  pale  brown  above  and  smoky 
white  below.  It  reaches  17  inches  in  length. 

The  Dab  has  from  65  to  78  rays  in  the  dorsal,  50  to  62  in  the 
anal,  14  in  the  caudal,  10  or  n  in  the  pectorals,  6  in  the  ventrals. 
There  is  a  spine  in  front  of  the  anal.  The  eyes  are  on  the  right 
side ;  the  mouth  is  at  the  end  of  the  snout ;  the  teeth  are  lanceolate, 
and  larger  on  the  blind  side.  The  lateral  line  has  86  to  96  scales ; 
it  makes  a  rounded  curve  above  the  pectorals.  The  scales  are  spiny, 
and  the  skin  is  consequently  rough ;  the  ridge  behind  the  eyes  is 
smooth.  The  colour  is  brown,  with  or  without  dark  spots.  The 
extreme  length  is  15  inches.  This  fish  lives  in  sandy  localities  in 
rather  shallow  water  ;  it  feeds  principally  on  crustaceans. 

The  Flounder  has  from  60  to  62  rays  in  the  dorsal,  39  to  45  in 
the  anal,  14  in  the  caudal,  10  in  the  pectorals,  and  6  in  the  ventrals. 
The  dorsal  and  anal  are  highest  in  the  hinder  half,  where  they  rise  to 
an  angle,  instead  of  being  gently  curved  like  those  of  the  foregoing 
species.  There  are  85  scales  in  the  lateral  line.  The  eyes  are  not 
always  on  the  right  side ;  the  mouth  is  at  the  end  of  the  snout ;  the 
teeth  are  conical,  and  larger  on  the  blind  side.  There  is  a  row  of 
spiny  tubercles  along  the  bases  of  the  dorsal  and  ventral,  and  a 
group  of  similar  tubercles  along  the  beginning  of  the  lateral  line.  In 
colour  the  Flounder  is  dark  brown  above  and  white  below  ;  in 
length  it  reaches  9  inches.  It  lives  in  sandy  or  muddy  places  near 
the  coast,  in  estuaries  and  harbours,  and  up  rivers,  even  in  fresh 
water.  It  feeds  on  shrimps  and  other  crustaceans,  on  molluscs, 
fishes,  almost  anything  animal.  For  a  flat  fish  it  is  singularly  active 
and  enterprising,  and  it  can  climb  and  cling  by  means  of  its  ventral 
fins. 


Polyprion.    Plate  i.    PERCIDJE. 
6.    cemium,    STONE  BASS.     Head  ridged  on  top. 

In  the  dorsal  are  n  spines  and  n  or  12  rays,  in  the  anal  3  spines 
and  8  or  9  rays,  in  the  caudal  17  rays,  in  the  pectorals  16  or  17,  in 
the  ventrals  a  spine  and  5  rays.  The  dorsal  spines  form  a  regular 
curve ;  they  are  lower  than  the  rays,  which  give  a  spatulate  shape 
to  the  hind  portion  of  the  fin,  similar  to  that  of  the  anal.  The  ridges 
above  the  eyes  form  a  sort  of  crest ;  there  is  a  prominent  bony  ridge 
on  the  gill  cover;  the  lower  jaw  projects.  The  scales  are  small ; 
there  are  120  in  the  lateral  line.  The  colour  is  greyish  yellow, 
marbled  or  blotched;  the  fins  are  darker.  The  length  reaches 
6  feet.  The  Stone  Bass  is  gregarious,  and  frequents  deep  water 
where  the  bottom  is  rocky ;  it  also  gathers  round  wreckage  and  any 
timber  on  which  there  are  barnacles. 


GENERA   AND    SPECIES. 


125 


Pristiurus.     Plate  xxx.     SCYLLIID^E. 

232.  melanostomus,  BLACK-MOUTHED  DOG-FISH.  Three  rows  of  ob- 
long blotches,  which  are  black,  with  a  narrow 
light  margin. 

The  first  dorsal  is  close  up  behind  the  ventrals,  the  second  dorsal 
close  behind  the  anal ;  the  first  dorsal  is  the  larger ;  the  pectorals 
are  the  largest  fins  ;  the  anal  is  placed  between  the  dorsals,  and  the 
ventrals  are  midway  between  it  and  the  pectorals ;  the  caudal  is 
long,  with  a  row  or  two  of  spines  arranged  like  a  saw  along  its  upper 
edge.  In  colour  this  shark  is  greyish  brown,  blotched  with  black ; 
the  blotches  in  the  fore  part  being  in  rows  and  edged  with  whitish. 
The  few  British  examples  have  been  a  little  over  2  feet  long. 


Raia.     Plates  xxxi.,  xxxii.,  xxxiii.     RAIID&. 
Snout  long — 


238. 
241. 
239- 


batis, 

oxyi'hynchus, 
macrorhynchus, 


240.     alba, 


242.     fullonica, 

Snout  short — 
244.     maculata, 

246.  radiala, 

247.  circular  is, 


245- 


243- 


microcellata, 
clavata, 


SKATE.     Under  surface  brownish. 
LONG-NOSED  SKATE.     Under  surface  grey. 

FLAPPER  SKATE.  Under  surface  white,  with  black 
spots. 

WHITE  SKATE.  Under  surface  white  ;  no  row  of 
spines  round  eye ;  3  rows  of  spines  on  tail,  one 
row  central. 

SHAGREEN  RAY.  Under  surface  white ;  a  row  of 
spines  round  eye  ;  no  central  row  of  spines  on  tail- 


Under  surface  brown,  with  black 


Under    surface    brown,    without 


SPOTTED  RAY. 
spots. 

STARRY  RAY. 
spots. 

CUCKOO  RAY.  Under  surface  white,  generally 
with  a  dark  edging ;  upper  surface  with  a  black 
and  yellow  pater/  on  each  side  of  median  line. 

PAINTED  RAY.  Under  surface  white  ;  spines  con- 
fined to  median  line. 

THORNBACK.  Under  surface  white  ;  spines  not 
confined  to  median  line. 


The  Skate  has  2  dorsal  fins  on  the  tail  which  are  fairly  large  and 
nearly  equal  in  size.  The  skin  is  smooth ;  but  there  is  a  row  of 
spines  down  the  middle  of  the  tail,  with  generally  a  row  on  each 
side.  The  males  have  a  patch  of  spines  on  each  wing,  where  the 
females  frequently  have  a  certain  roughness  of  the  skin.  The  snout 
is  longer  in  the  females  than  in  the  males  and  the  eye  is  smaller.  The 
edge  of  the  disk  is  undulated  in  front  and  rounded  behind.  The 
tail  is  not  so  long  as  the  body.  The  colour  is  brownish  or  greyish 
above,  brownish  below  ;  the  length  seems  to  be  at  least  7  feet.  The 
Skate,  like  all  the  rays,  is  confined  to  soft  sandy  or  muddy  bottoms, 
at  comparatively  moderate  depths.  None  of  the  family  has  been 


126  GENERA   AND    SPECIES. 

found  at  a  greater  depth  than  500  fathoms.  In  the  wholesale  fish 
trade  the  skate  is  grouped  with  the  other  rays  and  sundries  as 
"  Roker." 

The  Long-nosed  Skate  has  the  first  dorsal  larger  than  the  other, 
with  no  spine  between  them.  The  disk  is  concave  in  front  and 
almost  straight  behind  ;  the  snout  is  very  long  and  pointed.  The 
tail  has  a  row  of  spines  along  each  side,  and  no  middle  row.  In 
colour  this  species  is  greyish  above,  with  spots  and  streaks,  and 
below  it  is  greyish.  It  reaches  3  feet  in  length. 

The  Flapper  Skate  has  the  dorsals  nearly  equal  in  size,  with  a 
spine  between  them.  The  tail  is  half  as  long  as  the  body.  The  disk 
is  concave  in  front,  convex  behind.  The  mouth  is  arched.  There 
are  usually  2  spines  in  front  of  the  eye ;  and  there  are  3  rows  of 
spines  on  the  tail,  the  side  rows  being  incomplete.  In  colour  this 
species  is  brown  above  and  white  below,  the  under  surface  being 
dotted  with  black.  The  length  is  26  inches. 

The  White  Skate  has  the  first  dorsal  larger  than  the  second,  and 
there  is  a  spine  between  them.  There  are  3  rows  of  spines  on  the 
tail,  and  3  large  spines  in  the  middle  of  the  body.  There  are  spines 
on  the  under  surface  of  the  snout,  and  in  the  males  there  is  a  patch 
of  spines  on  each  wing.  The  disk  is  waved  in  front,  convex 
behind,  and  broadest  in  the  hinder  half.  The  colour  above  is 
greyish  or  brownish,  below  it  is  pure  white.  The  length  reaches 
7  feet. 

The  Shagreen  Ray  has  2  dorsals  on  the  tail,  and  a  well-developed 
caudal,  all  three  fins  being  at  equal  distances  and  close  together. 
There  is  no  middle  row  of  spines  on  the  tail,  but  2  or  3  lateral  rows. 
There  are  spines  on  the  snout,  round  the  upper  edge  of  the  eye,  and 
in  the  middle  of  the  back.  The  disk  is  waved  in  front,  slightly 
convex  behind,  and  widest  in  the  front  half.  The  mouth  is  large  ; 
there  are  64  rows  of  teeth  in  the  upper  jaw,  and  56  in  the  lower.  In 
colour  this  species  is  yellowish  brown  above  and  white  below.  In 
length  it  reaches  37  inches. 

The  Spotted  Ray  has  the  two  dorsals  of  equal  size,  with  a  spine 
between  them.  There  is  a  spine  on  each  shoulder,  a  row  down  the 
back,  2  in  front  of  each  eye,  2  near  its  hinder  edge,  a  few  on  the 
snout,  and  the  line  down  the  back  iseontinued  along  the  tail,  with  a 
row  on  each  side  of  it.  The  male  has  a  patch  of  hooked  spines  on 
each  wing.  In  colour,  both  above  and  below,  this  ray  is  brown  with 
black  spots  ;  in  length  it  reaches  45  inches. 

The  Starry  Ray  has  two  dorsals  of  equal  size  and  a  small  caudal, 
all  close  together.  The  disk  is  heart-shaped,  widest  in  the  lower 
half,  the  sides  forming  a  continuous  curve.  It  is  dotted  all  over 
with  large,  curved,  thorny  spines  on  radiating  bases,  the  largest 
being  at  equal  distances  along  the  tail.  In  colour  it  is  sandy  brown 
without  spots ;  in  length  it  reaches  20  inches. 

The  Cuckoo  Ray  has  the  two  dorsals  of  equal  size,  and  without 
an  interspace.  The  caudal  is  very  small.  The  disk  is  heart-shaped, 
widest  in  the  lower  half,  the  sides  forming  a  continuous  curve. 
There  are  many  small  spines.  On  the  back  is  a  diamond-shaped 


GENERA    AND    SPECIES.  127 

patch  of  spines  from  which  runs  a  double  row  to  the  tail,  along 
which  the  two  rows  continue  as  four.  In  colour  the  under  surface 
is  white,  generally  with  a  dark  margin ;  the  upper  surface  is 
brownish  yellow,  and  on  each  wing  is  a  roundish  black  blotch  with 
yellow  spots  and  short  streaks.  In  length  this  species  attains  3 
feet. 

The  Painted  Ray  has  2  dorsals,  equal  in  size,  lobed  in  shape,  and 
rather  wide  apart.  The  disk  is  undulated  in  front,  rounded  at  the 
angle,  and  convex  behind.  There  is  only  one  row  of  spines  down 
the  tail,  and  this  begins  in  the  lower  half  of  the  back.  The  teeth 
are  flattened  in  the  females  and  pointed  in  the  males.  In  colour 
this  species  is  grey  above,  striped  and  blotched  with  white  and 
brown  ;  below  it  is  white.  In  length  it  is  about  33  inches. 

The  Thornback  has  the  2  dorsals  with  one  or  two  spines  between 
them,  and  a  small  caudal  contiguous  to  the  second  dorsal.  There 
are  spines  along  the  back  and  tail,  and  the  surface  generally  is 
spiny  and  tubercular  above,  and  occasionally  so  below.  The  disk  is 
waved  in  front,  concave  behind,  the  greatest  breadth  being  half 
way-  The  mouth  is  curved.  The  colour  is  mottled  brown  with, 
in  some  cases,  a  white  blotch  on  the  wings  ;  the  under  surface  is 
white.  In  length  this  species  runs  to  36  inches;  it  is  found  in 
shallower  water  than  the  others,  and  feeds  voraciously  on  anything 
that  swims. 


Raniceps.     Plate  xviii.    GADIDM. 

141.    raminus,     LESSER  FORKBEARD.     Head  flat   and  fleshy;    barbule 
small ;  first  dorsal  rudimentary. 

The  first  dorsal  is  inconspicuous,  and  has  but  3  rays,  the  second 
has  from  65  to  67  rays,  and  extends  in  a  gentle  curve  almost  to  the 
tail ;  the  anal  has  from  57  to  60  rays,  the  caudal  35,  the  pectorals  20 
to  23,  and  the  ventrals  6.  The  head  is  broad ;  the  mouth  large,  ex- 
tending behind  the  eye  ;  the  body  bulky  in  front,  tapering  to  the 
round  caudal.  In  colour  it  is  purplish  brown  above,  whitish  below, 
the  lips  being  white.  The  le-ngth  is  a  foot  or  less. 

Regalecus.    Plate  xiii.     TRACHYPTERID^E. 

103.     banksii,    RIBBON    FISH.      Front  rays  of  dorsal   forming  a  tall 
crest ;  ventrals  represented  by  a  long  spine. 

The  fore  end  of  the  dorsal  consists  of  some  10  to  15  rays, 
beginning  over  the  eyes  and  highest  in  front,  curving  forwards  and 
upwards,  not  unlike  the  crest  of  a  cockatoo,  the  membrane  extending 
no  further  up  than  the  first  third,  and  continuing  at  the  same  level 
all  along  the  back,  the  number  of  rays  ranging  from  226  to  290 ; 
there  is  no  anal  fin,  and  there  is  no  caudal ;  in  the  small  pectorals 
are  n  rays;  and  each  ventral  is  represented  by  a  spine,  which  is 
about  a  third  as  long  as  the  fish.  The  body  is  long  and  flat,  and 
the  back  and  abdomen  are  very  slightly  curved  ;  it  is  covered  with 
small  deciduous  scales  and  bony  tubercles,  and  there  are  four  ridges 
above  the  lateral  line.  In  colour  it  is  silvery,  with  spots  and  streaks ; 


128  GENERA    AND    SPECIES. 

and  in  length  it  attains  16  feet.  It  is  a  deep-sea  species,  of  which 
there  have  been  only  a  few  British  examples.  From  the  paddle- 
like  tips  of  its  ventral s  it  is  also  known  as  Banks's  Oar-fish  ; 
it  swims  with  lateral  undulations. 


Rhina.     Plate  xxxi.     SQUATINID&. 

237.     sguatina,     MONK  FISH.     Body  flat ;  tail  thick  ;  eyes  wide  apart. 

This  ugly  fish  has  a  broad  flat  body,  with  large  paired  fins.  The 
dorsals  are  equal  in  size,  and  placed  far  back  on  the  tail ;  there  is  no 
anal ;  the  caudal  is  well  developed ;  the  body  tapers  gradually  into 
the  tail,  which  is  much  thicker  than  in  the  rays.  The  eyes  are 
curiously  wide  apart,  and  the  mouth  is  large,  and  has  several  rows 
of  sharp  conical  teeth.  The  colour  varies  with  the  ground  in  which 
the  fish  hides  itself.  It  reaches  8  feet  in  length,  and  preys  on  flat 
fish.  In  appearance  it  somewhat  resembles  a  monk  with  a  cowl 
over  the  head.  Its  other  name  of  Angel-fish  is  derived  from  the 
wing-like  shape  of  its  fins. 


Rhombus.     Plates  xix.  and  xx.     PLEURONECTIDJE. 

151.  maximus,    TURBOT.     With  tubercles  instead  of  scales. 

152.  leevis,          BRILL.     With  scales  and  without  tubercles. 

The  Turbot  has  its  eyes  on  the  left  side.  Its  dorsal  has  from  61 
to  72  rays,  its  anal  45  to  56,  its  caudal  15  or  16,  its  pectorals  have 
ii  or  12,  and  its  ventrals  6.  The  dorsal  begins  between  the  eyes, 
and  is  highest  where  the  body  is  broadest ;  the  anal  begins  midway 
between  the  ventrals  and  pectorals.  The  lateral  line  curves  over 
the  pectoral,  and  then  becomes  straight.  The  body  is  shaped  like  a 
diamond,  and  has  no  scales,  but  blunt,  bony  tubercles.  The  mouth 
is  large  and  placed  at  the  end  of  the  snout ;  the  jaws  and  teeth  are 
alike  on  both  sides.  The  colour  above  is  mottled  and  speckled 
brown,  darker  or  lighter  according  to  the  ground  on  which  the  fish 
lives ;  below  it  is  white.  The  average  length  is  17  inches ;  but 
specimens  measuring  28  inches  have  been  taken.  It  is  broader  in 
proportion  than  the  Brill,  and,  like  it,  feeds  on  other  fishes. 

The  Brill  has  from  63  to  85  rays  in  its  dorsal,  50  to  63  in  its  anal, 
15  to  17  in  its  caudal,  n  or  12  in  'its  pectorals,  and  6  in  its  ventrals. 
Its  eyes  and  colour  are  on  the  left  side.  The  dorsal  begins  in  front 
of  the  upper  eye,  and  the  first  rays  are  fringed.  The  dorsal  and 
anal  are  highest  in  the  hinder  half ;  the  anal  and  ventral  are  not 
attached  to  the  caudal ;  the  pectoral  on  the  blind  side  is  smaller 
than  the  other.  There  are  150  cycloid  scales  in  the  lateral  line, 
which  curves  over  the  pectoral ;  there  are  no  tubercles,  hence  the 
smoothness  recorded  in  its  specific  name.  The  mouth  is  large,  and 
placed  at  the  end  of  the  snout ;  the  jaws  and  teeth  are  alike  on  both 
sides.  In  life  the  colour  is  speckly  brown ;  when  dead  it  is  dark 
and  without  speckles.  The  Brill  is  generally  about  20  inches  long, 
but  has  been  known  to  reach  26.  It  is  longer  than  the  Turbot  in 
proportion  to  its  width,  and,  like  it,  lives  in  rather  shallow  water. 


GENERA    AND    SPECIES.  1 2Q 

Salmo.     Plates  xxv.  and  xx vi.     SALMONID^E. 

Teeth  on  body  of  vomer  in  a  single  series  throughout — 

195.  salar,  SALMON.     Spots  black,  few  and  small.     Lateral  line 

120  to  125. 

200.  levenensis,         LOCH  LEVEN  TROUT.    Spots  black,  many  and  large 

on  head.     Lateral  line  120  to  130. 

202.  orcadcnsis,         GREY    TROUT.     Spots   black   and   red    and    small. 

Lateral  line  115. 

Teeth  on  body  of  vomer  in  one  series  dividing  into  two — 

196.  trutta,  SEA  TROUT.     Sides  silvery. 

198.  eriox,  BULL  TROUT.     Sides  brownish. 
Teeth  on  body  of  vomer  in  a  double  series  throughout — 

197.  albus,  BLUE    POLL.      Head   short,    body   long,    pectorals 

pointed. 

203.  Jerox,  LAKE  TROUT.     Head    long,     snout     long,     caudal 

truncated. 

205.  nigripinnis,      HOG-BACKED  TROUT.  .  Fins     dark,    pectorals    long 

and  black. 

204.  stomachichus,    GILLAROO  TROUT.     Pectorals  13 ;    dorsals  15 ;  fins 

edged  with  white. 

199.  cambricus,        SEWEN.     Pectorals  13  or  14;  dorsals  12  to  14;  dor- 

sal longer  than  high. 

201.  fario,  TROUT.     Pectorals  13  to  15;  dorsals  13  to  15 ;  dorsal 

higher  than  long. 

Teeth  at  head  of  vomer  only ;  teeth  small ;  lower  jaw  feeble — 
211.     colii  COLE'S  CHAR.     Pectorals  not  reaching  dorsal. 

209.  killinensis,       KILLIN  CHAR.     Pectorals  reaching   or   overlapping 

dorsal ;  colour,  dark,  with  light  spots. 

210.  grayi,  GRAY'S  CHAR.      Pectorals   reaching  or  overlapping 

dorsal ;  colour,  light,  with  orange  spots. 

Teeth  at  head  of  vomer  only  ;  teeth  moderate  ;  jaws  equal  in  strength — 

206.  alpinus,  ALPINE  CHAR.     Height  of  body  a  fifth  or  sixth  of 

total  length  ;  height  of  dorsal  three-eighths  or  half 
the  length  of  the  head. 

207.  perisii,  TORGOCH.     Height  of  body  a  fifth  or  sixth  of  total 

length ;    height  of  dorsal  two-thirds  the  length   of 
the  head. 

208.  willughbii,        WINDERMERE  CHAR.     Height  of  body  a  quarter  of 

total  length  ;  dorsal  as  long  as  the  head  without  the 
snout. 

The  Salmon,  like  all  the  genus,  has  an  adipose  dorsal  fin,  which 
we  need  not  again  mention.  The  dorsal  has  13  or  14  rays,  the  anal 
n,  the  caudal  19,  the  pectorals  have  13  or  14  rays,  and  the  ventrals 
9.  The  dorsal  is  rather  shorter  than  it  is  high  ;  the  ventrals  are 
beneath  the  middle  of  the  dorsal ;  the  caudal  is  much  forked  in  the 
young,  and  almost  square  in  the  adult.  The  abdomen  is  more 
curved  than  the  back ;  the  mouth  extends  to  the  middle  of  the  eye, 


130  GENERA   AND    SPECIES. 

or  beyond  it.  The  snout  is  longer  in  the  male  than  in  the  female, 
and  in  the  breeding  season  the  lower  jaw  becomes  hooked,  so  that 
the  mouth  cannot  be  completely  closed.  The  colour  is  a  steel  blue, 
with  crosses  and  round  spots  above  the  lateral  line  and  on  the  upper 
half  of  the  head,  particularly  in  the  female  ;  the  dorsal,  caudal,  and 
pectorals  are  blackish,  the  ventrals  and  anal  are  whitish.  The  male 
is  spotted  and  streaked  with  orange  during  the  breeding  season  ;  the 
young,  known  as  parr,  have  broad,  dark  bands  extending  from  the 
back  down  the  sides.  When  first  hatched,  the  Salmon  is  known  as 
an  alevin  ;  in  a  few  months  the  alevin  becomes  a  parr,  and  the  bands 
become  conspicuous.  In  its  second  or  third  spring  the  parr  marks 
disappear,  and  the  head  and  body  become  silvery,  preparatory  to 
starting  for  the  sea.  In  this  silvery  stage  the  salmon  is  known  as  a 
smolt.  The  smolt  returns  from  the  sea  next  year  as  a  grilse,  having 
grown  surprisingly.  From  its  next  sea  trip  it  returns  as  a  salmon. 
A  kelt  is  a  salmon  that  has  spawned ;  if  a  male,  it  is  often  called  a 
kipper  (from  its  hooked  jaw)  ;  if  a  female,  it  is  known  either  as  a 
kelt  or  a  slat.  A  grilse-kelt  is  a  salmon  that  has  spawned  in  the 
grilse  stage.  The  salmon  is  "  anadromous,"  that  is,  it  lives  both  in 
salt  and  fresh  water.  It  is  as  much  a  fish  of  the  sea  as  it  is  a  fish  of 
the  river.  It  ascends  the  rivers  mainly,  if  not  entirely,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  spawning,  and  in  summer  is  found  close  in  along  the  coast, 
gradually  assembling  at  the  mouths  of  the  streams  it  intends 
entering  when  the  time  comes.  It  would  seem  to  be  the  fact  that, 
whenever  possible,  each  salmon  returns  to  the  river  from  which  it 
first  reached  the  sea.  To  what  part  of  the  sea  they  retire  on  their 
outward  migration  is  at  present  unknown.  Salmon  ova  will  not 
develop  in  sea  water ;  but  that  the  fish  can  be  reared  entirely  in 
fresh  water  has  been  abundantly  proved  by  experiment,  and  is, 
indeed,  obvious  from  the  existence  of  salmon  in  waters  uncon- 
nected with  the  sea.  Nearly  all  the  salmon  that  comes  to  market 
is  caught  in  nets  in  the  lower  reaches  of  the  rivers,  or  even  along 
the  coast  in  the  vicinity  ;  the  number  caught  by  rod  and  line  is  but 
a  small  proportion  of  the  total.  In  Frank  Buckland's  Fish  Museum 
there  is  a  cast  of  a  Tay  salmon  which  weighed  70  Ibs.,  and  is  53 
inches  long;  it  is  apparently  the  largest  about  which  there  can 
be  no  mistake. 

The  other  British  representatives  of  the  genus  Salmo  are  the 
trouts  and  chars,  which  differ  so  little  in  extreme  examples  that  it 
would  seem  there  is  really  only  one  species  of  each.  In  this  list  is 
included  all  between  which  any  definite  distinctions  could  be  dis- 
covered, and  we  leave  them  to  be  ranked  as  species  or  varieties  as 
opinion  may  dictate.  It  is  a  thorny  question,  and  is  merely  men- 
tioned as  accounting  for  the  unusual  order  in  which  it  became 
easiest  to  sort  them  out. 

The  Loch  Leven  Trout  has  from  12  to  14  rays  in  the  dorsal,  from 
10  to  12  in  the  anal,  19  in  the  caudal,  12  to  14  in  the  pectorals,  and 
9  in  the  ventrals.  The  fins  vary  in  shape  and  size.  In  colour  it  is 
dark,  and  rather  green  or  grey  along  the  back,  and  there  are  small 
black  ocellated  spots  on  the  head  and  gill  covers,  and  black  spots 
and  crosses  above  the  lateral  line,  except  in  the  fore  part,  where 
they  extend  down  to  the  pectorals.  This  fish  used  to  be  confined 


GENERA    AND    SPECIES.  13! 

to  Loch  Leven,  but  it  has  been  largely  bred  in  the  fish  farms  and 
widely  distributed  in  the  streams,  where  it  interbreeds  with  the 
common  trout.  In  the  original  strain  its  flesh  is  very  red,  and  it 
has  been  caught  up  to  iSlbs.  in  weight. 

The  Grey  Trout  has  14  rays  in  the  dorsal,  12  in  the  anal,  19  in 
the  caudal,  13  in  the  pectorals,  and  9  in  the  ventrals.  It  has  a 
broad,  strong  maxillary,  and  large  scales  on  the  tail,  and  is  peculiar 
to  Loch  Stenness  in  the  Orkneys.  It  is  hardly  distinguishable  from 
the  Lake  Trout,  except  in  the  number  of  its  pyloric  appendages. 

The  Sea  Trout  is  one  of  the  three  or  four  species  known  as 
Salmon  Trout.  It  has  from  12  to  14  rays  in  its  dorsal,  n  to  13  in  its 
anal,  18  or  19  in  its  caudal,  13  or  14  in  its  pectorals,  and  9  in  its 
ventrals.  The  ventrals  are  generally  under  the  last  third  of  the 
dorsal.  The  lateral  line  has  from  115  to  130  scales.  The  mouth 
extends  beyond  the  eye,  and  the  body  is  rather  long  and  slender. 
In  colour  it  is  bluish  grey,  with  a  purple  gloss  on  the  sides,  and  it  is 
dotted  with  black  spots  and  crosses  over  the  upper  body.  It  ranges 
to  4  feet  in  length. 

The  Bull  Trout,  or  the  chief  of  so-called  Bull  Trout,  for  in  this  case, 
as  in  others,  the  name  is  not  restricted  to  the  same  fish,  has  fin  rays 
the  same  as  those  of  the  Sea  Trout,  and  like  it,  varies  so  much  that 
the  only  external  difference  seems  to  be  in  the  colour  of  the  sides, 
which  are  brownish  instead  of  silvery. 

The  Blue  Poll,  otherwise  the  White  Salmon,  Whitling,  or  Herling 
is  very  long  in  the  body.  It  also  has  a  similar  fin  formula  to  the 
foregoing  (D.  12-14;  A.  11-13  5  c*  18-19;  p-  I3-J4  5  v.  9).  In  colour  it  is 
mainly  silvery,  with  a  few  black  spots. 

The  Lake  Trout  has  14  rays  in  its  dorsal,  10  or  11  in  its  anal, 
19  in  its  caudal,  13  in  its  pectorals,  and  9  in  its  ventrals.  It  feeds 
mainly  on  fish,  hence  it  has  large  fins  and  large  teeth.  Its  head  is 
of  moderate  size,  but  the  snout  is  long,  and  in  the  males  is  hooked 
in  the  breeding  season.  In  colour  it  is  generally  rather  dark  ;  in 
length  it  reaches  31  inches. 

The  Hog-backed  Trout  has  14  rays  in  its  dorsal,  12  in  its  anal, 
19  in  its  caudal,  13  in  its  pectorals,  and  9  in  its  ventrals.  The  head 
is  small,  the  snout  rather  short,  and  the  lower  jaw  has  not  been 
observed  to  bear  a  hook  in  the  breeding  season.  It  has  not  been 
found  over  16  inches  long,  but  that  may  not  be  its  full  size.  It  re- 
sembles No.  203  in  almost  every  respect  that  has  not  been  mentioned, 

The  Gillaroo  Trout  is  found  in  the  Irish  loughs,  and  has  the 
middle  coat  of  its  stomach  thickened,  owing  to  its  feeding  princi- 
pally on  molluscs.  There  are  no  other  distinctions  except  those 
given  above. 

The  Sewen  has  from  12  to  14  rays  in  its  dorsal,  n  to  13  in  its 
anal,  18  or  19  in  its  caudal,  13  or  14  in  its  pectorals,  and  9  in  its 
ventrals.  It  is  rather  long  in  the  body.  The  lower  jaw  does  not 
always  become  hooked  in  the  breeding  season,  when  the  colour, 
which  is  bluish  or  greenish  grey,  becomes  a  sort  of  brownish  orange 
in  the  males.  There  are  always  a  few  black  crosses  above  the  lateral 
line. 


132  GENERA    AND    SPECIES. 

The  Trout  has  from  12  to  15  rays  in  the  dorsal,  10  to  12  in  the 
anal,  19  in  the  caudal,  13  to  15  in  the  pectorals,  and  9  in  the 
ventrals.  The  fins  vary  in  size  and  proportion  according  to  the 
surroundings,  though  in  all  cases  the  dorsal  seems  to  be  higher  than 
it  is  long.  As  a  rule,  the  swifter  the  stream  the  larger  the  fins  and  the 
slenderer  the  body.  The  colour  also  varies,  being  darker  in  deeper 
water;  in  general  it  is  brown,  more  or  less  silvery  below  and  on  the 
sides,  and  it  is  marked  with  dark  spots  all  over  the  upper  part,  with 
red  ones  along  the  lateral  line,  and  close  above  and  below  it,  the 
spots  being  usually  ringed  with  white.  In  length  the  Trout  reaches 
28  inches.  It  goes  to  sea  every  year  when  it  can,  and  is  brightest 
in  colour  when  it  returns.  The  typical  Trout  seems  to  be  able  to 
swim  in  any  clear  running  stream,  no  matter  how  shallow  it  may 
be ;  but  deep  water  is  evidently  sought  by  its  allies,  some  of  whom 
find  it  in  lakes  and  some  in  estuaries  and  the  sea. 

The  Chars  are  even  more  difficult  of  short  description.  They  are 
all  found  in  lakes  formed  directly  by  glacial  action,  or  indirectly  by 
the  deposition  of  glacial  moraines ;  and  they  all  become  red  on  the 
underparts  during  the  breeding  season.  Of  the  six  on  our  list, 
Cole's  Char  has  14  rays  in  the  dorsal,  12  in  the  anal,  19  in  the  caudal, 
13  in  the  pectorals,  and  9  in  the  ventrals.  In  the  lateral  line  are 
from  125  to  128  scales.  The  pectorals  are  short,  and  the  ventrals 
and  anal  are  edged  in  front  with  white. 

The  Killin  Char  has  14  rays  in  the  dorsal,  13  in  the  anal,  19  in 
caudal,  13  in  the  pectorals,  and  9  in  the  ventrals.  The  dorsal, 
pectorals,  and  ventrals  are  the  largest  among  the  chars.  There  are 
135  scales  in  the  lateral  line.  In  colour  this  char  is  dark,  with  a  few 
light  spots  on  the  sides.  In  length  it  is  about  12  inches.  It  is  named 
from  Loch  Killin,  in  Inverness-shire,  to  which  it  is  peculiar. 

Gray's  Char  has  13  or  14  rays  in  the  dorsal,  12  in  the  anal,  21  in 
the  caudal,  13  or  14  in  the  pectorals,  and  9  in  the  ventrals.  The 
dorsal  begins  nearer  -the  snout  than  in  the  other  varieties,  and  the 
scales  are  more  conspicuous.  There  are  from  125  to  140  scales  in 
the  lateral  line. 

The  Alpine  Char  has  from  12  to  14  rays  in  the  dorsal,  n  to  13  in 
the  anal,  19  to  21  in  the  caudal,  12  to  14  in  the  pectorals,  and  9  or 
10  in  the  ventrals.  The  dorsal  begins  midway  between  the  snout 
and  the  caudal.  There  are  from  125  to  145  scales  in  its  lateral  line. 
In  colour  it  has  a  purplish  tinge  above.  Like  all  the  chars  it  is  a 
deep-water  species,  rising  to  the  surface  only  when  the  weather  is 
warm. 

The  Torgoch  has  12  or  13  rays  in  its  dorsal,  n  or  12  in  its  anal, 
21  in  its  caudal,  12  in  its  pectorals,  and  9  in  its  ventrals.  In  the 
lateral  line  are  from  125  to  135  scales.  It  is  purplish  in  colour 
above,  passing  into  yellow  and  red,  and  has  many  red  spots  on  the 
back  and  sides. 

The  Windermere  Char  has  12  or  13  rays  in  the  dorsal,  n  or  12 
in  the  anal,  19  in  the  caudal,  13  or  14  in  the  pectorals,  and  9  or  10 
in  the  ventrals.  There  are  118  to  128  scales  in  the  lateral  line.  The 


GENERA    AND    SPECIES.  133 

base  of  the  pectorals  is  not  overlapped  by  the  gill  covers  ;  the 
nostrils  are  close  in  front  of  the  eye,  the  hinder  being  the  larger,  and 
there  being  no  flap  between  them.  In  colour  this  char  is  green 
above,  and  the  red  underparts  are  minutely  dotted  with  black. 

Schedophilus.     Plate  v.     CORYPH&NIDAL. 

34.     medusophagns,     Head  greenish  yellow ;  body  greenish,  with   dark 
olive  stripes  and  spots  more  or  less  united. 

There  are  3  spines  and  from  45  to  50  rays  in  the  dorsal,  2  spines  and 
from  27  to  29  rays  in  the  anal,  21  in  the  caudal.  18  in  the  pectorals, 
and  a  spine  and  5  rays  in  the  ventrals.  The  scales  are  cycloid  and 
small ;  the  gill  openings  are  large.  This  is  a  Mediterranean  species, 
of  which  only  two  have  been  caught  in  British  waters. 

Sciaena.     Plate  iii     SCI&NID&. 

20.    aquila,     SHADOW  FISH.     Lateral  line  continued  through  the  caudal 
fin. 

The  first  dorsal  has  9  or  10  spines,  the  second  one  spine  and 
from  26  to  29  rays  ;  the  anal  has  2  spines  and  7  rays,  the  caudal  15 
rays,  the  pectorals  have  17,  the  ventrals  a  spine  and  5  rays.  The 
first  dorsal,  of  which  the  third  and  fourth  spines  are  the  longest,  is 
united  at  its  base  to  the  second  dorsal,  the  tip  of  the  pectorals  being 
just  below  the  junction.  In  the  lateral  line  are  from  52  to  55  scales  ; 
it  curves  above  the  pectoral,  and  then  runs  straight  along  to  the 
outer  edge  of  the  tail,  which  is  either  rounded  or  truncated.  The 
scales  are  ctenoid  and  large,  and  in  oblique  rows.  The  mouth  is 
horizontal,  and  extends  beyond  the  middle  of  the  eye  ;  the  stronger 
teeth  are  in  the  upper  jaw;  there  are  9  on  the  vomer,  palatines,  or 
tongue.  In  colour  this  species  is  grey,  darker  on  the  back,  with  a 
grey  blotch  on  the  spiny  gill-covers,  the  caudal  being  grey  and  the 
other  fins  red.  It  ranges  up  to  6  feet  in  length.  It  is  called  the 
Shadow  Fish,  from  its  passing  like  a  shadow  through  the 
water ;  sometimes  it  is  known  as  the  Meagre,  though  it  is 
anything  but  meagre,  being,  on  the  contrary,  particularly  robust, 
active,  and  audacious.  From  it  originated  the  myth  of  the  songs  of 
the  sirens,  for  under  water  it  bellows,  and  buzzes,  and  purrs,  and 
whistles.  It  can  be  heard  20  fathoms  down,  and  its  whereabouts 
thereby  known,  so  that  it  has  been  netted  in  shoals  ;  for  it  is  gre- 
garious, and  rather  sought  after  as  food,  though  not  in  so  much 
esteem  now  as  in  the  days  of  ancient  Rome. 

Scomber.     Plate  vi.    SCOMBRIDJE. 

36.  vernalis,       MACKEREL.     Back  with  bands ;  abdomen  without  spots. 

37.  punctatus,     SPECKLED  MACKEREL.     Back  with  small  spots  or  thin 

streaks  ;  abdomen  without  spots. 

38.  colias,  SPANISH  MACKEREL.      Back   with    bands;     abdomen 

with  spots. 

The  Mackerel  has  from  n  to  14  spines  in  its  first  dorsal,  a  spine 
and  10  or  n  rays  in  the  second  dorsal,  and  behind  it  are  5  finlets. 
The  anal  has  a  spine  and  1 1  rays  ;  before  it  is  an  isolated  spine,  and 


134  GENERA    AND    SPECIES. 

behind  it  are  5  finlets.  In  the  caudal  there  are  19  rays,  in  the 
pectorals  17,  in  the  ventrals  a  spine  and  5  rays.  The  caudal  is 
forked,  and  there  are  two  faint  keels  along  it  on  each  side.  The 
lateral  line  is  nearly  straight;  the  scales  are  small.  The  mouth 
extends  to  the  middle  of  the  eye ;  the  eyes  have  broad,  fleshy,  up- 
right lids.  In  colour  the  Mackerel  is  green,  shot  with  blue,  the 
sides  being  silvery  and  iridescent ;  there  is  a  yellow  patch  behind 
the  eye  ;  the  bands  are  waved  and  vertical,  and  there  is  a  dark 
stripe  below  the  lateral  line.  In  length  it  ranges  from  14  to  16 
inches.  It  is  gregarious  and  a  surface  feeder,  and  comes  into  our 
shallows  from  the  deep  sea  in  pursuit  of  the  fry  of  the  other  gregari- 
ous fishes  on  which  it  mainly  feeds. 

The  Speckled  Mackerel  has  12  spines  in  the  first  dorsal,  and  a 
spine  and  10  rays  in  the  second,  behind  which  are  5  or  6  finlets.  In 
the  anal  there  are  a  spine  and  n  rays,  with  a  separate  spine  in  front, 
and  5  or  6  finlets  behind  ;  in  the  caudal  there  are  19  rays,  in  the 
pectorals  17,  in  the  ventrals  a  spine  and  5  rays.  In  colour  the  only 
difference  is  that  the  back  is  spotted  instead  of  being  banded,  the 
spots  being  numerous,  round,  and  small.  This  fish  is  never  found 
by  itself,  but  arrives  with  the  summer  shoals  of  the  common 
Mackerel,  of  which  it  seems  to  be  a  variety. 

The  Spanish  Mackerel  has  7  spines  in  its  first  dorsal,  a  spine  and 
12  rays  in  its  second  dorsal,  and  behind  this  are  5  or  6  finlets.  In 
the  anal  there  is  a  spine  and  n  rays,  with  a  detached  spine  in  front, 
and  5  or  6  finlets  behind ;  in  the  caudal  there  are  21  rays,  in  the 
pectorals  21,  in  the  ventrals  a  spine  and  5  rays.  The  lateral  line  is 
rather  irregular;  the  scales  near  the  pectorals  form  a  sort  of  corslet. 
The  eye  is  larger  than  in  the  other  species.  The  colour  is  dark  blue 
on  the  back,  with  wavy  bars,  and  a  row  of  dark  spots  from  the  pec- 
torals to  the  caudal ;  the  dark  colour  extends  below  the  lateral  line  ; 
the  sides  and  abdomen  are  speckled  and  spotted.  Finally,  it  differs 
from  the  other  mackerel  in  having  an  air  bladder,  they  having  none. 
It  comes  in  shoals,  but  is  not  very  frequent.  It  reaches  to  about  16 
inches  in  length. 

Scombresox.    Plate  xi.     SCOMBRESOCID&. 

88.    saurus,     SKIPPER.    Jaws  lengthened  into  a  beak ;  finlets  in  front  of 
caudal. 

The  dorsal  has  from  10  to  12  rays,  with  5  or  6  finlets  behind  it ; 
the  anal  has  from  12  to  13  rays,  with  6  or  7  finlets  behind  it.  The 
caudal  has  14  rays,  the  pectorals  12  or  13,  the  ventrals  6.  The  dorsal 
is  near  the  tail,  the  fin  of  which  is  deeply  forked.  A  row  of  keeled 
scales  runs  from  the  gills  to  the  tail.  There  are  no  teeth  except  the 
small  ones  in  the  jaws ;  the  lower  jaw  is  the  longer.  The  back  is  blue, 
the  sides  silvery;  the  dorsal  is  blackish,  the  anal  yellowish.  This  is 
a  near  ally  of  the  Flying-fish.  Migratory  in  shoals,  it  is  found  further 
from  land  than  the  Gar-fish,  and  further  inland  up  rivers  when  it  visits 
the  coast.  It  is  a  surface  swimmer,  frequently  leaping  into  the  air  as 
it  follows  the  Pilchards  on  which  it  preys,  and  at  times  gliding  along 
the  top  of  the  water  by  a  mere  touch  of  the  tips  of  the  pectorals  and 
lower  fins.  It  reaches  18  inches  in  length. 


GENERA    AND    SPECIES.  135 

Scyllium.     Plates  xxix.  and  xxx.     SCYLLIID&. 

230.  canicula,    ROUGH    HOUND.      Anal     ends    under    space    between 

dorsals. 

231.  catulus,      NURSE    HOUND.     Anal  ends  under  middle  of  second 

dorsal. 

The  Rough  Hound  has  the  first  dorsal  in  the  middle  of  the  back, 
nearly  half  way  between  the  ventrals  and  anal.  The  ventrals  are 
wide  apart ;  in  the  male  their  inner  edges  are  united  nearly  all  along, 
but  in  the  female  for  only  two-thirds  of  their  length.  The  nostrils 
are  nearer  to  mouth  than  to  end  of  snout ;  the  nasal  flap  is  single. 
The  colour  is  greyish  or  yellowish  red,  with  blotches  and  spots  ;  the 
length  reaches  42  inches.  This  shark  feeds  on  fishes  and  molluscs, 
and  keeps  mainly  to  the  bottom  in  sandy  ground.  When  caught  it 
turns  its  tail  in  a  half  coil  round  the  object  that  holds  it,  and  uses 
its  rough  skin  as  a  rasp.  Its  egg-case  is  rather  slender,  with 
slender  arms  and  filaments. 

The  Nurse  Hound  has  the  dorsal  farther  back;  the  ventrals  are 
close  together,  and  the  nasal  flap  is  double.  The  colour  is  a  brownish 
or  reddish  grey,  with  large  spots  arid  blotches  ;  the  length  reaches  5 
feet.  This  is  a  deeper-water  species  than  the  other,  and  more  frequent 
in  rocky  ground.  Its  egg-case  is  stouter,  with  broader,  stronger 
arms  and  filaments. 

Sebastes.     Plate  iii.     SCORP&NIDJE 

19.     norvegicus,    BERGYLT.     Body  and  fins  bright  orange  red. 

The  dorsal  is  in  two  distinctly  curved  portions,  the  first  with  15 
spines,  the  second  with  15  rays.  In  the  anal  are  three  spines  and  8 
or  9  rays,  in  the  caudal  13  rays,  in  the  pectorals  20,  in  the  ventrals 
one  spine  and  5  rays.  The  caudal  is  cut  square.  The  gill  covers 
are  spiny ;  the  lower  jaw  is  the  longer ;  the  mouth  extends  to  the 
middle  of  the  eye,  or  beyond.  This  is  a  rare  fish,  reaching  4  feet  in 
length,  frequenting  rocky  ground  in  deep  water,  feeding  on  crusta- 
ceans and  flat  fishes.  It  is  stated  to  be  viviparous.  Its  colour 
makes  it  easy  of  identification. 

Selache.     Plate  xxix.     LAMNID&. 

221.     maxima,    BASKING  SHARK.     Snout  porous  and  projecting  like  a 
beak. 

This  large  shark  is  of  large  girth.  The  second  dorsal  is  small,  but 
larger  than  the  anal,  the  first  dorsal  is  halfway  between  the  pectorals 
and  ventrals.  There  is  a  pit  at  the  base  of  the  caudal,  and  the  tail 
is  keeled.  The  teeth  are  in  4  or  6  rows,  small  and  conical,  and  have 
smooth  edges.  The  gill-slits  are  long  and  of  almost  equal  length.  In 
colour  it  is  dark  brown  or  blue  above,  lighter  below,  the  long  snout, 
which  begins  behind  the  eye,  and  projects  for  some  distance  beyond 
the  upper  lip,  being  of  a  red  tint  on  its  upper  half.  The  specimen  at 
South  Kensington  is  29  feet  10  inches  long.  It  is  said  to  feed  on 
seaweed  and  other  soft  stuff,  including  eggs ;  in  fact  it  is  mainly  a 
vegetarian  shark,  and  looks  as  though  it  did  well  on  its  diet. 


136  GENERA    AND    SPECIES. 

Serranus.     Plate  i.     PERCID&. 

4.  cabrilla,     COMBER.     Orange,  with  several  bluish  stripes. 

5.  gigas,        DUSKY  PERCH.     Reddish  brown,  without  stripes. 

The  Comber  has  10  spines  and  14  rays  in  its  dorsal,  3  spines  and 
7  or  8  rays  in  its  anal,  15  rays  in  its  caudal,  15  in  its  pectorals,  and  a 
spine  and  5  rays  in  its  ventrals.  The  dorsal  rays  are  higher  than  the 
spines,  the  first  being  about  double  as  high  as  the  tenth  spine.  In  the 
lateral  line  there  are  from  80  to  go  scales.  The  hinder  edge  of  the 
prasoperculum  is  serrated  ;  the  male  has  2  spines  on  the  gill  cover, 
the  female  only  one.  The  mouth  extends  to  the  middle  of  the  eye, 
the  tongue  is  small  and  free,  the  teeth  in  both  jaws  are  large  in  the 
outer  row,  and  the  lower  jaw  is  the  longer.  In  colour  this  sea  perch 
is  an  orange  yellow,  striped  longitudinally  with  more  or  less  greyish- 
blue,  the  fins  being  yellowish,  some  of  them  having  blue  spots.  In 
length  it  reaches  about  a  foot.  It  feeds  on  fishes  and  other  animals 
of  the  sea,  is  never  found  in  shoals,  and  frequents  rocky  ground  in 
deep  water. 

The  Dusky  Perch  has  n  spines  and  15  or  16  rays  in  its  dorsal,  3 
spines  and  8  or  9  rays  in  its  anal,  17  rays  in  its  caudal,  16  or  17  rays 
in  its  pectorals,  and  a  spine  and  5  rays  in  its  ventrals.  The  spinous 
part  of  the  dorsal  is  fairly  level,  and  the  rayed  portion  is  not  much 
higher,  and  only  slightly  curved.  In  the  lateral  line  there  are  from 
120  to  130  scales.  The  prasoperculum  is  serrated.  The  lower  jaw  is 
the  longer.  In  colour  this  fish  is  reddish  brown,  with  no  stripes 
beyond  two  faint  streaks  on  the  gill-covers.  It  reaches  a  yard  or 
more  in  length,  and  is  very  rare  in  British  waters. 

Siphonostoma.     Plate  xv.     SYNGNATHID&. 

114.  typhle,  BROAD-NOSED  PIPE-FISH.  Body  ridged,  upper  caudal 
ridge  continuous  with  lateral  ridge,  dorsal  ridge  extending 
only  to  dorsal  fin. 

In  the  dorsal  there  are  from  38  to  46  rays ;  the  anal  is  absent ;  in  the 
caudal  there  are  9  or  10  rays,  in  the  pectorals  15,  in  the  ventrals  4. 
The  dorsal  begins  about  half  way;  it  stands  on  10  or  12  rings,  and 
is  longer  than  the  snout.  The  snout  is  compressed,  and  the  mouth 
almost  upright.  The  lateral  line  joins  the  upper  caudal  ridge. 
From  the  head  to  the  vent  there  are  from  17  to  19  plates,  thence  to 
the  tail  there  are  from  36  to  42.  The  male  is  broader  in  the  abdomen 
than  the  female,  owing  to  the  pouch  in  which  the  ova  are  carried. 
In  colour  this  Pipe-fish  is  dark  brown,  with  light  spots  on  the  under 
parts.  In  length  it  is  about  13  inches. 

Solea.    Plate  xxi.    PLEURONECTID&. 

162.  vulgaris,     SOLE.     Nostrils  alike.      Pectorals  on  both   sides,   7  ; 

caudal  16.     Brown,  with  blotches  in  rows. 

163.  lascaris,      SAND    SOLE.     Nostrils   not   alike.     Pectorals  on   both 

sides,  10;  caudal  15.     Orange,  dotted  and  blotched. 

164.  variegata,   THICKBACK.     Pectorals  4  or  5  on  one  side,  2  or  3  on 

the  other ;    caudal  15.     Chestnut  brown,  with  5  dark 
bands. 


GENERA   AND    SPECIES.  137 

165.  lutea,  SOLENETTE.  Pectorals  5  on  one  side,  3  on  the  other  ; 
caudal  19.  Stone  grey,  with  blotches ;  fins  wkh 
occasional  black  rays. 

This  genus  has  the  eyes  on  the  right-hand  side.  The  Sole  has 
from  73  to  97  rays  in  the  dorsal,  61  to  74  in  the  anal,  16  in  the 
caudal,  7  in  the  pectorals,  and  5  or  6  in  the  ventrals.  The  dorsal 
begins  on  the  snout  in  front  of  the  eyes ;  the  pectoral  on  the  upper 
side  has  a  black  spot  at  its  outer  end.  The  snout  projects;  the 
front  edge  of  the  head  is  curved ;  the  jaws  are  larger  on  the  lower 
side  ;  the  teeth  are  small,  and  only  present  on  the  blind  side.  There 
are  160  scales  in  the  lateral  line,  which  is  straight.  The  colour  is 
brown,  with  rows  of  black  blotches  along  the  bases  of  the  fins  and 
the  middle  of  the  dark  side.  The  length  may  be  as  much  as  18 
inches,  but  few  large  soles  are  taken  in  these  days.  The  Sole  is  a 
night-feeding  fish,  frequenting  sandy  or  gravelly  ground  in  compara- 
tively shallow  water,  feeding  mostly  on  molluscs,  crustaceans,  and 
worms. 

The  Sand  Sole,  otherwise  the  French  Sole,  and  perhaps  the 
original  Lemon  Sole,  has  from  70  to  89  rays  in  its  dorsal,  67  to  71  in 
its  anal,  15  in  its  caudal,  10  in  its  pectorals,  and  5  in  its  ventrals. 
The  dorsal  begins  at  the  end  of  the  snout.  The  dorsal  and  anal  are 
joined  by  a  membrane  to  the  caudal.  The  nostril  on  the  lower  side 
is  enlarged  and  fringed  on  its  outer  edge.  There  are  from  130  to 
140  scales  in  the  lateral  line.  The  scales  are  larger  than  in  the 
common  sole.  The  colour  is  yellowish  brown,  with  black  spots  and 
gold  specks.  The  length  does  not  exceed  14  inches.  It  frequents 
sandy  ground  in  rather  deeper  water  than  No.  162,  from  which  it 
differs  in  the  points  mentioned,  and  also  in  having  smaller  eyes,  the 
upper  eye  nearer  the  snout,  and  the  mouth  further  under. 

Ths  Thickback  has  from  65  to  74  rays  in  the  dorsal,  55  to  58 
in  the  anal,  and  15  in  the  caudal ;  in  the  right  pectoral  there  are 
4  or  5  rays,  in  the  left  only  2  or  3,  and  in  the  ventrals  there  are  5. 
The  dorsal  and  anal  do  not  reach  the  base  of  the  tail.  The  pec- 
torals are  very  small,  the  left  being  almost  rudimentary.  The 
mouth  is  nearer  the  snout  than  in  Nos.  162  and  163,  and  is  straighter. 
The  lateral  line  has  from  85  to  90  scales,  and  is  nearly  straight. 
The  colour  is  reddish,  with  brown  bands  across,  which  become 
black  as  they  run  on  to  the  fins.  In  length  this  species  does  not 
exceed  9  inches. 

The  Solenette  is  never  more  than  5  inches  long.  It  has  from  65 
to  73  rays  in  its  dorsal,  50  to  63  in  its  anal,  19  in  its  caudal,  5  in  its 
right  pectoral,  3  in  its  left  pectoral,  and  5  in  its  ventrals.  The  dorsal 
and  anal  have  a  few  scattered  black  rays.  The  scales  are  rather 
large  ;  there  are  72  in  the  lateral  line.  In  colour  it  is  generally  pale 
greyish  yellow,  with  rounded  spots.  It  is  not  used  as  food. 

Syngnathus.     Plate  xv.     SYNGNATHID& 

115.    acus,    GREATER  PIPE-FISH.    Caudal  ridge  continuous  with  dorsal 
ridge. 

The  dorsal  stands  upon  10  or  1 1  rings,  about  halfway  along  the 
back.  It  has  from  40  to  44  rays ;  there  is  no  anal  fin  ;  the  caudal 
has  from  3  to  10  rays,  the  pectorals  have  13,  and  the  ventrals  3. 

K 


138  GENERA    AND    SPECIES. 

There  is  a  ridge  along  the  top  of  the  snout  which  is  joined  by  another 
over  the  eye.  The  osseous  plates  number  19  or  20  to  the  vent,  and 
from  44  to  46  beyond.  In  the  males  the  dorsal  is  higher  and  the 
abdomen  broader  than  in  the  females.  There  are  lines  of  spots  on 
the  dorsal,  and  a  black  spot  at  the  base  of  the  first  ray.  The  colour 
is  brownish,  with  dark  broad  bands ;  the  length  reaches  16  inches. 
This  pipe-fish  is  generally  found  in  deep  water,  but  has  been  taken 
in  shallows  among  rocks  and  weeds.  It  can  swim  in  almost  any 
position,  and  occasionally  skims  over  the  water  in  duck-and-drake 
fashion. 

Tetrodon.     Plate  xv.    DIODONTID&. 

122.     lagocephalus,     GLOBE    FISH.       Gullet   dilatable  into    a    spherical 
shape. 

The  Globe  Fish  has  from  12  to  14  rays  in  its  dorsal,  12  to  14  in  its 
anal,  12  in  its  caudal,  14  or  15  in  its  pectorals,  and  it  has  no  ventrals. 
The  dorsal  and  anal  are  placed  more  than  halfway  towards  the  tail. 
The  eyes  are  well  back,  the  nostrils  distinct,  the  beak  divided  by  a 
suture.  In  colour  it  is  blue  above,  the  underparts  being  silvery  and 
armed  with  fixed  spines,  each  having  four  roots.  It  reaches  about 
22  inches  in  length. 


Thymallus.     Plate  xxvii.     SALMONIDSE 

218.     vulgaris,     GRAYLING.     Scales  in  regular  rows;    dorsal  long   and 
high. 

The  Grayling  has  from  20  to  24  rays  in  the  first  dorsal,  the  second 
dorsal  is  adipose,  there  are  from  n  to  14  rays  in  the  anal,  21  in  the 
caudal,  15  or  16  in  the  pectorals,  and  10  or  n  in  the  ventrals.  The 
ventrals  are  under  the  middle  of  the  dorsal,  and  small,  the  anal  is 
under  the  adipose  dorsal.  The  scales  in  the  lateral  line  number 
from  75  to  85.  The  back  is  more  curved  than  the  abdomen ;  the 
shape  is  slender  and  graceful;  the  upper  jaw  is  the  longer.  The 
head  is  bluish,  the  back  golden,  with  parallel  grey  lines  along  the 
side  ;  the  fins  are  banded  and  spotted  with  purple.  In  length  the 
Grayling  reaches  about  16  inches.  It  is  generally  gregarious  and 
local  in  occurrence,  confined  to  clear  streams  running  over  sand  and 
gravel,  with  many  pools  and  shallows.  It  swims  deeper  than  the 
Trout,  and  feeds  mainly  on  molluscs  and  crustaceans. 


Thynnus.     Plate  vi.     SCOMBRIDJS. 

41.    pelamys,     BONITO.     Parallel  stripes  along  the  sides  following  the 
curve  of  the  abdomen. 

The  first  dorsal  has  from  13  to  15  spines,  the  second  a  spine  and 
12  or  13  rays,  behind  it  are  8  finlets ;  the  anal  has  2  spines  and  12 
rays,  behind  it  are  7  finlets;  the  caudal  has  35  rays,  the  pec- 
torals have  27  rays,  the  ventrals  a  spine  and  5  rays.  Both  dorsals 
are  high,  and  pointed  in  front,  the  first  spine  of  the  first  dorsal  being 
twice  the  length  of  the  highest  ray  of  the  second  dorsal ;  the  pectoral 
is  in  a  groove.  The  lateral  line  is  curved  throughout ;  there  is  a 


GENERA    AND    SPECIES.  139 

corslet,  and  no  other  scales.  The  lower  jaw  projects,  and  on  the 
jaws  is  a  single  row  of  teeth.  In  colour  the  Bonito  is  bluish  above, 
silvery  below,  and  is  striped  as  above  stated,  the  stripes  being  dark- 
blue .  The  few  British  examples  have  been  from  2  to  nearly  3 
feet  long. 

Tinea.     Plate  xxiii.     CYPRINID^E. 

179.     vulgaris,     TENCH.     Scales  small ;  skin  thick  and  slimy. 

The  Tench  has  12  or  13  rays  in  its  dorsal,  9  or  10  in  its  anal,  17 
in  its  caudal,  17  in  its  pectorals,  and  9  or  10  in  its  ventrals.  The 
pectorals,  ventrals,  anal,  and  caudal  are  at  equal  intervals ;  the  dorsal 
is  a  little  behind  the  ventrals,  and  half-way  between  the  snout  and 
the  base  of  the  caudal.  The  lateral  line  curves  downwards  from 
above  the  gill-cover,  and  has  from  go  to  115  scales.  The  scales  are 
small  and  embedded  in  the  skin,  which  is  covered  with  mucus.  The 
fins  are  blackish,  the  body  is  generally  blackish  green  or  grey,  but  in 
one  variety  it  is  yellow,  and  in  another  it  is  spotted.  The  length, 
as  a  rule,  reaches  18  inches,  but  one  of  33  inches  is  on  record.  The 
Tench  feeds  on  weeds,  worms,  and  insects,  and  thrives  where 
weeds  are  plentiful,  preferably  in  still  v/aters  and  sluggish  rivers  that 
are  not  particularly  clean.  As  a  rule  it  swims  near  the  bottom,  but 
in  summer  it  rises  to  the  surface  and  shelters  among  the  weeds.  In 
winter  it  buries  itself  in  the  mud  like  the  Carp 

Torpedo.     Plate  xxxiii.     TORPEDINID&. 

248.  nobiliana,       TORPEDO.     Greyish,  with  or  without  a  few  blotches. 

249.  mannomta,     MARBLED  TORPEDO.     Mottled  or  spotted 

The  Torpedo  has  the  front  edge  of  the  disk  straight,  and  the 
wings  almost  semi-circular.  The  two  dorsals  are  close  together,  the 
first  being  as  large  again  as  the  second  ;  they  are  placed  above  the 
tip  of  the  ventrals,  and  not  on  the  tail ;  the  caudal  is  almost  as  large 
as  the  ventrals  put  together.  The  skin  is  smooth,  there  being  neither 
spines  nor  tubercles.  The  mouth  is  arched.  The  colour  is  gener- 
ally plain  purplish  grey,  but  it  varies,  and  occasionally  is  faintly 
blotched.  The  length  reaches  4  feet.  It  is  a  coast  fish,  living  in 
sandy  and  muddy  localities.  The  electrical  organ  is  between  the 
head  and  the  pectorals. 

The  Marbled  Torpedo  seems  to  be  only  a  variety  of  smaller  size 
and  with  rather  larger  veutrals.  The  few  British  examples  have  not 
exceeded  10  inches  in  length.  It  varies  much  in  colour,  but  is 
invariably  mottled  or  marbled  and  spotted. 

Trachinus.     Plate  vii.     TRACHINID&. 

45.  draco,       GREATER  WEEVER.     Two  spines  over  the  eye. 

46.  vipera,     VIPER  WEEVER.     No  spines  over  the  eye. 

The  Greater  Weever,  otherwise  the  Spitalfields  Weaver,  from, 
its  being  sold  to  the  foreign  Jews  in  Whitechapel,  has  5  or  6  spines- 
in  its  first  dorsal,  29  to  31  rays  in  its  second  dorsal,  31  in  its  anal,  12- 
in  its  caudal,  16  in  its  pectorals,  and  a  spine  and  5  rays  in  its  ven- 


140  GENERA    AND    SPECIES. 

trals.  The  first  dorsal  is  not  unlike  a  quadrant  in  shape,  the  second 
is  lower  and  parallel  to  the  back  for  the  greater  part  of  its  length  ; 
both  dorsals  are  in  a  groove ;  the  anal  is  lorrger  than  the  second 
dorsal.  The  lateral  line  runs  along  the  upper  half  of  the  body  and 
has  78  scales  ;  the  scales  are  cycloid  and  in  oblique  lines.  The  mouth 
is  oblique,  and  extends  to  behind  the  eye<  In  shape  the  body  is 
long  and  slender.  There  are  2  small  spines  over  the  eye,  4  on  the 
praeoperculum,  and  a  long  one  on  the  operculum,  with  loose  skin 
extending  nearly  to  its  point.  The  colour  is  greyish  or  yellowish, 
the  head  being  spotted  or  streaked.  The  length  is  as  much  as  17 
inches.  It  is  found  on  sandy  ground,  occasionally  between  the  tide 
marks,  and  can  give  a  painful  wound  with  its  long  spine,  which  it 
seems  always  anxious  to  use. 

The  Viper  Weever  is  even  more  active  and  venomous.  It  has 
6  spines  in  its  first  dorsal,  and  from  21  to  24  rays  in  the  second  ;  in 
the  anal  it  has  25  or  26  rays,  in  the  caudal  12,  in  the  pectorals  14,  in 
the  ventrals  a  spine  and  5  rays.  The  fins  are  similar  in  shape  to 
those  of  the  larger  species.  The  mouth  extends  beyond  the  eye, 
and  there  is  a  row  of  papillae  along  the  upper  edge  of  the  lower  lip. 
There  are  no  spines  over  the  eye,  but  there  are  two  below  the  angle 
of  the  praeoperculum,  and  a  long,  straight  spine  on  the  operculum.  The 
colour  is  brownish  with  grey  streaks  along  the  back  and  yellowish 
underparts  ;  the  first  dorsal  is  black,  with  thin  white  lines.  In  length 
it  does  not  exceed  6  inches.  Like  the  other,  it  feeds  on  small  fry 
and  almost  anything  animal,  and  it  is  of  the  same  habits  and 
disposition. 


Trachypterus.    Plate  xiii.    TRACHYPTERID&. 

102.    arcticus,     DEAL-FISH.      Caudal   fin  at  a  sharp  angle   as    if  dis- 
located. 

The  Deal-fish  is  known  by  its  tail,  which  looks  as  though  it  had 
been  broken  off  and  stuck  on  again  in  the  wrong  position.  In  the 
long  dorsal  there  are  from  158  to  172  rays ;  there  is  no  anal ;  the 
caudal  has  7  or  8  rays;  the  pectorals  have  from  5  to  n,  and  the 
ventrals  6.  The  lateral  line  consists  of  spiny,  oval  plates,  increasing 
in  size  towards  the  tail ;  it  is  nearly  straight.  The  back  and  abdo- 
men are  almost  parallel,  curving  towards  each  other  just  at  the  ends, 
and  in  shape  the  fish  resembles  the  deal  board  from  which  it 
received  its  name.  It  is  silvery  in  colour,  has  red  fins,  swims  on  the 
slant,  is  7  feet  or  more  in  length,  and  is  an  Arctic  species  of  rare 
occurrence  in  British  waters. 


Trichiurus.     Plate  iii.     TRICH1 U  RID  IE. 

22.    Upturns,     HAIRTAIL.     No  fins  beyond  a  long   dorsal   and  small 
pectorals. 

The  Hairtail  has  135  or  136  rays  in  its  dorsal  fin,  and  n  in  its 
pectorals.  It  is  a  long,  thin,  ribbon-like  fish,  tapering  to  a  point, 
the  dorsal  beginning  over  the  gill-covers  and  extending  to  the  very 
tip  of  the  finless  tail.  The  lateral  line  runs  along  the  lower  third  of 


GENERA   AND    SPECIES.  141 

the  body ;  and  there  are  no  scales.  In  colour  this  rare  fish  is 
silvery,  and  in  length  it  does  not  exceed  30  inches.  It  straggles  here 
from  the  tropics,  and  made  its  appearance  on  the  British  list  by 
being  left  by  the  tide  on  a  sandy  shore. 

Trigla.     Plates  vii.  and  viii.     COTTID&. 

52.  lineatu,          STREAKED     GURNARD.       Lateral    ridges     that     slope 

forwards   from  back   to    abdomen ;    lateral  line  with 
serrated  spines.     Colour  red  above,  white  below. 

53.  cuculus,          RED  GURNARD.     Spiny  ridge  along  base  of  dorsals  ; 

lateral   line   with   spineless  plates.     Colour  red  ;   fins 
red. 

54.  hirundo,         SAPPHIRINE  GURNARD.     Spines  along  base  of  dorsals  ; 

lateral  line  unarmed.     Colour  brownish  red  ;  pectorals 
large  and  blue. 

55.  gnrnardus,     GREY  GURNARD.     Colour  grey   with  or  without  white 

markings. 

56.  l>ra,  PIPER.     Two  flat   triangular   plates    over    the    snout, 

giving  it  the  appearance  of  being  divided. 

57.  obscura,         LANTHORN  GURNARD.     Broad  silvery  stripe  along  the 

side  marking  oft"  the  red  above  from  the  white  below. 

The  Streaked  Gurnard  has  from  9  to  n  spines  in  the  first  dorsal, 
16  or  17  rays  in  the  second,  16  rays  in  the  anal,  12  in  the  caudal,  10 
or  ii  in  the  pectorals,  and  a  spine  and  5  rays  in  the  ventrals.  At 
the  base  of  the  pectorals  it  has  three  filaments,  like  the  other  species 
of  the  genus.  The  lateral  line  has  66  toothed  spines,  being  half  the 
number  of  the  row  of  scales  above  it.  The  scales  along  the  bases  of 
the  dorsals  are  keeled.  Down  each  side  is  a  series  of  narrow,  parallel 
ridges  that  slope  slightly  forwards.  The  sides  are  banded  with  red  ; 
the  dorsals  and  caudal  are  reddish  brown,  spotted  and  blotched,  and 
have  red  edges ;  the  pectorals  are  red,  green,  and  blue.  The  length 
reaches  14  inches.  This  fish  lives  near  the  ground,  and  feeds  on  fish 
and  crustaceans.  Like  our  other  gurnards  it  erects  its  dorsals  when 
touched,  and  grunts.  *'  These  sounds,"  says  Cunningham,  "  are  pro- 
duced in  the  air-bladder.  That  organ  is  entirely  closed,  and  its  walls 
contain  well- developed  muscles,  which,  by  their  contraction,  drive 
the  air  from  one  part  of  the  bladder  to  another.  The  air-bladder 
consists  of  three  portions,  a  larger  central  chamber  and  a  smaller 
chamber  on  each  side,  communicating  with  the  central  chamber  at 
the  front  end.  At  the  hinder  portion  of  the  central  chamber  there 
is  a  partition  running  in  a  slanting  direction  across  it,  and  in  the 
middle  of  this  partition  there  is  a  round  opening.  The  air  is  pressed 
to  and  fro  through  this  opening,  and  so  the  sound  is  produced." 

The  Red  Gurnard  has  8  or  9  spines  in  the  first  dorsal,  18  rays 
in  the  second,  16  or  17  rays  in  the  anal,  13  in  the  caudal,  10  in  the 
pectorals,  and  a  spine  and  5  rays  in  the  ventrals.  In  the  lateral 
line  are  from  73  to  76  plates,  which  are  higher  than  they  are  wide, 
and  have  no  spines.  This  fish  is  rose-coloured,  the  three  filaments 
being  red  with  a  yellow  tinge.  In  length  it  reaches  18  inches.  In 
habits  it  resembles  the  Streaked  Gurnard,  and  makes  a  similar  noise 
in  a  similar  way. 


142  GEXERA    AND    SPECIES 

The  Sapphirine  Gurnard  has  9  spines  in  the  first  dorsal,  16  or 
17  rays  in  the  second,  15  or  16  rays  in  the  anal,  12  in  the  caudal,  10 
in  the  pectorals,  and  a  spine  and  5  rays  in  the  ventrals.  The  lateral 
line  is  without  spines,  but  along  the  base  of  the  dorsals  is  a  row  of 
about  25  spiny  plates.  In  colour  it  is  a  brownish  red,  the  pectorals 
having  a  good  deal  of  blue  in  them,  the  dorsal  being  reddish,  the 
caudal  purplish,  and  the  filaments  red.  It  is  24  inches  long,  and 
lives  near  the  bottom  in  water  of  moderate  depth,  sometimes  rising 
to  the  surface.  It  grunts  like  the  other  gurnards. 

The  Grey  Gurnard  has  8  or  9  spines  in  the  first  dorsal,  19  rays 
in  the  second,  18  or  19  rays  in  the  anal,  15  in  the  caudal,  10  in  the 
pectorals,  and  a  spine  and  5  rays  in  the  ventrals.  In  the  lateral  line 
are  from  73  to  76  scales,  armed  with  short  spines.  In  colour  it  is 
slaty  grey,  generally  with  white  spots  or  lines  ;  below  it  is  white.  Its 
extreme  length  seems  to  be  about  24  inches.  It  is  found  in  shoals, 
keeping  to  the  bottom  as  a  rule,  but  frequently  swimming  close  to 
the  surface  and  grunting  with  satisfaction.  It  croons  as  it  is  taken 
from  the  water. 

The  Piper  has  9  or  10  spines  in  its  first  dorsal,  16  or  17 
rays  in  the  second,  16  rays  in  the  anal,  12  in  the  caudal,  10  in  the 
pectorals,  and  a  spine  and  5  rays  in  the  ventrals.  The  third  dorsal 
spine  is  the  longest,  the  curve  of  the  fin  being  rounder  than  in  the 
other  species.  The  lateral  line  is  without  spines,  but  there  are  25 
or  more  spiny  elevations  along  the  base  of  the  dorsals.  The  pre- 
orbital  is  extended  into  a  broad,  triangular  plate,  which  is  toothed 
in  front  and  projects  over  the  snout.  The  colour  is  bright  red  above, 
white  beneath,  the  fins  being  red.  It  is  rather  larger  than  the  other 
species,  and  is  of  the  same  habits.  It  grunts  like  the  others ;  but, 
when  taken  from  the  water,  instead  of  crooning,  it  hisses,  and  from 
this  hiss  or  whistle  it  derives  its  name. 

The  Lanthorn  Gurnard  has  10  spines  in  its  first  dorsal,  17  or  18 
rays  in  the  second,  17  rays  in  the  anal,  12  in  the  caudal,  10  in  the 
pectorals,  and  a  spine  and  5  rays  in  the  ventrals.  The  second  spine 
of  the  dorsal  is  very  long.  The  lateral  line  is  marked  by  spineless, 
lineated  plates,  but  there  are  spiny  plates  along  the  base  of  the 
dorsals.  There  are  spines  on  the  head  and  gill-covers,  as  in  all  the 
species.  The  thin  filaments  are  rather  more  slender  than  in  the 
other  gurnards.  The  colour  is  bright  red  above  and  whitish  below, 
separated  from  each  other  by  a  wide  silvery  stripe.  The  pectorals 
are  blue,  the  other  fins  red.  In  size  it  does  not  exceed  12  inches.  It 
is  the  rarest  of  the  British  species. 

Trygon.     Plate  xxxiii.     TRYGONID&. 

252.    pastinaca,     STING  RAY.     Disk  pyriform,  front  ejge  straight,  angle 
rounded,  hind  edge  convex. 

There  is  a  long  serrated  spine  on  the  tail,  but  no  fins.  The 
body  is  raised  along  the  line  of  the  backbone.  The  skin  is  smooth, 
with  occasionally  a  few  tubercles  along  the  back.  The  mouth  is 
small  and  the  teeth  are  small.  The  colour  varies  above,  but  is 
always  white  below ;  the  length  reaches  33  inches.  The  Sting 
Rav  is  found  in  shallow  water  where  the  bottom  is  soft  and  oozy. 


GENERA    AND    SPECIES.  143 

It  is  known  by  its  spine,  which  has  the  teeth  directed  downwards 
like  a  spear-head.  It  was  one  of  these  spines  which  ended  the 
career  of  Ulysses. 

Xiphias.     Plate  iii.     XI  PHI  IDA?. 

21.    gladius,     SWORDFISH.     Upper  jaw  long  and  shaped  like  a  sword. 

The  Swordfish  has  but  one  dorsal  when  young,  but  in  time  a 
portion  of  it  dies  away,  so  that  in  old  examples  the  fin  is  almost 
divided  into  two.  The  anal  becomes  separated  in  a  similar  manner. 
When  complete  there  are  3  spines  in  the  dorsal,  and  43  rays,  and  17 
rays  in  the  anal ;  in  the  caudal  there  are  21,  in  the  pectorals  15  ; 
there  are  no  ventrals.  The  pectoral  is  placed  low,  and  is  long  and 
pointed.  The  scales  are  quite  rudimentary,  and  there  are  no  teeth. 
The  colour  is  blue  above,  white  below ;  the  length  15  feet  or  less, 
generally  7  or  8.  It  is  only  a  straggler  in  British  waters. 


Zeugopterus.     Plate  xx.     PLEURONECTIDJE. 

153.  unimaculatus ,     ONE-SPOTTED    TOPKNOT.     Ventrals  not  joined   to 

anal. 

154.  punctatus,          BROWNY.     Ventrals  joined  to  anal. 

The  One-Spotted  Topknot  has  from  70  to  80  rays  in  its  dorsal, 
61  to  68  in  its  anal,  16  in  its  caudal,  10  to  12  in  its  pectorals,  and  6 
in  its  ventrals.  The  marginal  fins  are  highest  in  the  hinder  half. 
The  lateral  line  curves  over  the  pectoral.  The  eyes  are  on  the  left- 
side ;  the  mouth  is  large,  and  at  the  end  of  the  snout ;  the  teeth  and 
jaws  are  equal  on  both  sides.  The  first  ray  of  the  dorsal  is  long. 
The  underside  is  rough.  The  colour  is  reddish  brown,  with  a 
round  spot  on  the  upper  side  near  the  tail.  The  length  does  not 
appear  to  exceed  5  inches. 

The  Browny  has  from  87  to  101  rays  in  the  dorsal,  69  to  80  in 
the  anal,  14  to  16  in  the  caudal,  10  in  the  pectorals,  and  6  in  the 
ventrals.  The  dorsal  and  anal  are  highest  in  the  hinder  half,  and 
are  continuous  with  the  caudal.  The  ventrals  join  the  anal.  The 
eyes  are  on  the  left,  the  mouth  large  and  at  the  end  of  the  snout, 
the  teeth  and  jaws  alike  on  both  sides.  The  underside  is  rather 
smooth;  on  the  upper  side  the  scales  are  spiny.  In  colour  it  is 
dark  brown  with  spots,  and  there  is  a  pale  streak  extending  from 
each  eye.  The  length  of  this  fish  does  not  exceed  8  inches. 

Zeus.     Plate  iv.     CYTTID&. 
29.    faber,    DORY.     Grey,  with  a  large  black  spot  edged  with  yellow. 

There  are  10  spines  in  the  first  portion  of  the  dorsal,  and  22  or  23 
rays  in  the  second  ;  the  anal  is  in  two  distinct  portions,  the  first  of 
which  has  4  spines,  the  second  21  to  23  rays  ;  in  the  caudal  are  13 
rays,  in  the  pectorals  13,  in  the  ventrals  a  spine  and  6  rays.  The 
dorsal  spines  have  filaments  at  their  tips,  and  spines  at  their  bases ; 
and  at  the  bases  of  the  dorsal  rays  are  spiny  plates,  the  bases  of  the 
anal  spines  and  rays  being  protected  in  the  same  way.  The  spinous 


144  GENERA    AND    SPECIES. 

portion  of  the  anal  is  very  broad,  and  the  spines  large.  The  lateral 
line  curves  to  the  middle  of  the  anal,  and  then  runs  straight.  The 
body  is  about  two-thirds  as  high  as  it  is  long,  and  is  much 
compressed.  The  mouth  is  large  and  protrusible  so  as  to  form  a 
tube.  The  colour  is  a  somewhat  yellowish  grey,  frequently  with 
wavy  bands ;  the  length  is  under  24  inches.  The  Dory  feeds  on 
fair-sized  fishes,  such  as  sprats  and  smelts.  It  swims  with  a  list  to 
starboard,  not  upright ;  and  it  grunts,  squeaks,  or  groans  when 
taken  out  of  the  water. 

Zoarces.    plate  x.    BLENNIID&. 

82.    viviparus,     VIVIPAROUS  BLENNY.     Dorsal  long,  with  a  low  section 
of  10  spines  just  before  the  end. 

The  dorsal  extends  all  along  the  back.  In  the  fore  part  there 
are  from  76  to  80  rays,  continuous  with  which  are  10  spines 
followed  by  20  to  25  rays.  The  rays  are  level  and  not  very  high, 
and  the  spiny  section  is  half  the  height  of  the  rest  of  the  fin.  In 
the  anal  there  are  84  to  89  rays  ;  the  caudal  is  absent  except  in  the 
young ;  the  pectorals  have  19  rays,  and  the  ventrals  3.  The  mouth 
extends  to  the  middle  of  the  eye  ;  the  lips  are  thick.  In  colour  this 
fish  is  olive,  striped  and  banded  with  dark  green ;  it  attains  2  feet 
in  length,  and  is  of  slender  tapering  form.  It  lives  among  rocks, 
and  hides  among  seaweed  ;  and  it  has  been  observed  to  bring  forth 
at  a  birth  250  young,  an  inch  and  a  half  long,  which  immediately 
began  to  swim  about  and  look  after  themselves. 

Zygsena.     Plate  xxviii.     CARCHARIID&. 

224.     malleus,     HAMMERHEAD.     Head  in  the  shape  of  a  hammer,  with 
the  eyes  at  the  lateral  extremities. 

This  shark  is  recognisable  at  a  glance,  owing  to  its  strangely- 
shaped  head.  The  colour  is  slaty  grey  above,  and  white  below. 
It  is  said  to  be  very  ferocious,  but  it  has  rather  a  small  mouth. 
The  teeth  are  oblique  and  notched.  It  is  not  uncommon  in  the 
Mediterranean,  but  better  known  in  more  southerly  seas  ;  in 
British  waters  it  is  rarely  seen.  The  largest  yet  caught  on  the 
English  Coast  measured  13  feet  7  inches.  Its  specific  name  means 
a  balance,  and  it  is  frequently  called  the  Balance  Shark.  It  is  the 
last  on  our  alphabetical  list,  so  that  with  a  balance  we  close  our 
account. 


CHAPTER   X. 

SPECIFIC  NAMES, 


THIS  list  contains,  it  is  hoped,  all  the  specific  names 
appearing  in  the  standard  works  on  British  fishes,  in 
addition  to  a  selection  of  those  used  by  foreign  authors,  for 
the  synonymy  of  the  fishes  is  extensive  and  rather  more 
miscellaneous  than  usual.  The  numbers  refer  to  the  coloured 
plates,  in  the  list  of  which  will  be  found  the  systematic  and 
popular  names  adopted  throughout  this  book. 


Acarne,  Pagellus,  16,  17 
Acarne,  Pagrus,  17 
Acerina,  Perca,  3 
Aculeatus,  Gasterosteus,  91,  92, 

93.  94.  95 

Aculeatus,  Leiurus,  91,  92,  93, 

94.  95 

Acus,  Syngnathus,  115 
Acuta,  Perca,  i 
Adhaerens,  Lepadogaster,  100 
Adriatica,  Trigla,  52 
^Eglefinus,  Gadus,  126 
jEglefinus,  Morrhua,  126 
^Equoreus,  Nerophis,  116 
Affinis,  Cottus,  48 
Alalonga,  Orcynus,  40 
Alalonga,  Thynnus,  40 
Alatunga,  Scomber,  40 
Alba,  Raia,  240 
Albacora,  Thynnus,  40 
Albus,  Gobius,  70 
Albus,  Latrunculus,  70 
Albus,  Salmo,  196,  197 
Alliciens,  Ammodytes,  146 
Alosa,  Clupea,  193 
Alpinus,  Salmo,  206,   207,  208, 

209 

Alpinus,  Salvelinus,  206 
Americanus,  Amphibrion,  6 
Americanus,  Lophius,  47 
Amia,  Caranx,  24 
Anglorum,  Lumpus,  60 
Antarctica,  Sciaena,  20 
Antecessor,  Gasterosteus,  25 
Antiquorum,  Hippocampus,  119 
Ape-,  Capros,  28 


Aper,  Labrus,  104 
Aper,  Zeus,  28 
Aphya,  Gobius,  66 
Aquila,  Cheilodipterus,  20 
Aquila,  Myliobatis,  250 
Aquila,  Sciaena,  6,  20 
Arcticus,  Gymnetrus,  102 
Arcticus,  Gymnogaster,  102 
Arcticus,  Trachypterus,  102 
Argentatus,  Merluccius,  133 
Argenteus,  Lepidopus,  23 
Argenteus,  Lepturus,  22 
Argenteus,  Fario,  196 
Argenteus,  Salmo,  195,  196 
Argenteus,  Sparus,  12 
Argenteus,  Trachinotus,  26 
Argenteus,  Trichiurus,  22 
Argenti-vittatus,  Thynnus,  40 
Argyrea,  Scarcina,  23 
Argyreus,  Lepidopus,  23 
Armatus,  Aspidophorus,  58 
Armatus,  Trachinus,  45 
Artedii,  Blennius,  77 
Ascanii,  Carelophus,  80 
Ascensionis,  Scomber,  27 
Aspera,  Trigla,  55 
Attenuatus,  Gobius,  66 
Aurata,  Chrysophrys,  13 
Aurata,  Sparus,  13,  14 
Auratus,  Carassius,  171 
Auratus,  Gobius,  67 
Auratus,  Pagrus,  13 
Ausonii,  Salar,  196,  201 

Balbis,  Lepadogaster,  99 
Ballan,  Labrus,  104 


145 


146 


SPECIFIC    NAMES. 


Ballanus,  Labrus,  104 
Balteatus,  Thynnus,  40 
Banksii,  Gymnetrus,  103 
Banksii,  Regalecus,  103 
Barbatula,  Nemacheilus,  184 
Barbatum,  Ophidium,  143 
Barbatus,  Gadus,  127 
Barbatus,  Liparis,  61 
Barbatus,  Mullus,  8,  9 
Batis,  Raia,  238 
Belonii,  Mullus,  8 
Belonii,  Pelamys,  42 
Berda,  Sparus,  17 
Bergylta,  Labrus,  104 
Biciliatus,  Lepadogaster,  99 
Bicolor,  Gobius,  64 
Bimaculata,  Mirbelia,  101 
Bimaculatus,  Cyclopterus,  101 
Bimaculatus,  Gobiesox,  101 
Bimaculatus,  Lepadogaster,  101 
Binotatus,  Centronotus,  27 
Biocellatus,  Gobius,  63 
Bipunctatus,  Gobius,  63 
Bison,  Aspicottus,  50 
Bisus,  Auxis,  43 
Bisus,  Scomber,  43 
Blennoides,  Phycis,  134 
Blicca,  Abramis,  181 
Blochii,  Trigla,  55 
Bogaraveo,  Pagellus,  15 
Bogaraveo,  Pagrus,  15 
Bogaraveo,  Sparus,  15 
Boops,  Boops,  ii 
Boops,  Sparus,  n 
Boyeri,  Atherina,  84 
Brachycentrus,  Gasterosteus.gi 
Brachypoma,  Salmo,  196,  197 
Brachypterus,  Thynnus,  43 
Brama,  Abramis,  180 
Brama,  Cantharus,  10 
Brama,  Sparus,  10,  32 
Britannicus,  Centrolophus,  30 
Britannicus,  Gobius,  65 
Britannicus,  Mugil,  85 
Brosme,  Brosmius,  142 
Brosme,  Centronotus,  80 
Brosme,  Gadus,  142 
Bubalis,  Aspicottus,  50 
Bubalis,  Cottus,  50 

Cabrilla,  Perca,  4 
Cabrilla,  Serranus,  4 
Csecifer,  Salmo,  196,  200 
Callarias,  Morrhua,  125 
Cambricus,    Salmo,    196,    199, 

206,    207 
Canariensis,  Boops,  n 


Canariensis,  Pagellus,  18 
Canicula,  Scyllium,  230 
Caninus,  Serranus,  5 
Cantharus,  Sparus,  10 
Capelanus,  Gadus,  128 
Capensis,  Scisena,  20 
Capitate,  Gobio,  48 
Capito,  Mugil,  85 
Capriscus,  Balistes,  121 
Carassius,  Cyprinus,  170 
Carbonarius,  Gadus,  131 
Carbonarius,  Merlangus,  131 
Carneus,  Labrus,  107 
Carpio,  Cyprina,  169 
Castaneola,  Sparus,  32 
Cataphracta,  Trigla,  59 
Cataphractum,  Peristedion,  59 
Cataphractum,  Peristethus,  59 
Cataphractus,  Agonus,  58 
Cataphractus,  Aspidophorus,  58 
Cataphractus,  Cottus,  58 
Catulus,  Scyllium,  231 
Caudatus,  Lepidopus,  23 
Caudatus,  Trichiurus,  23 
Centrodontus,  Pagellus,  14 
Centrodontus,  Sparus,  14 
Cephalus,  Lepadogaster,  100 
Cephalus,  Leuciscus,  175 
Cephalus,  Mugil,  85,  86 
Cernioides,  Serranus,  5 
Cernium,  Polyprion,  6 
Cernua,  Acerina,  3 
Cernua,  Gymnocephalus,  3 
Cernua,  Perca,  3 
Cetti,  Dentex,  7 
Cetti,  Sparus,  7 
Channus,  Perca,  4 
Chelo,  Mugil,  86 
Cicerellus,  Ammodytes,  147 
Ciliatus,  Lepadogaster,  99 
Cimbria,  Motella,  138 
Cimbrius,  Gadus,  138 
Circularis,  Raia,  247 
Cithara,  Callionymus,  73 
Clavata,  Raia,  243 
Clupeoides,  Coregonus,  215 
Cobitis,  Aphya,  66 
Cocksii,  Ausonia,  35 
Coeruleus,  Cyclopterus,  60 
Colias,  Scomber,  38 
Colii,  Salmo,  206,  211 
Comber,  Labrus,  105 
Communis,  Liparis,  61 
Compressa,  Lota,  136 
Compressus,  Nauclerus,  25 
Conductor,  Centronotus,  25 
Coquus,  Labrus,  107 


SPECIFIC    NAMES. 


Corax,  Trigla,  54 
Coregonoides,  Paralepis,  186 
Cornubica,  Lamna,  226 
Cornubicus,  Crenilabrus,  109 
Cornubicus,  Cyclopterus,  99 
Cornubicus,  Cynsedus,  109 
Cornubicus,  Lophius,  47 
Cornubiensis,  Gunnellus,  81 
Cornubiensis,  Labrus,  104 
Cornubiensis,  Lepadogaster,  99 
Cornubiensis,  Pimelepterus,  26 
Cornubiensis,  Salmo,  196,  205 
Cornutus,  Macrorhamphosus,  98) 
Coronatus,  Cyclopterus,  60 
Corvus,  Trigla,  54 
Coryphaenoides,  Astrodermus,  35 
Couchii,  Acantholabrus,  in 
Couchii,  Serranus,  6 
Crassirostris,  Chrysophrys,   13 
Cuculus,  Trigla,  53,  54,  55 
Curtus,  Pagellus,  14 
Cuvieri,  Ausonia,  35 
Cuvieri,  Caranx,  24 
Cynoglossus,  Pleuronectes,  159 

Decandolii,  Lepadogaster,  100 
Decandollii,  Lepadogaster,  100 
Declivis,  Caranx,  24 
Dentatus,  Fierasfer,  144 
Dentex,  Cichla,  7 
Dentex,  Sparus,  7 
Desfontanii,  Lepadogaster,  101 
Desfontanii,  Mirbelia,  101 
Diacantha,  Perca,  2 
Diacantha,  Scisena,  2 
Diego,  Scomber,  38 
Donovani,  Labrus,  105,  109 
Draco,  Trachinus,  45,  46 
Dracunculus,  Callionymus,  72,  7 
Dracunculus,  Uranoscopus,  72 
Drummondii,  Echiodon,  144 
Ductor,  Centronotus,  25 
Ductor,  Gasterosteus,  25 
Ductor,  Naucrates,  25 
Ductor,  Scomber,  25 

Eckstromii,  Gobius,  G6 
Elegans,  Astrodermus,  35 
Elegans,  Callionymus,  72 
Elegans,  Coryphaena,  35 
Elongata,  Perca,  2 
Encrasicholus,  Engraulis,  189 
Ensiformis,  Lepidopus,  23 
Eperlanus,  Osmerus,  213 
Eriox,  Salmo,  196,  197,  198 
Erythrinus,  Pagellus,  16,  18 
Erythrinus,  Pagrus,  18 


Erythrinus,  Sparus,  18 
Erythrophthalmus,  Leuciscus, 

177 

Estuarius,  Salmo,  196 
Europeus,  Aspidophorus,  58 
Europeus,  Gunnellus,  81 
Europeus,  Trachurus,  24 
Eurypterus,  Lophius,  47 
Evolans,  Exocoetus,  90 
Exoletus,  Centrolabrus,  112 
Exoletus,  Crenilabrus,  in 
Exoletus,  Labrus,  112 

Faber,  Zeus,  29 
Fanfarus,  Naucrates,  25 
Fario,  Salmo,  196,  201 
Fario,  Trutta,  196,  201 
Ferox,  Salmo,  203 
Festiva,  Julis,  113 
Filaris,  Trigla,  57 
Fimbriatus,  Serranus,  5 
Finta,  Clupea,  194 
Flavescens,  Bodianus,  i 
Flavescens,  Gobius,  63 
Flavescens,  Perca,  i 
Flavus,  Serranus,  4 
Flesus,  Pleuronectes,  161 
Fluviatilis,  Cernua,  3 
Fluviatilis,  Coitus,  48 
Fluviatilis,  Gobio,  173 
Fluviatilis,  Perca,  i 
Fluviatilis,  Trutta,  196,  201 
Fontinalis,  Salmo,  212 
Formosus,  Labrus,  107 
Fuliginosus,  Gobius,  65 
Fullonica,  Raia,  242 
Furcatus,  Phycis,   134 
Fuscus,  Raniceps,  141 

Gadoides,  Blennius,  134 
Galerita,  Adonis,  77 
Galerita,  Blenniops,  80 
Galerita,  Blennius,  80 
Gattorugine,  Blennius,  76 
Gallivensis,  Salmo,  196 
Germo,  Orcynus,  40 
Germo,  Scomber,  40 
Germo,  Thynnus,  40 
Gibbiceps,  Dentex,  7 
Gibbosus,  Cyclopterus,  60 
Gibbosus,  Sparus,  7 
Gigas,  Holocentrus,  5 
Gigas,  Perca,  5 
Gigas,  Serranus,  5 
Giofredi,  Julis,  113 
Giornsc,  Cephaloptera,  251 
Glacialis,  Cottus,  49 


148 


SPECIFIC    NAMES. 


Gladius,  Trichiurus,  23 
Gladius,  Xiphias,  21 
Glauca,  Lichia,  27 
Glauca,  Motella,  137 
Glaucos,  Centronotus,  27 
Glaucus,  Caranx,  27 
Glaucus,  Carcharias,  222 
Glaucus,  Gasterosteus,  27 
Glaucus,  Lichia,  27 
Glaucus,  Scomber,  27 
Glesne,  Regalecus,  103 
Gobio,  Cottus,  48. 
Gobius,  Liparis,  62 
Goedenii,  Salrao,  196 
Gouanianus,  Lepidopus,  23 
Gouanii,  Lepadogaster,  99 
Gouanii,  Lepidopus,  23 
Gracilis,  Gobius,  66,  70 
Gracilis,  Perca,  i 
Gracilis,  Salmo,  195 
Granulata,  Perca,  i 
Grayi,  Salmo,  206,  210 
Griseus,  Cantharus,  10 
Griseus,  Notidanus,  229 
Griseus,  Salrao,  196,  198 
Groenlandicus,  Acanthocottus,  49 
Groenlandicus,  Cottus,  49 
Gulo,  Holocentrus,  6 
Gunnellus,  Blennius,  81 
Gunnellus,  Centronotus,  81 
Gunnellus,  Ophisomus,  81 
Gunnellus,  Pholis,  81 
Gunneri,  Scomber,  33 
Guntheri,  Pagellus,  18 
Gurnardus,  Trigla,  55 
Guttata,  Muraenoides,  81 
Guttatus,  Lampris,  33 
Guttatus,  Zeus,  33 
Gymnothorax,  Thymallus,  218 
Gymnurus,  Gasterosteus,  94 

Hamata,  Trigla,  59 
Hamatus,  Salmo,  195 
Harengus,  Clupea,  190 
Harvicensis,  Lyra,  72 
Helena,  Muraena,  168 
Helvetica,  Perca,  i 
Hemigymnus,  Argyropelecus,  18^ 
Hepsetus,  Atherina,  70,  83,  84 
Hexacornis,  Cottus,  51 
Hirundo,  Trigla,  54 
Hololepidota,  Sciaena,  20 
Hololepidotus,  Labrus,  20 
Horridus,  Trachinus,  46 
Hucho,  Salmo,  196 

Imberbis,  Mullus,  52 


Imbricatus,  Ajsantholabrus,  in 
Imperialis,  Luvarus,  35 
Imperialis,  Zeus,  33 
Inaequalis,  Blennius,  77 
Indicus,  Naucrates,  25 
Ingens,  Gunnellus,  81 
Islandicus,  Bogmarus,  102 
Islandicus,  Vogmarus,  102 
Italica,  Perca,  i 
Italica,  Tinea,  179 

acobea,  Echeneis,  44 

aponicus,  Selar,  24 

effreysii,  Gobius,  69 

ohnsoni,  Dentex,  7 

onsoni,  Sparus,  7 
Jozo,  Gobius,  65 
Julis,  Coris,  113 
Julis,  Labrus,  113 
Jussieui,  Lepadogaster,  100 

Karrak,  Anarrhichas,  75 
Killinensis,  Salmo,  206,  209 
Koelreuteri,  Naucrates,  25 
Koelreuteri,  Scomber,  25 

Labradoricus,  Acanthocottus,  4 
Labrax,  Perca,  2 
Labrax,  Sciaena,  2 
Labrosus,  Mugil,  86 
Lacustris,  Salmo,  196,  203 
Laevis,  Cataphractus,  78 
Laevis,  Cottus,  48 
Laevis,  Pholis,  78 
Laevis,  Rhombus,  152 
Laevis,  Trigla,  54 
Lagocephalus,  Tetrodon,  122 
Lancea,  Ammodytes,  146 
Lanceolatus,  Ammodytes,  145 
Larvatus,  Labrus,  107 
Lascaris,  Solea,  163 
Lastovi-za,  Trigla,  52 
Laticeps,  Gobius,  68 
Laterna,  Arnoglossus,  156 
Lauta,  Lampris,  33 
Lemanus,  Fario,  196,  201 
Lepadogaster,  Cyclopterus,  99 
Lepturus,  Trichiurus,  22,  103 
Lepus,  Blennius,  79 
Levenensis,  Salmo,  196,  200 
Limanda,  Pleuronectes,  160 
Limandoides,  Hippoglossoides, 

150 

Linearis,  Gobius,  70 
Lineata,  Trigla,  52,  53 
Lineatus,  Cantharus,  10 
Lineatus,  Labrus,  104,  106,  107 


SPECIFIC    NAMES. 


Lineatus,  Lepadogaster,  101 
Lineatus,  Liparis,  61 
Lineatus,  Pagrus,  10 
Lineatus,  Sparus,  10 
Lineatus,  Trachinus,  45 
Liparis,  Centrolophus,  31 
Liparis,  Cyclogaster,  61 
Liparis,  Cyclopterus,  61 
Liparoides,  Cyclopterus,  62 
Longicauda,  Cepola,  74 
Lota,  Gadus,  136 
Lota,  Molva,  135 
Lucerna,  Trigla,  57 
Lucidus,  Alburnus,  182 
Lucius,  Esox,  185 
Lumbriciformis,  Nerophis,  118 
Lumpus,  Cyclopterus,  Go 
Luna,  Chrysostosus,  33 
Luna,  Lampris,  33 
Luna,  Zeus,  33 
Lupus,  Anarrhichas,  75 
Lupus,  Centropomus,  2 
Lupus,  Labrax,  2 
Lusca,  Morhua,  127 
Luscus,  Crenilabrus,  in 
Luscus,  Gadus,  127 
Lusitanicus,  Lepidopus,  23 
Lusitanicus,  Vandellius,  23 
Lutea,  Solea,  165 
Lyra,  Callionymus,  72,  73 
Lyra,  Trigla,  56 
Lyra,  Uranoscopus,  72 

Macrophthalma,  Motella,  140 
Macropterus,  Thynnus,  40 
Macrorhynchus,  Raia,  239 
Maculata,  Raia,  244 
Maculatus,  Anarrhichas,  75 
Maculatus,  Balistes,  120 
Maculatus,  Callionymus,  73 
Maculatus,  Labrus,  104 
Maculatus,  Lepadogaster,  101 
Maculatus,  Scomber,  38 
Maculis,  BJennius,  81 
Maculosa,  Lota,  136 
Maculosus,  Acentrolophus,  31 
Maderensis,  Gobius,  64 
Major,  Mullus,  9 
Major,  Trachinus,  45 
Malleus,  Zygaena,  224 
Marginatus,  Ctenolabrus,  no 
Marginatus,  Serranus,  5 
Marina,  Brama,  32 
Marina,  Perca,  19 
Marina,  Rana,  47 
Marina,  Trutta,  196 
Marinus,  Draco,  45 


Marinus,  Gasterosteus,  97 
Marinus,  Holocentrus,  4 
Marinus,  Lepus,  60 
Marinus,  Lupus,  75 
Marinus,  Scorpius,  50 
Marinus,  Sebastes,  19 
Marinus,  Serranus,  4 
Marmorata,  Torpedo,  249 
Marsiliensis,  Scorpsena,  6 
Marsiliensis,  Sparus,  14 
Maxima,  Selache,  228 
Maximus,  Rhombus,  151 
Mediterranea,  Julis,  113 
Mediterraneus,  Scomber,  42 
Mediterraneus,  Thynnus,  39 
Medusophagus,  Schedophilus,  34 
Megastoma,  Lepidorhombus,  155 
Melanostomus,  Pristiurus,  232 
Melanura,  Julis,  113 
Melops,  Crenilabrus,  108 
Meridionalis,  Aphia,  70 
Merlangus,  Gadus,  129 
Merluccius,  Gadus,  133 
Merou,  Holocentrus,  5 
Microcellata,  Raia,  245 
Microcephalus,  Pleuronectes,  i$V 
Microcephalus,  Laemargus,  235 
Microps,  Salmo,  196 
Micropterygius,  Uranoscopus,  72 
Microstoma,  Crenilabrus,  112 
Microstomus,  Cottus,  48 
Milvus,  Trigla,  55 
Minor,  Anarrhichas,  75 
Minor,  Mullus,  8 
Minor,  Umbla,  206 
Minuta,  Atherina,  70 
Minuta,  Eleotris,  66 
Minuta,  Morrhua,  128 
Minutus,  Cottus,  48 
Minutus,  Cyclopterus,  60 
Minutus,  Gadus,  128 
Minutus,  Gobius,  60,  63,  66,  67, 

68 

Minutus,  Lepadogaster,  73 
Mirbelia,  Lepadogaster,  101 
Mixtus,  Labrus,  107 
Mola,  Orthagoriscus,  123 
Molva,  Gadus,  135 
Montacuti,  Cyclopterus,  62 
Monstrosa,  Chimaera,  221 
Montagui,  Blennius,  77 
Montagui,  Cyclopterus,  62 
Montagui,  Icthyocoris,  77 
Montagui,  Liparis,  62 
Morhua,  Gadus,  125 
Morio,  Centrolophus,  31 
Morio,  Coryphaena,  31 


SPECIFIC    NAMES. 


Morrhua,  Gadus,  125 
Mustela,  Gadus,  137 
Mustela,  Motella,  137 
Naucrates,  Echeneis,  44 
Neustrise,  Labrus,  104 
Niger,  Centrolophus,  31 
Niger,  Gobius,  63,  64,  65 
Niger,  Holocentrus,  31 
Niger,  Spams,  32 
Nigripinnis',  Salmo,  205 
Nilssonii,  Crystallogobius,  70 
Nilssonii,  Gobius,  70 
Nilssonii,  Latrunculus,  70 
Nigra,  Perca,  31 
Nobiliana,  Torpedo,  248 
Nobilis,  Salmo,  195 
Norvegicus,  Coryphaenoides,  148 
Norvegicus,  Sebastes,  19 
Norwegica,  Perca,  19 
Norwegica,  Scorpaena,  19 
Norwegicus,  Holocentrus,  19 
Norwegicus,  Sebastes,  19 
Norwegicus,  Serranus,  19 
Novemboracensis,  Naucrates,  25 
Novemcinctus,  Serranus,  4 

Obscura,  Trigla,  57 
Ocellaris,  Blennius,  79 
Ocellatus,  Acanthocottus,  49 
Ocellatus,  Cyclopterus,  99 
Ocellatus,  Lepadogaster,  101 
Octo-radiatus,  Mugil,  85 
Olivaceus,  Lepadogaster,  100 
Omorus,  Caranx,  24 
Opah,  Zeus,  33 
Ophidion,  Nerophis,  117 
Ophidoides,  Liparis,  61 
Orcadensis,  Salmo,  196,  202 
Orientalis,  Thynnus,  39 
Orphus,  Aurata,  12 
Orphus,  Pagrus,  12 
Orphus,  Spar  us,  14 
Owenii,  Pagellus,  16 
Oxygeneios,  Epinephelus,  6 
Oxyrhynchus,  Coregonus,  214 
Oxyrhynchus,  Raia,  241 

Pacificus,  Thynnus,  40 
Paganellus,  Gobius,  64 
Pagellus,  Sparus,  18 
Pagrus,  Pagrus,  12 
Pagrus,  Sparus,  12,  14 
Palamitus,  Thynnus,  42 
Pallida,  Echeneis,  44 
Palloni,  Acantholabrus,  in 
Palmicornis,  Blennius,  80 
Pantherinus,  Anarrhichas,  75 


Papilio,  Blennius,  79 
Parnelli,  Gobius,  67 
Parva,  Echeneis,  44 
Pastinaca,  Trygon,  252 
Pavoninus,  Adonis,  79 
Pavoninus,  Cyclopterus,  60 
Pelagicus,  Cyprina,  19 
Pelagicus,  Scomber,  33 
Pelamides,  Scomber,  41 
Pelamis,  Scomber,  41 
Pelamys,  Scomber,  42 
Pelamys,  Thynnus,  41 
Pellucida,  Aphia,  70 
Pellucida,  Aphya,  70 
Pellucidus,  Gobius,  70 
Pellucidus,  Latrunculus,  70 
Pennantii,  Blennius,  80 
Pennantii,  Maurolicus,  188 
Pentacanthus,  Labrus,  112 
Perciformis,  Coryphasna,  26 
Perciformis,  Palinuricthys,  26 
Perciformis,  Palinurus,  26 
Perciformis,  Pammelas,  26 
Perisii,  Salmo,  206,  207 
Peronii,  Lepidopus,  23 
Phinoc,  Salmo,  196,  197 
Pholis,  Adonis,  78 
Pholis,  Blennius,  78 
Phoxinus,  Leuciscus,  178 
Phycis,  Blennius,  134 
Picturata,  Seriola,  24 
Pictus,  Gobius,  68 
Pilchardus,  Clupea,  191 
Pini,  Trigla,  53 
Piscatorius,  Batrachus,  47 
Piscatorius,  Lophius,  47 
Piscatrix,  Rana,  47 
Platessa,  Pleuronectes,  157 
Plumbeum,  Astroderma,  35 
Poeciloptera,  Trigla,  52,  54 
Poecilopus,  Coitus,  48 
Pollachius,  Gadus,  131,  132 
Pollachius,  Merlangus,  132 
Pollan,  Coregonus,  217 
Pompilus,  Centrolophus,  31 
Pompilus,  Coryphaena,  31 
Ponticus,  Scomber,  42 
Porosus,  Cottus,  49 
Poutassou,  Gadus,  130 
Poutassou,  Merlangus,  130 
Presbyter,  Atherina,  83 
Prototypus,  Proctostegus,  35 
Provensalis,  Mugil,  86 
Psittacus,  Labrus,  104 
Punctatus,  Lepadogaster,  101 
Punctatus,  Scomber,  37 
Punctatus,  Zeugopterus,  153 


SPECIFIC    NAMES. 


Punctipinnis,  Gobius,  64 
Pungio,  Zeus,  29 
Pungitius,  Gasterosteus,  96 
Pungitius,  Leuvius,  96 
Pusilla,  Perca,  28 
Pusillus,  Gobius,  63 

Quadricornus,  Cottus,  51 
Cjuadrimaculatus,  Gobius,  69 
yuinque-cirrata,  Motella,  137 

Radiata,  Raia,  246 
Rafinesqui,  Lepadogaster,  100 
Raii,  Brama,  32 
Raii,  Sparus,  32 
Ramada,  Mugil,  85 
Raminus,  Raniceps,  141 
Raminus,  Blennius,  141 
Regius,  Zeus,  33 
Remora,  Echeneis,  44 
Remoroides,  Echeneis,  44 
Reticulata,  Callionymus,  73 
Reticulatus,  Gobius,  66 
Reticulatus,  Lepadogaster,   101 
Rhodopterus,  Gobius,  66 
Robusta,  Perca,  5 
Rocheanus,  Thynnus,  43 
Rochei,  Auxis,  43 
Rondeletii,  Colias,  38 
Rondeletii,  Pagellus,  12 
Rondeletii,  Pompilus,  31 
Rondeletii,  Umbra,  20 
Rondeletii,  Xiphias,  21 
Rostratus,  Lepadogaster,  99 
Rostratus,  Pagellus,  18 
Rubescens,  Cepola,  74 
Rubescens,  Serpens,  74 
Rubra,  Taenia,  74 
Rupestris,  Coryphaenoides,   148 
Rupestris,  Crenilabrus,  no 
Rupestris,  Ctenolabrus,  no 
Rupestris,  Cynaedus,  no 
Rupestris,  Labrus,  no 
Rupestris,  Perca,  no 
Rupestris,  Sciaena,  no 
Ruthensparri,  Gobius,  63 
Rutilus,  Leuciscus,  174 

Salmo,  Salmo,  195 
Salmonata,  Trutta,  196 
Salmulus,  Salmo,  195 
Salvelinus,  Salmo,  206 
Salviani,  Centrina,  234 
Sanguineus,  Holocentrus,  19 
Sarda,  Pelamys,  42 
Sarda,  Scomber,  42 
Sargus,  Lepodus,  32 


Saurus,  Scombresox,  88 
Schoneveldii,  Cataphractus,  58 
Sciandra,  Sparus,  10 
Scolopax,  Centriscus,  98 
Scolopax,  Solenostomus,  98 
Scomber,  Scomber,  36 
Scombrus,  Cordylus,  36 
Scorpius,  Cottus,  49,  50 
Scriba,  Perca,  6 
Scriptus,  Sparus,  r3 
Semiarmatus,  Gasterosteus,  93 
Semilunata,  Diana,  35 
Septentrionalis,  Mugil,  86 
Septentrionalis,  Sebastes,  19 
Serpentiformis,  Cepola,  74 
Serrato-granulata,  Perca,  i 
Serranus,  Lutjanus,  4 
Siculus,  Ammodytes,  147 
Sinuatus,  Merluccius,  133 
Sinuosa,  Perca,  2 
Spatula,  Cyclopterus,  99 
Speciosa,  Julis,  113 
Sphyraena,  Argentina,  219 
Spinachia,  Gasterosteus,  97 
Spinachia,  Gastraea,  97 
Spinachia,  Polyacanthus,  97 
Spinosus,  Echinorhinus,  236 
Spinosus,  Zeus,  29 
Spinulosus,  Gasterosteus,  95 
Spinulosus,  Trachinus,  24 
Sprattus,  Clupea,  192 
Squalipeta,  Remora,  44 
Squatina,  Rhina,  237 
Stomachicus,  Salmo,  196,  204 
Strigosus,  Anarrhichas,  75 
Strcemii,  Carelephus,  80 
Stroemii,  Gunnellus,  80 
Stroemii,  Zeus,  33 
Struanensis,  Salmo,  206,  208 
Sturio,  Acipenser,  220 
Stuvitzii,  Atherina,  70 
Stuvitzii,  Gobiosoma,  70 
Stuvitzii,  Latrunculus,  70 
Suillus,  Labrus,  no 
Surmuletus,  Mullus,  9 
Surmulletus,  Mullus,  9 
Symmetricus,  Caranx,  24 
Taenia,  Cobitis,  183 
Tancoides,  Labrus,  104 
Taso,  Auxis,  43 
Taurina,  Salmo,  196,  200 
Tazo,  Scomber,  43 
Tetradens,  Lepidopus,  23 
Tetradens,  Ziphotheca,  23 
Thymallus,  Coregonus,  218 
Thymallus,  Salmo,  218 
Thynnoides,  Auxis,  43 


SPECIFIC    NAMES. 


Thynnus,  Orcynus,  39 
Thynnus,  Salmo,  218 
Thynnus,  Scomber,  39 
Thynnus,  Thynnus,  39 
Tinea,  Crenilabrus,  108 
Tinea,  Cynaedus,  108 
Tinea,  Cyprinus,  179 
Tinea,  Labrus,  104,  108 
Tobianus,  Ammodytes,  145,  146, 

J47 

Trachurus,  Caranx,  24 
Trachurus,  Gasterosteus,  92 
Trachurus,  Scomber,  24 
Trachurus,  Trachurus,  24 
Tricirratus,  Gadus,  139 
Tricirrata,  Motella,  139 
Tricuspis,  Cottus,  48 
Tridigitatus,  Polynemus,  53 
Trifurcatus,  Blennius,  141 
Trifurcatus,  Raniceps,  141 
Trimaculatus,  Labrus,  107 
Tropica,  Remora,  44 
Truncatus,  Orthagoriscus,  124 
Trutta,  Salmo,  196,  201 
Trutta,  Trutta,  196 
Truttula,  Salmo,  196 
Typhle,  Siphonostoma,  114 
Umbla,  Salmo,  206,  207,  208,  2ic 
Umbra,  Sciaena,  20 
Umbratus,  Chaetodon,  32 
Unimaculatus,  Zeugopterus,  153 
Unipunctatus,  Gobius,  66 
Upsicephalus,  Lophius,  47 

Vagans,  Thynnus,  41 
Valenciennessi,  Astrodermus,  35 
Vandesii,  Coregonus,  216 
Vanloo,  Perca,  20 
Variabilis,  Acanthocottus,  49 
Variabilis,  Cottus,  49 
Variabilis,  Labrus,  104 
Variegatus,  Labrus,  107 
Variegata,  Solea,  164 
Varus,  Blennius,  76 
Vassali,  Ophidium,  143 
Venetorum,  Paganellus,  64 
Ventralis,  Cottus,  48 
Ventralis,  Phobetor,  48 
Vernalis,  Scomber,  36 
Vetula,  Labrus,  107 
Vetula,  Sparus,  10 
Vexillifer,  Thymallus,  218 
Vipera,  Trachinus,  46 
Virens,  Gadus,  131 
Virens,  Merlangus,  131 
Virescens,  Holocentru*?,  4 


Vittatus,  Labrus,  107 
Vividus,  Trachinus,  46 
Viviparus,  Blennius,  82 
Viviparus,  Enchelyopus,  82 
Viviparus,  Gunnellus,  82 
Viviparus,  Zoarcaeus,  82 
Viviparus,  Zoarces,  82 
Viviparus,  Zoarchus,  82 
Vogmarus,  Trachypterus,  102 
Volitans,  Exoecetus,  89 
Vomerinus,  Lophius,  47 
Vulgaris,  Acanthias,  233 
Vulgaris,  Acerina,  3 
Vulgaris,  Anguilla,  166 
Vulgaris,  Aurata,  13 
Vulgaris,  Auxis,  43 
Vulgaris,  Barbus,  172 
Vulgaris,  Belone,  87 
Vulgaris,  Box,  n 
Vulgaris,  Brosmius,  142 
Vulgaris,  Cantharus,  10 
Vulgaris,  Carassius,  170 
Vulgaris,  Conger,  167 
Vulgaris,  Dentex,  7 
Vulgaris,  Galeus,  223 
Vulgaris,  Gunnellus,  81 
Vulgaris,  Hippoglossus,  149 
Vulgaris,  Julis,  113 
Vulgaris,  Leuciscus,  176 
Vulgaris,  Liparis,  61 
Vulgaris,  Lota,  136 
Vulgaris,  Merlangus,  129 
Vulgaris,  Merluccius,   133 
Vulgaris,  Molva,  135 
Vulgaris,  Motella,  139 
Vulgaris,  Morrhua,  125 
Vulgaris,  Mustela,  137 
Vulgaris,  Mustelus,  225 
Vulgaris,  Pagrus,  12,  14 
Vulgaris,  Perca,  i 
Vulgaris,  Scomber,  36 
Vulgaris,  Solea,  162 
Vulgaris,  Spinachia,  97 
Vulgaris,  Thymallus,  218 
Vulgaris,  Thynnus,  39 
Vulgaris,  Tinea,  179 
Vulgaris,  Trachurus,  24 
Vulpes,  Alopecias,  227 

Willughbii,  Salmo,  206,  208 
Welbianus,  Lepadogaster,  99 

Yarrellii,  Blennius,  80 
Yarrellii,  Chirolophis,  80 

Zebrinus,  Lepadogaster,  99 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 
BERKELEY 

Return  to  desk  from  which  borrowed. 
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Recall 


LD  21-95m-ll,'50(2877sl6)476 


This  Label  must  on  no  account  be  detached  from  this 
neither  may  the  figures  thereon  be  altered. 


27  JAM.