m

j

9

i

»■

\

Lh.mt re.

(BtflUm <rf OlOt.ttcrtuutijbs

RUnSMUSIUM van
NATUURL' ; ... Hiirows
l £ 1 0 6 N

|\> |\’ IV’

BIBLIOTHEEK

7 7496 00002223 4

NATIONAAL NATUURHISTORISCH MUSEUM Postbus 9517 2300 RA Laldsn Nodorland

Dr. GEORGE WILLIAM STAEMPFLI

THE

NATURAL HISTORY

OF

BRITISH FISHES,

INCLUDING

SCIENTIFIC AND GENERAL DESCRIPTIONS

OF THE

MOST INTERESTING SPECIES,

AND AN

EXTENSIVE SELECTION

OP

ACCURATELY FINISHED COLOURED PLATES.

TAKEN ENTIRELY FROM

ORIGINAL DRAWINGS,

thrposelv made from the specimens in a recent state,

AND FOR THE MOST PART WHILST LIVING.

VOL. II.

BY E. DONOVAN, F.L.S.

AUTHOR OF THE NATURAL HISTORIES OF BRITISH HIRES,

INSECTS, SHELLS, &C.

HonUon :

PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR,

AND FOR

F. AND C. RIVINGTON, No 62 , ST. PAUL’S CHURCH- YARD;

BY BYE AND LAW, ST. JOHN’S SQUARE, Cl EKKENWELL.

1803.

1 VAN

:.C'US

V

*5 US

BEARDED LOCHE.

66

I,nJ*n.Pu4 the. Act directs by £ Doru>^anj:& CJUrvtfton, Fcbfz. ido 3 .

PLATE 66

PLATE XXII.

COBITIS BARBATULA.

BEARDED LOCHE.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Head small, oblong, naked : eyes in the upper part of the head,
and nape flat : branchiostegous membrane with from four to six
rays ; covers of one piece and close beneath. Body covered with a
mucous ; and small, thin, and very deciduous scales : variously banded
and spotted ; and nearly of an equal thickness throughout. Back
straight, with a single fin: lateral line scarcely conspicuous: vent
Rear the tail : the latter rounded.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

Cirri six : head unarmed and compressed.

Cobitis Barbatula cirris 6, capite inermi compresso. Linn . —
Gruel. Syst. Nat. T. 1. p. 3. p. 1348.
sp. 2 .

Enchelyopus nobills cinereus, See- Klein miss. pise. 4. p. 59.
n. 3. t. 15. /. 4.

Cobitis barbatula, Rondel. Aldr. Johnst, &c.

Cobitis fluviatilis, Raj.pifc. p. 124.

Fundulus, Mars. Danub. 4. p. 74. t.25.f. 1.

Bearded Loche, Penn. Brit. Zool. T. 1 . p. 3. p. 1348. sp. 2.

vol. x.

F

PLATE XXII.

if

A native of Europe and Asia ; and most frequent in fresh water
streams and lakes in mountainous countries. From its habit of
lurking at the bottom of the water, on the gravel, it has been
called the groundling ; but the latter name is now given to the Spiny
Loche, a fish distinguished from the present by having a forked spine
under each eye, and is that species of Cobitis which Gmelin calls
Taenia.

This is a fertile creature : it spawns in the month of March and
April, and grows to the length of three or four inches, but seldom
larger. It feeds on aquatic insects, and, we are told by Mr. Pennant,
is frequent in the stream near Araesbury, i n Wiltshire, where the
sportsmen, through frolic, swallow it down alive in a glass of wine.

The Loche is found in far greater abundance in France, and other
parts of Europe, than in England ; and are in such high estimation for
their exquisite delicacy and flavour, that they are often transported with
considerable trouble from the rivers they naturally inhabit, to waters
more contiguous to the estates of the great. This is usually performed
m Winter, and it is necessary to keep the water in continual agitation
the whole way, as the fish would otherwise die. Frederic the First,
King of Sweden, had them brought in this manner from Germany into
his country, where they have been since naturalized ; a circumstance
that leads us to conclude they were either scarce, or not originally
natives of that country.

In the dorsal fin. of our specimen, are nine rays ; in the pectoral,
eleven ; ventral, eight ; anal, seven ; and in the tail, nineteen.

%

■

SEWEN.

*67

London,- Pub *- oj thc^Lu. direct*, by EJionovan.JbFtC kJ. Riving to nMxfy ti^dod.

PLATE 67

PLATE XCI.

SALMO CAMBRICUS.

SEWEN.

*** PISCES ABDOMINALES.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Head smooth, and compressed. Mouth large: lips small: tongue
'• hitc, cartilaginous, and moveable : teeth in the jaws, and upon the
tongue. Eyes moderate, and lateral. Bi anchiostegous membrane with
ni ^° ur t0 twelve rays ; gilhcovcr of three plates. Body long,
covered with rounded and very finely striated scales: back convex:
‘tend line straight, and nearest to the back : posterior dorsal fin fleshy
'ithout rays : ventral fin of many rays.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

Head short and sloping: lower jaw longest : body silvery, above
g'eyish, with dusky-purplish cruciform spots: tail slightly furcated.

Salmo Camericus: capite declivi, maxilla inferiore longiore, cor-
pore argenteo, supra cinerascence maculis cru-
ciformibus fusco-violaceis, cauda sub-furcata.
Sewen oi Sewin. Donov. Tour. South Wales and Monmouth? '
shire, v. 1. p. 237.

Grey. Penn. Brit. Zool. ». 3. p. 295. n. 144.

Salmo Schieffer-mulleri. Bloch. Ichth. Deutsch ?

G 2

l'LATE Xd.

Mr. Pennant is uncertain whether the grey (which he believes to
be the Sewen of South Wales) is not a mere variety of the Salmon ;
but on the authority of Mr. Ray he describes them separately. Ray
tells us it is a strong fish, that it does not ascend the fresh waters till
Auguft, when it rushes up with great violence ; that it is rarely taken,
and not much known. “ The inhabitants of South Wales,’*
adds Mr. Pennant, “ seem extremely well assured, that it is a distinct
species from the Salmon. They appear in the Esk in Cumberland,
from July to September, and are then in spawn. The lower jaw
grows hooked when they are out of season.” “ The head is larger
in proportion than that of the Salmon. In the jaws are four rows
of teeth, and on the tongue are eight teeth. The back and sides,
above the lateral line, of a deep grey, spotted with a number of
purplish spots. The belly silvery : the tail even at the end.” “ This
we believe to be the Sewin, or Shevvin of South Wales. The de-
scription above, was communicated to us by Dr. Roberts, of Here-
fordshire.” Penn. Brit. Zool.

The Sewen differs from the common Salmon, (Saimo salar) in va-
rious particulars that will not fail to strike the eye of the judicious
naturalist on comparing the two fishes. The general contour of the
whole fish is slightly dissimilar ; the head is shorter and more sloping ;
while the lower jaw extends rather beyond tire upper one, the pre-
cise contrary of which is observable in the common Salmon. The
back is of a pale greyish colour, glossed with blue, and by no
means so dark as in the common Salmon ; this greyish colour pre-
vails under the scales, from the back to the lateral line, beneath
which, the whole fish is of the brightest silver. Both on the back
and sides, above and below the lateral line, the body is marked
with dusky purple spots of a roundish shape, which, on close in-

PLATE XCI.

section, appear to be somewhat cruciform : the lateral line is straight,
and placed rather lower than in the generality of fishes. The tail
>s slightly forked, but not semilunated as in the common Salmon.
^ hen the flesh is cut it is of a pale red. In point of size, the
Sewen rarely exceeds twelve or fifteen inches, weighing from one
to two pounds.

This fish, which is almost peculiar to Wales, and is found in the
greatest abundance in the southern parts, is of the migratory kind, ap-
pealing on the sea coasts, and in the rivers of that country during the
dimmer months, from May to September, and then returning to the
sea. We have met with this fish both in South and North Wales,
but in the gieatest plenty on the coasts of the two maritime counties,
filamoi ganshire and Carmarthenshire: it is an excellent and delicate
fish foi the table, and is held in high repute by the inhabitants of
^ a - cs - 1 he above passages are repeated from our observations
on this curious fish, in a “ Descriptive Sketch of the Cambrian
Piincipality lately submitted to the public. To this we can only
sod what appears to us a sufficient character after the Linnrean manner,
v which the species may be discriminated; and to enumerate some
few slight particulars, which, in a work designed for general in-
formaticn, were purposely omitted. The first dorsal fin usually
contains eleven rays, the second is fleshy and destitute of rays: in the
pectoial fin are fourteen rays: ventral nine rays : anal ten rays : and
in the tail twenty-eight, including the short lateral rays at the base.

G 3

I

ALPINE CHARR,

s 68

<?<Li the ,4ct Jiretct* by £?. Donovan kT.it Cltivington. Jep'f.

a A It 68

PLATE LXI,

SALMO ALPINUS.

CHARR.

ALPINE SALMON.

*** PISCES ABDOMINALES.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Head smcodi, and compressed. Mouth large : lips small: tongue
hite, cartilaginous, and moveable : teeth in the jaws, and upon the

^ ^ * Eyes m °derate, and lateral. Branchiostegous membrane with
four to twelve rays ; cover of three plates. Body long, covered
rounded and very finely striated scales: back convex: lateral
ne straight, and nearest to the back: posterior dorsal fin fleshy
without rays : ventral fin of many rays.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

Back black, sides blue ; belly fulvous.

Mo Alpinus : dorso nigro, latetibus caeruleis, ventre fulvo,
Linn. Fn. Suec. 349.— Gmel. 1370. sp. S.
mo vix pedalis pinnis ventris rubris, maxilla inferiore paulo longiore.
Arted. Gen. 13. syn. 25. sp. 52.

Charr. Brit. Zool . 3. p. 26 5.

PLATE LXL

The lake Winander Mere, in the county of Westmoreland, has
more than once afforded us specimens of this rare and very local fish,
Salmo Alpinus, in the highest state of perfection, in the winter
season: at which time they are in full spawn. The fishermen
on this lake only take them at this season of the year, when they
appear in plenty near the shores of this extensive water. The potted
Charr of Westmoreland is esteemed an article of luxury for the table.
When dressed in the usual manner like trout this fish is also ex-
cellent.

The individual Charr delineated, measures eleven inches and a half
from the point of the jaw to the extremity of the tail. In the
first dorsal fin, there are eleven rays : the pectoral fin contained
sixteen rays : ventral eleven : anal ten : tail twenty-four. Its co-
lours are represented from the fish recently taken. Among seve-
ral specimens we examined, a material difference prevailed in the
exact tints of the colour. In one the gills were faintly speckled
with darker colour than in the present ; and the belly of another
inclined more to silver. All these, however, we have no. doub<
of being the gilt Charr of Pennant.

Great confusion prevails among the synonyms of Salmo Alpinus,
and the other analogous species Salvelinus, Salmarinus, and the
ambiguous Carpio of Artedi. The writers of our own country
have by no means succeeded in unravelling the perplexity, which
induces us to reject with caution much that has been said concerning
them. We shall hereafter treat of Salmo Salvelinus, as a British
fish, when this interesting subject, the natural history of the Charr%
will be considered with more attention.

SALVELIAN CHARR.

89

t

LorukniJ^tb* aj the dfi direett ,bv E-Donovan iFiCA-J.Rn'inflton ifioj.

PLATE S9

PLATE CXII.

SALMO SALVELINUS.

SALVELIAN CHARE.

**** PISCES ABDOMEN ALES.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Head smooth, and compressed. Mouth large: lips small: tongue
'white, cartilaginous, and moveable : teeth in the jaws, and upon the
tongue. Eyes moderate, and lateral. Branchiostegous membrane with
from four to twelve rays; cover of three plates. Body long, covered
with rounded and very finely striated scales: back convex : lateral
line straight, and nearest to the back : posterior dorsal fin fleshy
without rays: ventral fin of many rays.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

First ray of the dorsal and anal fin white.

Salmo Salvelinus : radio primo in pinna ventrali analiquc albo.

Bloch. Fisch. Deutschl. 3. p. 149. n. 9. t. 99.
Schwarzreuterl. Schrank. Schr. da' berl. Naiurf. Fr. U
y>. 380.

L 3

PLATE CXIf.

This is the Torgoch or “ red belli/" of the Welsh, a fish at
present confined to the waters of the Llyn Quellyn, one of the
alpine lakes, situated in the deep valley on the west side of Snowden*
The Torgoch inhabited the Llanberris lake on the opposite side of
the mountain till within the last twenty years, since which time
they have entirely disappeared : — it is believed that the noxious
waters of a neighbouring copper-mine flowing into the lake has
destroyed the blood, as those fish inhabit only the purest waters.

Llyn Quellyn is a vast lake, of unknown depth, sheltered on one
side by an abrupt mountain, which rises immediately out of the
water, and in the deep recesses at the base of which the Torgoch is
supposed to pass the milder seasons of the year in perfect security.
Those fish approach the shallower parts of the lake in winter, about
the middle of December, appearing in small troops at a short dis-
tance from the shores, and are at this season taken in some plenty
by a poor cottager, who resides in the vicinity of the lake, and de-
rives a small annual profit from the fishery ; this delicious fish being
in much request for the tables of the neighbouring gentry.

This fish differs from the Charr of Wynandermere, in West-
moreland, and can be no other in our idea than the true Salmo
Salvelinus. The Torgoch spawns later in the season, and never
increases to a size much larger than that represented in our plate,
which is scarcely half the dimensions of the other. The outline is
more slender, and the colours in point of splendour far superior.
The lower jaw in the Torgoch, contrary to the Gmelinian cha-
racter of Salvelinus, projects rather beyond the upper one, and
in this respect accords with Alpinus: it must, however, be recob.
ieeted, that the elongation of the lower jaw in the Salmo tribe is

PLATE CXII.

r ‘0£ always to be regarded as a specific distinction, these fishes
v arymg at different seasons of the year in this particular considerably.

need only adduce in proof of this the remarkable elongated
Appearance which the lower jaw of the common Salmon has when
1 goes out of season ; and also of the trout when it attains a large
* !ze > in which the same circumstance is observable. From the
general habit of the Torgoch we conclude upon the whole it must
be the Salmo Salvelinus.

nss is of an elegant and somewhat slender shape, the head
on g and rather pointed, and its colours splendid beyond all example
Among the indigenous fishes of this country. Nothing can exceed
fervid aspect of its colours when first taken ; the scarlet of the
y may be truly said to emulate the glowing redness of the fiery
ment. The upper part of the head and back is of a deep purplish
Ue j blending into silvery in approaching the lateral line, beneath
^ ' h the sides are tinged with yellow, passing into orange, and
orange into fine scarlet as it descends towards the belly ; the
o e of the back and sides are spotted in a most beautiful manner

th 06 fe< * ' ^ ower ^ ns are a k° re d> except the first ray of
e ventral and anal fin, which are white. Upon opening the males
found the roe white ; the eggs of the female were of the finest
g colour, and as large as peas, from which, when we consider
small size of the fish, it will be concluded that they are by no
j 3 P r °lific species. The flesh is excellent, and of a deep red
In the first dorsal fin of the specimen represented we
ted eleven rays: in the pectoral fin thirteen: in the ventral
anal eleven : and caudal twenty-fonr.

. . . . : i

roast 3

' ' in ubs ftao irton ; if

i. c no j cA; to . ! a fj :! i.1 •/ 9: Mf

; v i i . • or.

*.

' ■! 1 . ,

■ ' • ’ ‘ ' ■ . »

o :- ' '

/

‘

jvjU; : Ji» ij V, i<> a/';

. . . -".u J • ..." . it.' .• : .i , . • ■ . •• v

.

iu _ w • ' ;

. . ■ ' i - ••• .. ' >

i . ul - is 2 <; ■: .;u.. . s j s >- . . :

i s ' ,t* • . io c:.\ ,* :iu. L.’^air > fii • ibir.

:

!;■ ... •

■

■

;• . . .... 2 . . ' •. .»oi r J : -

• '•:! . .. •

.

, - J. -■ ' • -

*70

SMELL

PLAlfc 70

PLATE XLYIII.

SALMO EPERLANUS.

SMELT.

* PISCES ADOMINALES.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Head smooth, and compressed. Mouth large : lips small : tongue
H te ! cartilaginous, and moveable : teeth in the jaws, and upon the
Eyes moderate, and lateral. Branchiostegous membrane with
° m ^ our to twelve rays ; cover of three plates. Body long, covered
rth rounded and very finely striated scales : back convex : lateral
line straight, and nearest to the back : posterior dorsal fin fleshy
ithout rays : ventral fin of many rays.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Lowei jaw longest : seventeen rays in the anal fin.

\lmo Eperlanus . maxilla inferiore longiore, pinna ani radiis 17.
Bloch. Fisch. Deutscht.

Salmo Eperlanus: capite diaphano, radiis pinnae ani 17. Fn.

Suec. 350. — Art. gen. 10. syn. 21. spec.
4 5.' — Gron. Mils. 1 . p. IS. n. 49. — Gmel.
Syst. Nat. 1375. sp. 13.

Trutla edentula tota argentea, semi-diaphana, &c. Klein miss,
pise. 5. p. 20. t. 4. /. 3, 4.

Eperlanus fluviatilis- Gesn. Thierb. p. 189 .

PLATE XL VIII.

If we may assent to the very probable conjectures of Mr. Pennant,
t)r. Bloch and other Ichthyologists, the Smelt is to be considered as
a species exclusively confined to the North of Europe. These
authors say that it appears in vast shoals in the North Seas, and in the
Baltic, but that it never enters the Mediterranean Sea, or is seen
further to the southwaid in its periodical migrations from the northern
regions.

The Stneit is found in the seas surrounding our own island, at all
seasons of the year. Towards the close of Autumn, they commonly
ascend from the sea up those rivers which they frequent, in' order to
deposit their spawn, and continue in those places till March or April,
when having finally accomplished the purpose of their visit, they
return again to the sea. This however ought only be understood as
the time of their appearance, and emigration in certain rivers, for in
this respect the Smelt is extremely irregular ; remaining in some five
or six months, and in others scarcely so many weeks. The principal
fishery for the Smelt commences about March in the temperate parts
of Europe.

Di. Bloch makes two species of the Common Smelt, one of which'

he retains under the name of Eperlanus, the other he calls Eperlano-
marmus. Perhaps there may be, notwithstanding, more propriety in
believing with Gmelin, that the Eperlanus, and Der Stint of Bloch is
rather a variety than a species distinct from the larger kind. The
length of the small sort is from two to three inches ; the other most
commonly exceeds four inches in length, and sometimes measures six,
and even seven, or eight inches. Mr. Pennant speaks of one, the
largest he had ever heard of, that was thirteen inches in length, and
weighed half a pound. We have seen Smelts of a very large size

PLATE XLVIII.

tanen in the River Thames, though certainly none so considerable in
this respect as that recorded by Mr. Pennant. The Smelts mentioned
m Narborough’s Voyage, that are said to be taken in the Straits of
Magellan, some of which measured twenty inches in length, and eight
m circumference, were most likely not of this species.

The smell of this fish has an highly odoriferous fragrance peculiar
to itself; which has been compared by some to that of cucumbers
recently gathered from the garden, and by others it is thought to
resemble rather that of violets. Yet this idea does not prevail univer-
Sa lly, for there are many persons to whom the fragance arising either
from cucumbers or violets are extremely grateful who are disgusted
wnh that of Smelts. Linnaeus tells us there is found in the Baltic Sea
two varieties of the Smelt, one of which he calls Nors, and speaks of
lts having a very fcetid smell, which in the early Spring, when the
peasants come to buy it, fills all the streets of Upsal with the smell :
adding, that at this season of the year, agues prevail there. Bloch has
keen erroneously misled into the belief that the streets of London are
sometimes affected by the stench of Smelts in the same manner.

4

In the first dorsal fin of the Smelt delineated in the Plate, we
unted eleven rays : in the pectoral fin twelve rays: ventral eight:
anal twurtcen : caudal twenty. one.

7 \

GRAYLING,

"3

*

5

PLATE 7 \

PLATE LXXXVIII.

SALMO THYMALLUS.

GRAYLING.

*** PISCES ABDOMINALES.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Lead smooth, and compressed. Mouth large: lips small: tongue
Lte, cartilagihous, and moveable : teeth in the jaws, and upon the
°ngu e . h* yes moderate, and lateral. Branchiostegous membrane
ta ^ 10rn f°ur to twelve rays; cover of three plates. Body long,
°'ered with rounded and very finely striated scales: back convex :
lter al line straight, and nearest to the back : posterior dorsal fin
fleshy Without rays : ventral fin of many rays.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

^ !'P e ‘ jaw rather longest : first dorsal fin with about twenty-three

) > la.ge, and varied with violaceous and red: body silvery, with
cinereous lines.

A L M q 'p

ahymallus: maxilla superiore longiore, pinna dorsal
prima radiis sub 23. magna violaceo-rubrotpji
variegata corpore argenteo cinereo lineatis.

PLATE LXXXVIII.

Salmo Thymailus: maxilla superiore, longiore, pinna dorsi radii*
23. Mul. Zool. Dan. p. 49. n. 416. — Gmel.
Linn. Syst. Nat. T. 3. p. 1379. sp. 17.
Corcgonus maxilla superiore longiore, pinna dorsi ossiculorum 23.

Art. Gen. 10. Syn. 20. spec. 41. — Kram. el.
p. 390. n. 2.

Salmo pinna dorsi radiis 23. Bloch Fisch. Deutchl. 1 . p. 153. n.-
4. t. 24.

Thynnus. Bondel. pise. 2. p. .187, &c.

Tru.tta edentula, labiis pro dentibus limas instar exasperatis, &c.

Klein miss. pise. 5. p. 21. n. 15. t. 4 .f. 5.
Thymailus. Will, ichtli. p. 88. t. n. 8. Gesn. aq. 979. — Aldr.
pise. p. 593.

Grayling. — Bay. — -Penn. Brit. Zool. V. 3. p. 311. n. 150.

This is a migratory fish, passing the winter season in the open sea,
and the summer ip tlge fresh waters ; early in the spring they ascend
the rivers, where they remain till autumn, and then return to their
former element. The haunts of this fish in summer are the clear,
cold, and rapid streams of Alpine regions, and in such situations, are
found in various countries of Europe; and in Siberia. Its food con-
sists principally of Crabs, testaceous animals, worms, insects, and the
fry and eggs of other fishes, especially those of the Trout and the Sal-'
mon, both which commonly abound in the streams inhabited by the
Grayling. The Swedish fishermen are so well assured of its par-
tiality for the eggs of the Salmon, that at the spawning season,
whenever the Graylings make their appearance, it is a natural con-
clusion the Salmon are not far distant. It is generally understood

PLATE LXXXVIII.

l ^at the Grayling is not an inhabitant of Norway, as Pontopiddan
does not mention it in his Natural History of that country. On the
contrary, the Grayling is no where more abundant than in Lapland,
"where the flesh is eaten in common by the peasants, and a substitute
for tennet is obtained by pressure from its entrails, with which they
convert the milk of their rein deer into cheese.

The flesh of the Grayling appears to be in very general estimation
for its superior delicacy and flavour. Gesner affirms, that in Switzer-?
an< ‘ **■ ’ s ac counted the choicest of all fish. It is taken in some of
tUe kalian rivers, and in France ; in the last of which, the Loire, is
ce.ebrated for producing it in great perfection. Bloch tells 11s it is
found in Sjlesia, in the mountains of Geants: in Prussia, in the
Cuiisch-IIave ; and in Pomerania, in the Sclave, not far from the
Baltic. In some countries the Grayling is so much admired, that
the lower orders are forbidden, under severe penalties, to fish for
them, those being reserved for the tables of the great. England
produces this flesh in some plenty, though still it must be classed
among the more local species. Old Walton found it in the Dove,
tae Fient, and some small rivers that run by Salisbury. Sir John
Hawkins, one of the annotators bn Walton, further mention its being
found in many rivers of the north, particularly in the Humber and
^ ’ ' ’ w hich runs through Herefordshire and Monmouthshire
into the Severn. Pennant says it is found in the rivers of Derbyshire ;
In some of those of the north ; in the Tame, near Ludlow ; in the
Lug, and other streams near Leominster ; and in the river near
Chi ist Church, Hampshire. In the Dee liver, near the lake of Bala,
Merionethshire, North Wales, we have taken it ourselves, and have
aiso received it from the vicinity of Scarborough, in Yorkshire,

F 3

plate lxxxviil

Ihis fish spawns about the beginning of April, or sometimes so
late as May, and it is at this season they leave the sea, and ascend
rivers to drop their spawn among the stones and gravel in
the deeper parts of the streams. They do not multiply fast, and
are never found in any of our rivers in abundance, like the Trout
and other prolific species. The Grayling is reputed an eager and
voracious fish, perhaps without sufficient reason, for although it
will sometimes rise to the fly, the minnow, or other baits of an
expert angler, it is a cautious fish, lurking close under the shelter
of the stones, or herbage on the steeper banks of the stream, where
it seems to examine the bait at leisure, and, if disturbed, darts away
with amazing swiftness, and hence it happens, the Grayling is
more commonly taken by the net than the line.

The Grayling ranks among the number of fishes that live to a great
age ; it grows, in common, to the length of twelve or fourteen
inches : Walton speaks of the largest being eighteen inches in length.
Mr. Pennant mentions another, the most considerable in point of
size he ever heard of, that was taken at Ludlow ; this was above
half a yard long, and weighed four pounds six ounces. Upon the
Continent they rarely ai rive at this size ; there are instances, indeed,
of its attaining to the size of two feet, but those are rare. The word
Grayling is corrupted from Grey-line, or Grey-lined, alluding to
the numerous longitudinal lines upon the body of this fish, which
distinguishes it in a particular manner from the rest of the Salmon
tribe. The peculiar scent observeable at certain seasons in the
Giayling, as in the Smelt, has obtained it the name of Thymus
and ln\ indus *, the odour it exhales at those times being thought

1 ■■ -

* Salvian, Belon . Gcsnsvt

V.

PLATE LXXXVIII.

to resemble that of the savory herb thyme, About the beginning of
the last century, or earlier, it was indeed imagined, by fanciful
writers, to subsist, at particular seasons, on what they denominated
^ ater-thyme; they seem persuaded, the powerful aromatic, smell of
the fish was contracted from this species of food, an idea apparently
borrowed from Lilian*. Others say it rather resembles the smell of
new honey than of thyme. Mr. Pennant denies the existence of this
smell. We have never, ourselves, observed any such smell, but, as

IS stated to be only at particular seasons, and has been attested
by various observers, the fact is not to be disputed on trivial grounds.
”lhe name Umbra, Umber, or as the French call it Ombre, can only
a 'iude to its swiftness in swimming, the fish, when disturbed, dis-
appearing in an instant, like the transient glimpse of a shadow.

f his fish is of an elegant form, the colour silvery, inclining oft
the sides to cinereous purple, and on the back rather more to dusky,
besides the longitudinal lines, the body is sometimes marked with a
few dusky spots. The first dorsal fin in the specimen figured is re-
markably large, and contains eighteen rays ; the second is small and
fleshy ; the pectoral fin has twelve rays ; ventral seven ; anal eleven;
and the tail, which is much furcated, nineteen rays.

An opinion nio te absurd than this prevailed about the same time. It is gravely
old W alton, that “ the French value the Umber er Grayling so highly, that they
y he leeds on gold, and say that many have been found in their famous river Loire,
oi whose bellies grains oi gold have been often taken !”

F 4

t

*

!

.

I

\

~

\ ,

I

» - - -V . . ■ i

'

... i:... L-s . iifi'J t , . i.j,- r,

i

' lr M A- */w«. *RicAu*brm,

PLATE 72

PLATE CIX.

ESOX LUCIUS.

PIKE.

**** piscES ABDOMINALES.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

flatfish above : mouth and throat large : jaws toothed : un-
^ ’ 112 u PP el one flat, lower punctated : tongue broad, loose :
smooth : eyes round, moderate size, and lateral : nostrils
1Car t ^ le e yes- Gill-covers large, aperture ample, with from
^ t0 twe ^ ve ra Y s - Body elongated, covered with hard scales,
convex, and compressed on the sides: lateral line straight,

1 the back, and scarcely visible: dorsal and anal fin very short,
ai td placed opposite.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

AND

SYNONYMS.

Snout depressed, jaws nearly equal.

Ess0x T

u °ius: rostro depresso subsequali. Linn. Fn. Suec. 355.
j, Gmel. Linn. Syst. Nat: T. 4. p. 3. p. 1390.

1 . rostro plagio plateo. Art. Gen. syn. 10, sun. 26. spec. 53.
ucius. Rondel, pise. p. 188 .

Gem. uq. p. 500.

Alison. I\/os. p. 122 ,

PLATE CIX.

Pike. Will. Icth. p. 236.

Raij pise. p. 112.

Penn. Brit. Zool. 3. p. 270. n. 1 t

The Pike inhabits lakes and other still waters In Europe and the
northern parts of Asia. It is a strong, fierce, and active fish, swims
with great rapidity, grows fast, and preys on reptiles, water rats, the
young of aquatic birds, and various other animals. The Pike com-
mits vast depredations in fish-ponds, being extremely voracious, and
devouring all kinds of fishes, its own species not excepted. The
greatest enemies of the Pike are the Perch and the Stickleback, both
pf which are armed with formidable spines, well calculated for
defence, and sufficiently powerful to intimidate the Pike.

The precise period of its introduction into Britain is not ascer-
tained ; it must have been naturalized here before the middle of the
fifteenth century, as Pikes were served up in plenty at the celebrated
feast given by George Nevil, Archbishop of York, in the year 1466.
According to a popular but, evidently erroneous opinion, the Pike
was not brought into England till the reign of Henry the Eighth.
Some parts of the south of Europe are still destitute of this fish, for,
if we may rely on the assurance of Amatus, it is neither to be found
at present in Spain nor Portugal.

This fish attains to a large size in a shorter time in proportion than
most others. In the course of the first year it grows to the length
of eight or ten inches, the second to twelve or fourteen, the third to
eighteen or twenty. Willoughby speaks of one weighing thirty-two
pounds : the largest Mr. Pennant heard of in England weighed thirty-

PLATE CIX.

five pounds. Another, weighing forty-three pounds, was taken in
1152 near Dresden. Dr. Brand saw one seven feet in length taken
near Berlin. But the largest of these are still inferior in size to those
found in the Lapland Lakes, and in the river Wolga in Russia. Pliny
speaks of the Pike weighing nearly a thousand pounds. The largest
recorded by later writers within our knowledge was that taken
St Eayserslautern, in the Palatinate, in the year 1497, which
measured nineteen feet in length, and weighed three hundred and
fifty pounds. This is the celebrated fish put into the water by the
Emperor Barbarossa in the year 1230, as appeared from an inscrip-
tion engraved on a ring of gilt copper affixed to the fish, and which
clearly proved it to be at the least two hundred and sixty. seven years
old. A painting of this extraordinary fish was long preserved in the
Chateau de Lantern, and the skeleton as well as ring at Man-
heim. This is the most remarkable instance of longevity in the Pike
at present known. Rzaczynski describes one that was ninety years
old ; but after speaking of the Pike of Kayserslautem this is scarcely
worthy mention. It is sufficiently testified by all writers, that the
P‘ke attains to a great size and very considerable age.

As the flesh of the Pike is not fat, and is easy of digestion, it af-
foids an excellent food. In Germany and Lapland, where the Pike
abounds, the inhabitants salt and dry this fish, and transport it in
hands to other parts, especially to the Catholic countries, where it
•onus a considerable article of commercial importance.

I he Pike, which is of an olivaceous grey, changes to a fine green
or gieenish cast in the spawning season, which occurs in spring; the
spots on the back and sides, which were before obscure, become then

a yellow or golden hue, the eyes Vermillion red, or golden tinged

PLATE CIX.

with red ; and the fins of an orange colour spotted with purple. Ac-
cording to Bloch the Pike is sometimes found of a fine orange-yellow
spotted with black, and is then distinguished by the Dutch fishermen
under the appellation of the King of Pikes.

In one specimen we counted sixteen rays in the dorsal fin, in the
pectoral fin ten, ventral seven, anal thirteen, and caudal twenty-three.

\

73

OSSEOUS, OR GREATER GAR-FISH.

-Ltrndc Pub* theJa directs . by E.Donovan tF& Ct J.Rivinaton,

PLATE 73

PLATE C.

ESOX OSSEUS.
OSSEOUS GAR FISH.

****

PISCES ABDOMINALES .

GENERIC CHARACTER.

^lua] a ^ 0ve : mouth and throat large : jaws toothed, un-

palat u PP er one flat, lower punctated : tongue broad, loose ;

nea moot * 1 : e yes round, moderate, and lateral : nostrils double,

to C ^ CS " ^*^" covers large, aperture ample, with from seven

ra ys. Body elongated, covered with hard scales, above
Convex and

^ ’ compressed on the sides : lateral line straight, nearest

and scarcely visible : dorsal and anal fin very short, and
generally p ] aced oppos j te _

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

Es °x Osseus
Es °x maxilla
Es °x Oseus.

SYNONYMS.

Upper jaw longer ; scales osseous.

• Maxilla superiore longiore, squamis osseis. Linn.

— Mus. Ad. Fr. 2. p. 101.
superiore longiore, cauda quadrata. Art. Gen. 14.
Syn. 27.

Le Caiman : radiis primis serratis. Bloch, t. 390.

^ ^ sseous s or Greater Gar Fish, is mentioned as a native of the
eas, by Dr. Turton, in his Gmelinian System of Nature :

PLATE C.

he informs us, after Gmelin, that it inhabits North America and
Asia ; and further observes, that it is rarely found on the Sussex
coast. Berkenhout, in his “ Outlines of Natural History,” describes
it previously as a British fish, on the authority, as it appears, of a
single specimen, that was cast ashore upon the coast of Sussex; but
•whether Dr. Turton is indebted for his information to this writer or
not we cannot presume to determine ; the same specimen is most
probably alluded to by both. — That a solitary individual at least of l
this species has been observed on the Sussex coast appears very
certain, and having been recorded among the fishes of this country,
we are unwilling to pass over such an interesting fish in silence.
Should the authority upon which we have introduced it into the
British Ichthyology be considered insufficient, it will be at leaf! re-
membered that the ingenious Mr. Pennant has ventured on the evi-
dence of a less positive circumstance to insert the Sword fish, Xiphias
Gladius, in his Zoology, as a native of the British seas : the head
and pectoral fins of an individual of that species being discovered
some years ago on the sandy shores of Laugharn, in Caernrarthenshire,
induced him to admit it as such, and it must be allowed that the
Esox Osseus has an equal claim to our consideration as a British fifb.

Our figure of this curious fish is taken from a specimen of moderate
size ; the length from the tip of the jaws to the extremity of the tail
not exceeding two feet. The form is elegant and very singular,
slender in the girth, and somewhat roundish. The colour of the
back pale olivaceous or greenish, becoming whiter on the sides, the
belly rather more dusky than the sides, and the fins brownish. The
upper jaw is rather advanced beyond the lower, a circumstance not
noticed by Lister, who describes the fish, and erroneously remarks
that both the jaws arc of an equal length. The superior length of
the upper jaw Linnaeus observes as one of the principal characters of

PLATE C.

species . both the jaws are armed with a number of small and very
e teeth, interspersed with a few of a larger size, every third or
tth tooth being rather larger than the rest. But the species is more
tail) distinguished by the strong osseous scales with which the
^ e body is covered, and protected : those are of a rhomboidal
b d rat ^ er prominent in the middle, and are disposed across the
wh^ ^ an °k^ Ue ^ lrect:ion - The fins are of a rounded form, and
th fi ^ ' CI y remarkable > tbe brst ray of all the fins, and in the tail,
j rst ra h both above and beneath, consists of small pointed bony
P ates, which slope obliquely one over the other, and form by that

a senated edge. Bloch considers this as a sufficient character
pecies, observing, that it differs in this particular not only
j 1 tbe rest of the genus, but from the whole of the fish tribe *.
r specimen the dorsal fin, which is situated close to the tail,
of eight rays : pectoral fin of nine rays : ventral five : anal
t£n : and caudal eleven.

conception ' ,10 " eTer ’ cansl< lercd as a specific character, is liable to some mis-

,0^::: tlie mu,ds ° f those not wei1 c ° nversaut th ° sub ><*. ** « wm no t be
appearance v ai ‘terior part of the fins of the common Sturgeon exhibits a serrated
deeH Ce VCr> S " 1Ul;lr *° tlmt of Esox ° ssens - In the former fish this serration is in-

ucea occasioned bv th ■

of the ant ^ ° United pomts of man J bon y rays instead of the peculiar structure

ond miuht | “ a '° ne> 1)111 t *’ 1S )s a sub j ect rather for the critical than cursory observer,

instanc k CCn aV0) ^ CC *' Ipecifical distinctions assigned by Bloch are in

looked ^ t *'' m e)t * ler tbose °I Artedi or I.inmeus, hut in the presout he lias
conceived ' tbaracter adopted by the latter in search of another that may be mis
latitude of his expression with regard to all other fishes.

are in some
over-

I .<

VOL. v.

E

plate lxiv.

ESOX BELONE.

SEA PIKE, OR GAR-FISH
*** PISCES ABDOMIN ALES.

generic character.

equal tl attlSh ab ° Ve : moudl and throat large : jaws toothed, un-

pala te smo^h^ ^ ^ l0Wer pUnCtated : ton g ue broad, loose ;
double Sm °° tl1 ‘ Cyes round > moderate size, and lateral : nostrils

seven t ^ Glll ' covers ,ar S e > aperture ample, with from

above co £ ^ Botly eloR S ated > c °vered with hard scales,

barest thTbaV nd j C ° mpreS * ed ° n the sldes : lateral straight,

and placeri ' ^ scarce ty visible : dorsal and anal fin very short,
faced opposite.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

Each jaw long, and subulate.

Es °X Bf.LONE • rrvuf

• o.tro utraque maxilla subulato. Gmel. Syst. Nat.
Esox T ' X ' P ‘ 3 ’ P' 1391. sp. 6.

‘ f ° CUSpItlat0 S racili subtereti pithamali. Linn. Fn.
Suec. 356 — Art. Gen. 10. Syn. 27.

PLATE LXIV.

Esox rostro subulato. Bloch Fisch. Deutsckl. I. p. 23S.

Sea Pike, Gar-Fish, or Sea Needee. Penn. Bril. ZooL
v. 3, p. 324. No. 154

The Esox Belone, or Gar-fish, of the English, is a common species
in all the European seas ; migrating annually in large shoals from the
depths of the ocean to the shore. They appear on our coasts in the
spring, commonly announcing the arrival of the mackrel, but remain-
ing with us for a much shorter length of time than that fish. They
deposit their spawn close to the shore, among the rocks, and sea weeds,
where the young are hatched, and after a certain time retire. We
have seen the young fry of this fish on several of our coasts during the
summer months.

As an article of food the Gar-fish is held in far less estimation than
the Mackrel, to which its flavour in some degree approaches. By
many people the flesh of this fish is considered unwholesome, and even
poisonous, no doubt from an unfounded prejudice against it, arising
from the singular circumstance of the bone becoming of a fine grass-
green colour in boiling. In Holland they are taken it) vast quantities,
but are seldom eaten, being most frequently employed as bait in the
cod fisheries by the Dutch fishermen. .

The usual size of the Gar-fish on our coasts, is from a foot to-
eighteen inches, or two feet in length : sometimes they may attain
to three feet in length, but that very rarely. According to Renard this
fish is found, at times, in the eastern parts of the world eight feet

PLATE LXIV.

tang. Dr. Bloch was told by Sir William Hamilton, that a fish
this species was once caught near Naples, that weighed fourteen
pounds, and this bbing an uncommon size for the Gar-fish on that
c oast was presented to the King as a rarity.

The dorsal fin in our specimen contains seventeen rays ; pectoral
-oil teen: ventral seven : anal nineteen : and caudal twenty-three.

/

i

SKIPPER PIKE, OR SAURY GAR-FISH.

London Pub* aj the Act directs by E.i

PLATE CXVL

ESOX SAURUS.

SKIPPER PIKE.

**** PISCES AEBOMIN ALES.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Head flatfish above: mouth and throat large: jaws toothed: un-
equal, the upper one flat, lower punctated : tongue broad, loose :
palate smooth : eyes round, moderate size, and lateral : nostrils
double near the eyes. Gill-covers large, aperture ample, with from
seven to twelve rays. Body elongated, covered with hard scales,
above convex, and compressed on the sides : lateral line straight,
nearest the back, and scarcely visible: dorsal and anal fin very short,
*nd placed opposite.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AVID

SYNONYMS.

Jaws subulate, and slightly curving upwards, lower one longest:
a bove and beneath spurious fins near the tail.

Esox Saurus: maxillis subulatis subascendentibus, inferiore lon-
giore, caudam versus supra infraque' pinnulis spu-
riis.

Saurus. Rondel, de Piscibus , lib. 8. p- 232. Gesn. 1. 4.
p. 468.

PLATE CXVI.

Skipper. Pad. Syn. Pise. p. 169.

The Saury. Penn. Tour Scot. 1169.— Brit. Zool. 3. p. 325.

Linn. Trans. V. 3 . p. 60 — Turt. Gmel. Linn.
V. I . p. 862. — Shaw. Gen. Zool. V. p. 1. 114.

Our countryman Ray appears to be the first writer who describes
this rare and curious species of Esox as a native of Britain ; he
speaks of it as a Cornish fish under its provincial name of Skipper.
Rondeletius and Gesner previously mention it as a scarce kind among
the fishes of the Mediterranean. In 1769 the same fish was again
introduced to notice by Mr. Pennant in his Tour of Scotland, and
afterwards in his British Zoology, wherein we are informed, that
vast numbers of them were thrown ashore on the sands of
Leith, near Edinburgh, after a great storm, in November 1768. In
the summer of the year 1800 a single specimen was taken near
the Isle of Portland, in Dorsetshire, after a hard storm, an account
of which, accompanied with a figure of the fish in its natural size, is
given by the Rev. Mr. Rackett, F. L. S. in the third volume of the
Linntean Transactions *' ; and since that period the specimen in out-
possession occurred likewise on the British coasts. It is altogether sin-
gular that this fish has no place in either of the editions of the Linntean

* This fish appears to be rare on the Dorset coast. Mr. Rackett tells us, that of the
fishermen in this part, one only was acquainted with it, and called it a Skipper, the
name under which, according to Ray, it was known in his time on the coast of Corn-
wall. This writer adds, that the species has not been noticed by Linmeus, Ginelin,
nor Blech; and that Pennant has given a very indifferent figure of it in his Tour in
Scotland, and bas made use of the same plate in his British Zoology, Vide Linn.
Trans. V. 3. p. 60.

PLATE CXYI.

^ystema ; it is inserted by Dr. Turton in his translation of Gmelin
®n the authority of Pennant.

The length of our fish is about eighteen inches ; the body of a long
3nd slender form ; not like that of an eel as wr iters describe, but agree-
tng precisely with that of the common Gar-fish, (Esox belone,) The
snout is subulate, fine, toothless, and slightly curving upwards *.
The jaws are of unequal length, the lower being longest, and bend-
,n g upwards at the tip, in which respect it differs from the figures
°f Mr. Pennant and Mr. Rackett, in both of which the jaws appear
straight and of equal length. Neither do the jaws when closed
c xliibit that remarkable hiatus or gaping shewn in those two repre-
sentations ; there is a kind of flexuosity in the shape of the mouth
when open which might excite such an idea, but upon gently
closing it the curvature in the form of one jaw will be found to cor-
respond with the suture of the other, so that the specific character.

Dr. Shaw obferves, that “ in a specimen figured in the work of Cepede the jaw*
4re represented curving upwards, contrary to what has hitherto been observed; the
specimen figured in tire work of Mr. Pennant, as well as that of Rondeletius, and the
drawing by Mr. Rackett, have the jaws strait ” This is certainly true, ar.d it is there-
^°rc to be presumed that the fishes from whence the account of the latter-mentioned
w riters have heeu taken must have sustained some injury, or been misrepresented; for
13 clear Cepede is right in representing the jaws curving upwards : it is indeed evi-
ent ’ ^ rom t' 10 comparative shortness of the jaws both in the figure of Mr. Pennant and
Yr. Ivackett, that neither could have been perfect, the beaks in the fish itself being
®caily twice the length delineated by either.

^ a could have likewise wished that the intersecting lines in the figure drawn by Mr.
Rackett, in the Linntean Transactions, had been rendered lefs liable to misconception ;
r Dr. Shaw, who apparently never had an opportunity of examining the fish, is entirely
oy it, <• i a a , ; elegant drawing of this fish, (says Dr. Shaw) communicated.

PLATE CXVI

“ maxlllis medio hiantibus,” assigned to it by Mr. Rackett in die
paper above mentioned is by no means applicable.

Some misunderstanding seems to prevail likewise with regard to
the colour of the fish : Mr. Pennant describes it as having the back
dusky, and the belly bright and silvery ; in which particulars he is
followed by Dr. Shaw, who remarks that the colour of the whole
animal is dusky above and silvery beneath, or that with equal pro-
priety it might be said to be silvery, with dusky or bluish brown
back. This is not, however, the fact ; the trtie colour of the fish
on the back is a most lovely azure blue, changeable to green, and
glossed With purple and yellow instead of dusky, and the lower
parts silvery. The fish in this respect does not appear to be de-
scribed correctly by any writer except Mr. Rackett, who defines
it with accuracy in his general description, “ Dorsum vk idi-caru-

by the Rev. Mr. Rackett, I observe, that the skin appears reticulated by fine liner,
decussating each other at equal distances.”— This is most assuredly not the natural ap-
pearance of the fish ; the decussating lines are no doubt intended merely to reprefent the
teales of the fish. The figure given in the British Zoology is still more erroneous, as it
appears entirely smooth and destitute of any scale-like appearance. But a greater
defect than this in the drawing above adverted to, remains to be mentioned : this relates
to the spurious fins at the posterior part of the body both above and beneath, which, in-
stead of being distinct, arc seen running one into the other, as if connected by a common
membrane tlirbughout, while in the fish itself those fins are perfectly detached from
each other. The figure in the British Zoology is less exceptionable in this respect, but
even these are inexpressive, every pinnule appearing to be attached by its posterior ray
close to the body of the fish. There appears to be also some mistake with regard to the
number of those fin3; iu the figures above noticed, these amount to six above, and six
beneath, but in the specimen now before us the number on the upper part is fire, and
beneath seven, — It was conceived necessary to be thus minute, in order to nlaee the
description of this ambiguous, aud little known species ia its true point of view.

PLATE CXVJ.

tescens. Venter argenteus.” The body has a smooth appearance,
the scales with which it is covered being thin and glabrous : the
lower part of the body from the gills to the tail is marked with a
longitudinal carena or keel, which terminates at the latter part in
a somewhat protuberant manner. The species may be readily dis-
tinguished by the pinnules or spurious fins on the body npar the
ta d> in which particular it agrees with the Scomber or Mackrel
genus ; and to this in point of flavour the flesh of the fish is also said
t0 bear a strong resemblance. The tail is remarkably furcated, of
a Pale brownish colour half way down from the base, and the rest

All the fins in this species are small : the dorsal fin is placed
far down the back, and contains eleven rays, between which and
the tail the five distinct pinnules of the upper part of the fish are
* 1(: uated : the pectoral fin is somewhat falcated, and contains eleven
ra .vs : and the ventral fin six rays : the anal fin is placed opposite
to the dorsal one, and contains eleven rays; and between this and
tail arc seven distinct pinnules : the tail itself contains twenty-
t'Vo rays.

y 0L, v

»

. •

. •

’ / n. ; • • ; \

- :» -m* j; ' ’ . !b _ ■ , - •

,

{-•: 1 >. I-'' 5 .

bi, oJu ei i -ii Jj'lo ■ tb

,1- ’’(A '! rtr r ■,

r : . 1 t - '■ . ■

■

.

ATHERiNE.

PLATE 76

PLATE LXXXVI I.

ATHERINA HEPSETUS.
EUROPEAN ATHERINE.
*** PISCES ABDOMINALES.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Upper jaw rather flattened: gill membrane furnished with six rays :
a silvery stripe on each side the body.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

Body rather pellucid and pale : back tinged with testaceous, and
Subieticulated with oblique lines of blackish dots.

Atherina Hepsetus: corpore sub pellucido pallido ; dorso sub-
testaceo, Iineis obliquis punctorum nigricantium
subreticulato.

•^■IHerina Hepsetus: pinna ani radiis fere duodecim. Gmel.

Linn. So/st. nat. T. 3. p. 1396. 18 3.

^therina Hepsetus. Linn.—JSasselq. it. 382 .—Forsk. Arab,
p. 69. n. 101.

Shaw. Gen. Zoel. p. 130. v. S. p. 1.

■^therina. Gronov. onus. 1. n. 66..

Atherwe. Penn. Brit. Zool. v . 3. p. 328. n. 157.

PLATE LXXXVIL

The Atherino is a fish of considerable elegance. In size and ge-
neral similitude it approaches nearest to the Smelt. Like that delicate
fish the whole body is semidiaphanous, and partakes of the palest tints
of iridescent colours, of testaceous, and pellucid white. Though
sometimes confounded with the smelt by inattentive persons, the Athe-
rine is at once distinguished by the distinct broad silvery stripe that
passes along the sides the whole length from the gills to the base of the
tail, and which in point of splendor even emulates the effect of
silver at its highest polish. The more accurate observer need not
be informed, that the second or posterior dorsal fin in the common
Smelt, as in others of the Salmo tribe to which it appertains, is small,
fleshy, and destitute of rays, as in the Salmon and Trout, while on
the contrary the posterior dorsal fin of the Atherine is large, and
consists of a number of distinct rays connected by a thin pellucid
film like the other fins.

Naturalists describe the Atherine as a native of the Mediterranean,
European, and Egyptian Seas. Forskal found it in the Red Sea:
Hasselquist at Smyrna: and Sonnini, among the islands of the Archi-
pelago; Willughby saw it at Venice: Gronovius mentions it as be-
ing found on the coast of Holland : Duhamel on different coasts of
France: Brunniche, on that of Sheppy island in England; and Pennant
as very common in the sea near Southampton, where he tells us it is
called a smelt. — According to this last author it never deserts South-
ampton, and is constantly taken there, except in hard frosts. Our
Atherines are from the coast of Devonshire, where we learn this de-
licate fish is very abundant, but whether it is found also on other
coasts of our island, as Pennant intimates, we are unable to determine.
By accident, or in a few solitary instances, it may have been found on
other coasts, but we must observe that our enquiries after it in other

plate kxxxvii.

Peaces have hitherto proved fruitless. On the eastern coasts we have
Pretty good authority for believing it is not found, or at least in any
number as at Southampton.

The author of the British Zoology, Mr. Pennant, rather mistakes
thc or dmary size of the Atherine, in stating its length at only four
•nchcs and one fourth, those of moderate dimensions being from five to
SlX lnches lon g- The heacl is broad, flatfish, very sloping in front,
a nd marked down the center with an interrupted carena or ridge : the
g'H covers silvery, and the rest of the head pellucid and speckled with
fuscous. Tire body is about the thickness of the common smelt, and
ls tinged with a variety of delicate tints as in that fish, the upper parts
°nl v inclining more to pale testaceous, or yellowish brown. The
sca les on the back seem at first glance of a lozenge form; on close
^spection these appear obtusely circular and marked near the edge, or
°uter margin, with a series of dusky dots, which from their disposi-
tion give the whole back the appearance of being reticulated by ob-
IC l Ue '' nes °f dots > those dots are sometimes confusedly broken, and
are larger or smaller on different parts of the same fish, but in all are

*° diStinct, y marked as give the back the subreticulated appearance
s 6f ° i re mentI °ned. All the fins, except the ventral, are very delicately
tPecJtjd with fuscous. The lateral Stripe is silvery, changeable in
d . e S lat,C 10 steel hlue > and marked down the middle with a longitu-
s mal S6nes of litde elevations which constitute the lateral line. This
^ P e on the sides is straight as Mr. Pennant mentions : we could
nCVer h °wever discover the row of black dots beneath it, which this
Wr h er describes in his fish.

crit nna2US ’ Wko cons iders the number of rays in the anal fin as a
lC ' IOn of t!lls s peeies, states them at “ about twelve a specific
VOL.lv.

PLATE LXXXVII.

character so vaguely expressed cannot be depended on, the more espe-
cially since recent observations have proved the fallacy of this cha-
racter. Bloch found thirteen rays in the anal fin of his fish ; and
the number in various specimens examined by ourselves to ascertain
this point varied from fourteen to fifteen, sixteen, and seventeen. Mr.
Pennant neglected to count the rays in any of the fins, so that it is
impossible to determine their number in the anal fin of his fish. The
individual selected by us for representation contained seventeen rays
in the anal fin. In the first dorsal fin were eight rays, in the second
eleven : the pecoral fin contained thirteen rays : the ventral six ; and
the tail, which is much furcated, fifteen.

This fish is in season from March to the latter end of May, or
beginning of June, when the spawning time commences. Sonnini
observed this fish in the Archipelago, where we learn from his ac-
count the modern Greeks call it Jtherinos, a name derived from its
ancient appellation Atherina. They assemble, according to this au-
thor, in vast shoals near the shores of most of the islands, and arc
sometimes taken in prodigious quantities by a very simple device. A
man being provided with a long stick, at the end of which is fastened
a horse’s tail, or a piece of black cloth, walks along the shove in calm
weather and trails it through the water. Ihc Atherines gather in a
crowd round it, and follow its motions ; in this way they are con-
ducted into some opening formed by two rocks, which is closed by a
net fastened to two sticks, when the water is agitated, and the fishes
secured by drawing the extremity of the net together. 1 he Athcrine,
it is added by Sonnim, held tip to the light is diaphanous, and when
dressed, even by frying, the spots or little black specks of its back are
still very apparent, as well as the longitudinal stripe on the sides of
the body, which become only blackish and more- narrow'.

n

MULLET.

London Pub? as (Jtr let dircets by EJJonovait L-EkCJLu'inntvn, April *1002 .

PL Aft 11

PLATE XV.

MUGIL CEPHALUS.

MULLET.

* ABDOMINALES.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Head: Lips membranaceous : the lowered one carinated within.
No teeth * ; in the upper part of the mouth a double fang-like cal-
losity. Branchiostegeous -membrane with seven curved rays ; covers
smooth and rotundated. Body whitish.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

Four rays in the first dorsal fin.

Mugil Cepiialus : pinna dorsali anteriore quinque radiata. Linn .

Syst. Gmel. T. 1. p. 3. p. 1397. 184.
sp. 1 . — and

Mugil Albula : pinna dorsali anteriore quadriradiata. Gmel.

T. 1. p. 3. p. 1340. 184. sp. 2.

Bullet. Penn. Brit. Zool. p. 329. sp. 158,

* This is an erroneous opinion of several authors beside Linnaeus and Gmel in. Its
* ee th are minute, but sufficiently apparent in such of the genus as we have had an oppor-
tunity of inspecting ; and are disposed along the exterior margin of the lips, especially
'he upper one these teeth or denticulations are visible enough in Mugil Cephalus< 1
i. D

4

PLATE XV,

We are persuaded the distinctions between M ugil Cephalus and
Mugil Albula, as stated in the S'y sterna Nature, are by no means
sufficient to prove them different. It is said, that Cephalus has five
rays in the first dorsal fin, and inhabits Europe. Albula differs in
having only four rays ip the dorsal fin, and inhabits America ; and
yet Gmelin refers amongst the synonyms of Mugil Cephalus to
Gronovius , who describes but four rays in that part of his fish : — the
only character Gmelin assigns to his second species, Albula.

A slight attention to the accounts of authors on Ichthyology will
convince us that the number of rays in the fins of fishes are often in-
constant. Gmelin acknowledges that M. Cephalus, having five rays
in the dorsal fin, is an European kind ; and the observations of Pen-
nant, Block, and others, prove, that, with only four rays in the
dorsal fin, is an European species also. The existence of Albula
rests on the authority of Catesby and Brown ; the first describing it as
a native of Carolina, and the other of Jamaica. Whether it differs
specifically from Cephalus may be doubted, but the character given
of it does not remove it from the foregoing species. Block says,
Mugil Cephalus is found in every part of tine world, and adduces the
evidence of Brown as a proof that it is found in Jamaica, so that he
considers them both as the same species.

Linnaeus describes but Qne European Mugil, and he could cer-
tainly have meant no other by his Cephalus than our species. In
the synonyms quoted in the early editions of the Systema Nature?,
the number of these rays in question are stated both at four and five.
And we think they must be both the same species, accidentally differ*
ing in the specimens examined by different authors.

The Mullet Is an inhabitant of the salt waters. It frequents
sandy bays, and the entrances of great rivers, and in the summer
rnonths has been known to enter into fresh waters, as is supposed to
deposit its spawn. They swarm on many of the European shores,
and particularly those of the Mediterranean, where they are taken in
a kind of wear contrived on purpose; for they are a cunning fish, and
not taken in nets without some difficulty. It is said, that if one of
them escapes out of the net by leaping over its side, the rest of the
shoal will assuredly follow it, and escape also.

On the coasts of Italy, where this fish is very abundant, the natives
make their botargo of the roe of the females. This part is taken out
entire, and covered with salt for four or five hours, then slightly
pressed between two boards, and, lastly, washed and dried in the sun
lor about fourteen days ; in the month of August it is fit for use in
eight or ten days.

The length of this species is about a foot or fifteen inches. It has
five rays in the dorsal fin, in the second eight : pectoral fin seven-
teen : ventral fin one spiny and six soft rays: anal fin nine: tail
twelve, and two very short ones on each side.

I

7

PLATfc 78

PLATE XXXI,

EXOCOETUS YOLITANS.

COMMON FLYING FISH.

* ABDOMINALES.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Head scaly: mouth without teeth: jaws connected at each side:
in the gill-membrane ten rays : body whitish : abdomen angulated :
pectoral fins large, and formed for flying : anterior part of tire rays
carinated.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

Belly carinated on each side.

Exocoetus Volitans: abdomen utrinque carinato. Amoen. ac.

1 . p. 321. Art. gen. 8. syn. 18. sp. 35.
Winged Flying Fish. Penn. Brit. Zool. 3. p. 333. sp. 159.

An interesting creature, introduced into the present work on the
authority of Mr. Pennant, who in his turn observes, that he can
produce but a single instance of its being taken on the British coasts ;

PLATE XXXI.

in June, 1765, one was caught at a small distance below Carmarthen,
in the river Towey, being brought up by the tide which flows as
far as the town. It was seen by John Strange, Esq. at Carmarthen,
and an account of it communicated to Mr. Pennant.

The vastly disproportionate size of the pectoral fins in this genus
of fishes, compared with others, affords them an extraordinary ad-
vantage in effecting their escape from the larger and more voracious
kinds’-when closely pursued in the water, but this advantage exposes
them to a far greater number of enemies, and they not unfrequently
escape danger in their native element to become the prey of GuJls, of
Corvorants, and other aquatic birds that hover over the surface of the
Water to catch them in their aerial flights. It can only remain for a
short time suspended in the air, for the instant its fins become dry, it
must again dip into the water to moisten them. They often quit
the water in shoals, and sometimes alight on board of ships in
immense numbers in warm climates.

Of this genus, two species are known, beside the present, E.
Volitans : the latter may be easily distinguished by having each
side of the belly carinated, and the ventral fins placed much nearer
to the head than in either of the others. It inhabits the Red and
American seas, and also those in the warmer parts of Europe ; espe-
cially the Mediterranean, where it is very common.

Our specimen is somewhat larger than the figure represents. In
the dorsal fin are fifteen rays : pectoral sixteen : ventral eight : anal
fifteen ; and in the tail, twenty.

PILCHARD.

London. Pub? as the Act directs byJiJtonoran.Scf'.kCltirin&ton, Hay Jitdog.

i J LATE )9

PLATE LXIX.

CLUPEA PILCHARDUS.

PILCHARD.

*** PISCES ABDOMINALES.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Head compressed; mouth compressed, denticulate within: jaws
unequal, upper one with serrated mystaces : tongue short and rough,
■with inverted teeth : eyes moderate, round, and margined. Gills
setacous : cover, either of three or four plates, membrane with eight
Tays. Body compressed, elongated, covered with scales of moderate
size : lateral line straight, near the back, and running parallel with it :
belly carinated and serrated: usually seven rays in the ventral fin;
tail bifurcated.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

Silvery, scales large and adhering firmly, upper jaw ascending :
dorsal fin placed centrally.

Clupea Pilchardus: argentea, squamis magnis arete infixis,
maxilla superiore adscendente, pinna dorsali in
medio posita.

l 4

PLATE LXIX.

Clupea Pilchardus: Bloch, t. 406,

Clupea S. Arted. Synon. 16. ?

Pilchard. Will, Ichth. 223. Bay . syn. pise. 104. Bor lase Cornwall.
212, Penn. Brit. Zool. 3. p. 343,

That casual observers should be apt to confound the Pilchard with
the Herring ought not to excite surprise : they cannot but observe
the very close affinity of these two species, and may be readily led to
believe, from the inferior size of the Pilchard, that it must be the
Herring not yet arrived at its perfect growth, and maturity. It is
more remarkable, that experienced naturalists should have so implicitly
assented to this notion. Linnaeus does not mention the Pilchard,
although our countryman Ray, from whom Linnaeus derived no in-
considerable share of his ichthyological knowledge, gives it as a species
distinct fiom the Herring. Gmelin also omits it in the last edition
of the Systema Naturae. Schonvelde was supposed to have noticed
it, but it is not certain that the Peltzer of that author is the same as
our fish, although Pennant refers to it as such among his synonyma.
Lloch thinks it is very likely that Schonvelde’s Peltzer, a fish taken
on the coast of Holland (according to that writer,) may be of a dif-
ferent species, and recommends an enquiry to be made among the
Hutch naturalists to determine this point. Should it really prove
distinct, it would seem that Bloch is the only continental writer who
has particularly noticed, or well considered this fish, though its
history and peculiarities have been so copiously detailed by several
English writers, and by Borlase in his History of Cornwall espe-
cially. Even Bloch, it seems, was indebted to an English correspon-
dent (Mr. Hawkins) for the only specimens of the Pilchard he was

PLATE LXIX.

a Me to obtain, previous to the publication of his work on Fishes.
Phis circumstance is the more singular, since we have heretofore been
taught to believe it an abundant fish on all the European shores, an
idea that seems to us the less certain from the observations of Bloch,
a nd from the silence of so many ichthyological writers as have ap-
peared at various times upon the continent respecting it. We cannot
conceive that the Pilchard is peculiarly British, having ourselves seen

II from the Mediterranean, but believe upon the whole that it is more
abundant on our coasts, and far better known in this country than

III any other part of Europe.

The comparative view which Pennant draws between our fish and
common Herring is judicious, and will serve to shew the cha-
r acteristic differences between those two fishes in the clearest point
view. The specimens he examined were both of the same length,
Namely, nine inches and an half each. “ The body of the Pilchard (he
Sa ys) is less compressed than that of the Herring, being thicker, and
r °under, the nose short in proportion, and turned up, and the under jaw
shortest. The back more elevated : and the belly less sharp. The
d° r sal fin of the Pilchard is placed exactly in the center of gravity,
*° that when taken up by it, the body preserves an equilibrium,
whereas that of the Herring dips at the head, the dorsal fin being
P la ced only three inches eight-tenths from the tip of the nose ; that
the Herring four inches one-tenth. The scales of the Pilchard
at lhere very closely, whereas those of the Herring very easily drop
The Pilchard is in general less than the Herring. The Pilchard
ls fatter, or more full of oil

Brit. Zool. Vol. III. p. 3i 6.

PLATE LXIX.

The critical remarks of Bloch upon those two fishes so nearly agree
with those of Pennant, that it would be needless to repeat them.
After an accurate comparison between them, he is persuaded
(as indeed every one must be who examines them with attention)
that they are specifically distinct. He speaks of the central position
of the dorsal fin, and the magnitude of the scales, in the Pilchard, and
those characters are alone sufficient to prove it distinct as a species
from the common Herring, to which it is so closely allied.

Our principal fishery for the Pilchard is off the coast of Cornwall,
where they appear about the middle of July in vast shoals, but dis-
appear again before winter. They are caught in great numbers by
the inhabitants of some parts of Cornwall for the purpose of ex-
trading oil from them. They are also dried, and sent in barrels as an
article of export to other countries.

The pectoral fin in the specimen we have figured contained fixteen
rays: ventral eight : anal seventeen : dofsal eighteen, and tail thirty-
two.

*

SHAD.

PLATE 80

PLATE LVII.

CLUPEA ALOSA.

SHAD.

**** PISCES ABDOMINALES.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

- Head compressed ; mouth compressed, denticulate within : jaws
unequal, upper one with serrated mystaces : tongue short and rough,
with inverted teeth : eyes moderate, round, and margined. Gills
setaceous : cover, either of three or four plates, membrane with eight
rays. Body compressed, elongated, covered with scales of moderate
size : lateral line straight, near the back, and running parallel with it :
belly carinated and serrated : usually seven rays in the ventral fin :
tail bifurcated.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

Sides with black spots : snout bifid.

Clupea Alosa : lateribus nigro-maculatis, rostro bifido. Linn. —
Gmel. Syst. Nat. p. 1404 . sp. 3 .

Clupea apice maxillae superioris bifido, maculis nigris utrinque.
Art. Gen . 1. syn. 15 . sp. 34 .

Vot. Ill,

F

PLATE LV1I.

Clupea maxilla superiore in apice crenata. Bloch. Fisch. Deutschl.
1. p. 209. n. 3. t. 30./. 1.

Harengus dorso et apicis vertice ex albo flavescentibus, &c. Klein.

miss. pise. 5. p. 72. t. 19./. 4.

Thrissa. Aldrov. pise. p. 500.

Laccia, Alosa. Salvian aq. p. -103, 104.

Clupea, Shad. Will. Ichth. p. 227. t. p. 3./. 1 . — Raj. pise,
p. 105. tt. 6.

Shad. Brit. Zool. 3. p. 296. n. 5.

Alose, in France. Laccia, Italy. Saccolos, Spain. Alse, Else,
May-fish, and Gold-fish, Germany. Elft, Hol-
land. Brisling, Sildinger, Sardeller, Denmark.
Shelesniza, Beschenaja ryba, Russia. Sardellae-
baliik, Turkey. S aghboga, Arabia,'.

The colours of this common fish when living, are remarkable for
their peculiar beauty. Its back is of a dulky blue, .changeable to
green and yellow ; the sides silvery, and elegantly glossed with
various hues ; the belly white; or faintly tinged with yellow.

Commonly the whole fish when first taken from the water, glows
with a pale but a lovely golden yellow, with the exception of the
front of the head, which is transparent ; and the spots, which on
close inspection are black, appear at that time of a purplish hue.
The Linnaean specific character of this fish, is principally taken from
those spots, which are disposed in a longitudinal series along the
pidcs. Those spots vary much in their strength of colour in different

PLATE LVII.

species, either from the condition of the fish, its age, or the par-
ticular season of the year. Sometimes they are remarkably vivid,
at others scarcely discernible, and even in the same fish they appear
much stronger, after scales on the sides are partly rubbed off. The
lateral spots by which the shad is distinguished, in some individuals
amount to ten: they do occasionally occur with only four or five,
but the intermediate numbers about seven or eight are the most fre-
quent. An opinion prevails, that as the fish grows old, those spots
fade away, and at last entirely disappear. Independant of those
lateral spots, there are commonly two others upon the tail, one of
which is situated on the upper, and the other on the lower edge,
contiguous to the base. \

The Shad is known as an inhabitant of many parts of the world.
In the Mediterranean, the Persian, Egyptian, and American seas,
we learn it to be most abundant : it also swarms in those of the
northern parts of Europe at some times of the year. The haunts
of this fish are the open sea, which it leaves at certain seasons, in
order to ascend rivers to deposit its spawn, in places of convenient
security.

The time of its appearance in the same rivers is pretty constant,
but they do not ascend all rivers at the same time. This may vary
according to the nature of the climate, and may be also governed in
some measure by the temperature of the season. In the Nile for
instance, it is seen in January, or even in December. It passes
from the sea up the Rhone in March : in the Wolga, Rhine, and
Elbe, it is seldom observed till April or May, and in some of the
rivers on the continent its appearance is so regular about the month
of May, and not before, that it has acquired the name of May.

F 2

PLATE LVIL

Fiscli*. All those rivers it leaves again in autumn, returning at
that season to the sea. It is not a little extraordinary, that the fry
of the Shad has never yet been ascertained, although those first
ascend rivers to deposit their spawn, and must be therefore hatched
in such places as may be easily visited by the inquisitive naturalist.
We are persuaded there need no longer exist any doubt as to the
identity of the fry of this fish. There is a diminutive species of
Clupea, called a white bait, that is found in abundance during the
summer, in the Thames, near Greenwich, which is evidently the
young of the common Shad, notwithstanding the opinion of Mr.
Pennant to the contrary. This fish has excited much curious spe-
culation. The author of the British Zoology, enters at length upon
the subject, and after endeavouring to prove that it is neither the
fry of the Shad, the Sprat, the Smelt, or the Bleak, concludes that they
approach the nearest to the Bleak, under which head he describes it.

The Thames affords this fish in shoals, from the beginning of
May till the middle of June, about which time the fishermen are
prohibited from taking them, because at that time they are in full
spawn. A short time after they again disappear, only a few strag-
glers remaining in the river till the end of July, or beginning of
August, when the fishermen find no more till the summer fol-
lowing. *

Being considered as a poor insipid food, the Shad bears an inferior
price compared with other fish in the neighbourhood of London, a
fish of two or three pounds weight being commonly sold for about

* Bloch.

PLATE LVil.

sixpence. They are usually eaten fried with parsley, or stewed.
^lr. Pennant speaks of the Severn Shad as a delicate fish at the time

its first appearance in that river : in that part which flows by Glo-
Ces ter, they are taken in nets in plenty, and sell at times dearer
than Salmon. This writer tells us the Severn Shad is sometimes
sent to London, where the fishmongers distinguish them from those
°f the Thames kind by the French name of Alose.

The flesh of the Shad is not considered wholesome by some people.

Rt Russia, where they appear in great abundance in the Wolga, and
*

0 ther rivers, they are held in such abhorrence, that when they are
strapped with other fish in the nets, the fishermen throw them back
a gain into the water. They call the Shad Beschenaja ryba, or the
enraging fish, having prepossessed themselves with the silly notion,
that it enrages even to madness those who eat of it. As Hasselquist
delates, it is found in the Mediterranean near Smyrna, and on the
coast of Egypt near Rosetta. In the months of December and
January, this fish, he tells us, ascends the Nile as far as Cairo, where
1C is caught, and dressed in a particular manner with a stuffing of pot
Marjoram ; and the fish thus prepared for food, he assures us, will
v cry nearly intoxicate the eater. The Arabs are fond of this Fish,
"which they cure by first smoking them, and then drying them in
the air ; they are eaten with dates.

There is a smaller sort of Shad sometimes accidentally taken about
the entrance of the River Thames, which the fishermen consider as
a kind of herring. This we have received from correspondents at
different seasons of the year, and on the most attentive comparison,
ar e convinced they are only the common Shad, not yet arrived at full
maturity. The fishermen have the superstitious notion, that every

PLATE LVII.

slioal of herrings is preceded by one of those fishes, who is there-
fore denominated by them, the leader, mother, or the queen of
herrings. Ihisisto all appearance the same fish as Mr. Pennant
tells us, is taken in great numbers in the Severn, immediately after
the true Shad leaves that river ; and which the people near Glocester
call the Twaite. Tnis Mr. Pennant observes, “ differs only from a
small Shad, in having one or more round black spots on the sides ;
if only one, it is always near the gill, but commonly there are three
or four, placed one under the other.” In other respects they per-
fectly agree, except in size, the T waite weighing from half a pound
to two pounds at the ulmost, while the true Shad weighs sometimes
eight pounds, though commonly only from four to five pounds each.
The mother-herrings we have seen, haye scarcely ever exceeded the
size of the common herring.

In England there is nothing peculiar in the fishery of the Shad,
but in Germany, and other countries on the European continent,
the mode of capture sometimes pursued in the Shad fisheries, is al-
together singular. The fishermen in those parts have an idea, that
the Shad is terrified at storms, and troubled waters, that it loves
quiet, and is delighted to excess with the sounds of music. They
therefore seek the most retired parts of the rivers, which the Shad
frequents, to spread their nets. To those nets they fasten bows of
wood, to which are suspended a number of little bells, in such a
manner as to chime in harmony together, whenever the nets are
moved. The Shad once attracted by the sound to the snare, will
not, they say, attempt to make their escape, while the bells con-
tinue to jingle. And even while the fishermen are in the act of
drawing up the nets, the poor fish lie listening with motionless sur-
prise to the alluring sounds : their efforts to retreat from the fatal

PLATE LVIL

rie t are paralyse?, and they submit with scarce a struggle to the
destiny that awaits them. The idea of thus enticing the Shad to
die snare, by the power of music, seems to be derived from days of
c lassical antiquity. /Elian speaks of this fish being attracted by the
s °und of castagnettes made with shells, and rang in unison with the
songs of fishermen.

The Shad feeds on worms, insects, and the smaller kinds of fish.
In its turn it is the prey of larger fishes. The Perch is among the
number of its greatest enemies.

In the dorsal fin of the specimen represented, are twenty rays :
Pectoral fin nineteen rays: ventral fin twelve rays: anal fin twenty
0n e ; and tail twenty-six.

WHITE BAIT.

London . Pubiaj the Act diced* . by EJiotiovan SrF.C kJ.Rivinabm June, l * c l8o6-

PLATfc 8 1

PLATE XCVIII.

CLUPEA ALOSA, jun.

WHITE BAIT.

i

hite Bait. Appendix to the Bleak. Penn. Brit. Zool. vol. 3.
p. 372.

Whitebait. Var. of Cyprinus Alburnus, Bleak. Turt.
Syst. Nat. v. 1 . p. 885.

White Bait. Append. Carp. Shaw Gen. Zool. vol. s. p. i.

p. 246.

When the true character of the White Bait becomes more gene-
rally understood, and the veracity of those remarks we shall offer in
tlle sec l ue ' »s sufficiently confirmed by the observation of other natu-
ralists, it will perhaps appear that it has remained with us to remove
ffie mysterious veil that has hitherto enveloped the history of this little
fish in obscurity. To what peculiar circumstances we are to attribute
the errors that have prevailed among writers respecting this fish, we
c annot easily imagine : unless, as we suspect, they never had an op-
portunity of examining it; but that they have actually been deceived
are perfectly satisfied. This assertion is not advanced on slight
5u tmises, for some pains has been taken by us to investigate the
history of this heretofore ambiguous fish : we have examined it re-
peatedly, and have now before us a great variety of specimens eluci-

PLATE XCVIII.

datory of the different transitions of its growth from a diminutive size,
to the full dimensions of those delineated in our plate. Every one of
those bear the most striking semblance of the parent fish, and afford
an incontrovertible evidence that the White-bait is really the fry of the
common Shad. We shall premise our enquiry by introducing the ob-
servations of Mr. Pennant concerning it, in the result of which he la-
bours to prove that the White-bait is not the young Shad, or even a
fish of the Clupea, but one of the Cyprinus genus, approaching nearest
to the Bleak, and shall conclude with stating our reasons for dis-
senting from an opinion so long established and so uniformly adopted
by later writers.

I

“ During the month of July (says Mr. Pennant) there appears in
the river Thames, near Blackball and Greenwich, innumerable mul-
titudes of small fish, which are known to the Londoners by the name
of White Bait. They are esteemed very delicious when fried with
fine flour, and occasion during the season a vast resort of the lower
orders of epicures to the taverns contiguous to the places where
they are taken at.”

“ There are various conjectures about this species, but all termi-
nate in a supposition that thev are the fry of some fish, but few
agree to which kind they owe their origin. Some attribute it to the
Shad, others to the Sprat, the Smelt, and the Bleak. That they
neither belong to the Shad, nor the Sprat, is evident from the number
of branchiostegous rays, which in those are eight, in this only
three. That they are not the young of Smelts is as clear, because
they want the pinna adiposa, or rayless fin; and that they are not
the offspring of the Bleak is extremely probable, since we never
heard of the White-bait being found in any other river, notwith-

PLATE XCVIII.

standing the Bleak is very common in several of the British streams :

as the White-bait bears a greater similarity to this fish than any
thei we have mentioned, we give it a place here as an appendage to
the Bleak, rather than form a distinct article of a fish which it is im-
possible to class with certainty.”

It is evident that it is not of the Carp or Cyprinus genus : it
has only three branchiostegous rays ; and only one dorsal fin ; and

respect to the form of the body, it is compressed like that of
l he Bleak.

“ Its usual length is two inches: the under jaw is longest: the
Ir ‘des silvery, the pupil black : the dorsal fin is placed nearer to the
e ad than to the tail, and consists of about fourteen rays : the side
hue is straight : the tail forked, the tips black.

c< The head, sides, and belly are silvery ; the hack .tinged with
green.” v ,

In the General Zoology of Dr. Shaw, the White-bait is described
1S a Species of the Carp or Cyprinus genus. It is observed by this
]tCr ’ S| nall fish, which is extremely plentiful at par-

| ICu lar seasons in the river Thames, is supposed to be the young of
s °me species of the genus Cyprinus, though it is not agreed to what
d cc, es it should be most properly referred : its general history is so
" C11 detailcd b y the ingenious author of the British Zoology, that
'hi be best given in his own words.” Dr. Shaw concludes with
° osu vations of Air. Pennant, as above quoted.

^ hitq-bait is introduced by Dr. Turlon, as a variety of the
typnnus alburnus. Me describes it as having the ‘‘Lateral

PLATE XCVIII.

line straight.” The general description is to the following effect.
“ Pupil black ; iris silvery ; lower jaw longer ; head, sides, and belly
silvery ; back tinged with green : dorsal fin nearer the head than the
tail, and with about fourteen rays : tail forked, the tips black.”—
It will be proper to add, that in the Gmelinian Systems, Nature no
mention is made of this fish, and that Dr. Turton has inserted it, to
all appearance, on the authority of Mr. Pennant.

i

Our observations commenced with stating the White-bait to be the
genuine offspring of the Shad, and consequently of the Clupea, in-
stead of Cyprinus genus, as the preceding authors consider it. Thi*
we shall have little difficulty in determining. To speak with inde-
cision on a point that admits of not the slightest doubt is needless :
when we deliver an opinion merely it is becoming to express it with
diffidence ; but indecision and diffidence are misapplied to matters'
removed beyond the possibility of doubt, and such is the fact exactly
with regard to the White-bait.

I * t

Every circumstance considered, we cannot avoid concluding, that
much of the prevailing errors respecting the White-bait has originated
from the incautious observations of Mr. Pennant on this subject : —
that this author never saw the White-bait ; and that succeeding
Naturalists, too implicitly relying upon his observations, have been
inadvertently precipitated into those errors which the most casual
examination of the fish in question would have enabled them to
detect. If, however, contrary to this suggestion, Mr. Pennant ever
did examine the fish, his specimens must have been either in a most
imperfect state, or his investigation of it unpardonably hasty and
negligent. His figure conveys no just idea of the fish, and his
critical animadversions are laboriously intricate and defective. He

I 1 LATE XCVIII.

tells us, among other particulars, that the White-bait “ neitl e:
belongs to the Shad nor the Sprat, as is evident from the number of
branchiostegous rays, which in those are eight, in this (the White-
bait) only three.” This remark is incorrect : the branchiostegous rays
were uniformly eight in number in at least fifty specimens we ex-
amined, with the view of ascertaining the fact exactly. The fish
represented in our Plate as just emerging above the surface of the
Water to seize its prey, has the gill membrane expanded, in order to
render those brancheostegous rays apparent, The number of those
rays determines at once that it cannot be of the Cyprinus genus,
which is distinguished by having only three such rays, instead of
ei ght. Mr. Pennant further remarks, that “ it is impossible to class
fbis fish with certainty;” but in what respect this ambiguity consists
is not for us to say. The White-bait certainly possesses every cri-
lerion of the species, as evidently as the parent, or full grown fish.
Its outline is the same, the fins are alike ; it exhibits the same serra-
tions on the abdomen, and cleft on the snout ; and what is even
remarkable in a fish of this small size, the lateral range of dusky
spots are perceptible through the beautiful silver scales, as in the
i ar ger fish. It exhibits in a word a mod perfect but diminished figure
°f the common shad, not a solitary character excepted.

From the above detail, we conceive there cannot remain the
slightest hesitation in removing the White-bait from the Cyprinus
fo the Clupea genus, and restoring it to its parent species. So per-
fectly were we satisfied of its propriety, that having previously
gwen a Plate of the Shad, we had been almost induced to wave in-
erting this little fish in the present work. Conceiving, however,
0tl further reflection, that by introducing it to notice, with an ac-
cuiate representation of the fish, in the size it is usually known by

vot,. V.

D

PLATE XCVIII.

the name of White-bait, it would tend to elucidate a point hitherto
considered doubtful by our Ichthyologists, we were afterwards per-
suaded to insert it. Any further description of the fish we presume to
be unnecessary : the figures are correct, and those will sufficienty
testify, on comparison with the common Shad, that the White-bait
nothing more than the young of that individual species.

PLATE 82

Plate l.

CLUPEA ENCRASICOLUS.

ANCHOVY.

PISCES ABDvMINALESi

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Lead compressed ; mouth compressed, denticulate within : jaws
unequal, upper one with serrated mystaces : tongue short and rough,
tvith inverted teeth: eyes moderate, round, and margined. Gills
setaceous : cover, either of three or four plates, membrane with eight
tays. Body Compressed, elongated, covered with scales of moderate
size : lateral line straight, near the back, and running parallel with it :
belly carinated and serrated : usually seven rays in the ventral fin :
bil bifurcated.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Upper jaW longest;

^-eupea Encrasicolus : maxilla superiore longiore. Gmel. Syst .
Nat. 1405. Sp. 4. ,

Clupea maxilla superiore prominente. Bloch Fisch. Deutschl. I,
p. 212. 7i. 4. t. 30./. 2.

Anchovy. Will. Icih. 225.

Rail Syn. pise. 107.

Penn. Brit. Zool. V. 3. p. 347. Sp. 163.

A 4

PLATE L.

The true Anchovy has been observed on the coast of Hampshire,
where a specimen at this time in our possession w’as caught only &
few years since. Mr. Ray, as Pennant observes, discovered this
species in the estuary of the Dee about a century and an half ago ;
after which time no notice was taken of its resorting to the British
coasts, till a few were caught near Mr. Pennant’s house at Downing,
in Flintshire, in the year 1769.

At certain seasons the Anchovy, like the sprat and herring, appears
m vast shoals on all the sea coasts of the southern parts of Europe,
as well as in the north seas, and the Atlantic ocean. Bloch acquaints
us that it is found in the Baltic sea, but rarely. Upon the coasts of
'Portugal, Spain, and the south of France and Italy, they are taken in
the greatest plenty. They are caught from the month of December
till March, but the principal fisheries commence in May, and continue
till the end of July. The Anchovies of Brabant are in much esteem,

. as are also those of Gorgona, a small island lying to the westward of
Leghorn, where they are taken in vast numbers, arid beheaded, gutted,
and pickled for exportation ; the Anchovy being in very general use
as a sauce for other fish, which occasions a considerable demand for
. *^is article. The Greeks and Romans, we are told, were well ac-
quainted with this fish, and prepared a garutii, or kind of pickle from
it, which they held in considerable estimation.

Three or four inches at the most is the usual length of the Anchovy
when full grown. Sometimes they are found still larger. The spe-
cimen in our possession is about four inches and an half in length.
In the dorsal fin are fifteen rays ; pectoral fin fifteen ; ventral fin seven ;
'anal fin fourteen ; and in the tail twenty-four.

HATE 83

PLATE XXIX.

CYPRINUS BARBUS.

BARBEL.

ABDOMIN ALES.

GENERIC CHARACTER

^fouth without teeth : gill-membrane with three rays : body smooth,
and whitish in general : ventral fins usually with nine rays.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

- Anal fin with seven rays : beards four : second ray of the first
dorsal fin serrated on both sides.

£ypr INUS Barbus : pinna ani radiis 7, cirris 4, pinna; dorsi radio
secundo utrinque serrato. Mus. Ad. Fr. 2.
p. 107.

'-yprinus maxilla superiore longiore, cirris 4, pinna ani ossiculo-
rum 7.

Cyprinus maxilla superiore, prominente, cirris quatuor ad os. Bloch .
Barbel. Penn. Brit. Zool. 3. p. 357.

A common inhabitant of most fresh waters in Europe, and easily
stinguishej from the other species of Carp or Cyprinus genus to
^ch it belongs, by the upper jaw being advanced far beyond the

PLATE XXIX.

lower one, and in having the four beards appendant, from which
the appropriate name of Barbus or Barbel is derived. This fifh
during the summer prefers the rapid currents and shallows of rivers,
and retires at the approach of winter to the more still and deeper
places, 1 hey live in societies ; lurking in holes along the sides of
the water under the shelter of the steepest banks, and feed on
smaller fish and worms, and flesh of all kinds, for which they dig
in the banks like swine. In the day time, they love to lurk occa-
sionally among weeds and between the stones in retired parts of the
river, and wander out in the night in search of prey. They spawn
in April, and begin to be in season in May and June.

The flesh of the Barbel was never in great esteem for the table.
Mr. Pennant qnotes a passage in Ausomus, which, as he observes,
is no panegyric on its excellence ; and he adds, himself, that “ they
are the worst and coarsest of fresh-water fish, and seldom eat but by
the poorer sort of people, who sometimes boil them with a bit of
bacon to give them a relish.”

“ The Barbel,” says old Walton, “ though he be of a fine shape,
and looks big, yet he is not accounted the best fish to cat, neither
for his wholesomeness nor his taste : but the male is reputed much
better than the female, whose spawn is very hurtful.”

Again, when speaking of Itondeletius, he makes this remark on
the spawn, “ we agree with him, that the spawn of the Barbel, if
it be not poison, as he says, yet that it is dangerous meat, and
especially in the month of May ; which is so certain, that Gesner
and Gassius declare, it had an ill effect upon them, even to the en-
dangering of their lives. ’ Sir J, Hawkins, in his annotations on

PLATE XXIX.

Dalton, says, “ Though the spawn of the Barbel is known to be
°f a poisonous nature, yet it is often taken by the country-people
medicinally ; who find it at once a moll powerful emetic and ca-
hiartic. And, notwithstanding what is said of the wholesomeness
°f the flesh, with some constitutions, it produces the same effect as
{ he spawn. About the month of September, in the year 1754 , a
Se ivant of mine who had eaten pait of a Barbel, though, as I cau-
t'oned him, he abstained from the spawn, was seized with such a
Vl °lcnt purging and vomiting, as had like to have cost him his life.”
According to Mr. Pennant, also, the roe is very noxious, affecting
those who unwarily eat of it with a nausea, vomiting, purging, and
* s ^ght swelling ; and many similar remarks might he adduced, were
tt necessary, to prove from the most prevalent Opinion, among
writers, either ancient or modern, that the flesh of the Barbel is in.
different; and the roe, at leafl, in certain seasons of rhe year, is
Poisonous or unwholesome. Mr. Bloch, however, (and, as he says,
h°m experience) fully contradicts this prejudice, as he terms it,
a gainst the Barbel: the flesh, he observes, is white and of a good
favour ; and of the eggs he has eaten, w r ith all his family, and nof
a Sl ngle person among them has ever been incommoded.

Having taken occasion to advert to the “ Complete Angler,” of
diat experienced fisherman, old Walton, and the notes of Sir J.
Hawkins, it may not be thought amiss by some readers, for us ro
a 'id °ne or two little extracts from their directions how to fish for
■^ ai bel, as they have the countenance of those who are fond of the
tU 'iusenicnt of angling, and are, we are persuaded, superior to any
a ' n g we could offer on that subject.

V °L. n.

c

PLATE XXIX.

“ The Barbel,” says Walton, “ affords an angler choice sport,
being a lusty and cunning fish ; so Infly and cunning as to endanger
the breaking of the angler’s line, by running his head forcibly towards
any covert, or hole, or bank, and then striking at the line, to break it
off with his tail, as it is observed by Plutarch, in his book De in-
dustrid Animalium ; and also so cunning to nibble and suck off
your worm close to the hook, and yet avoid letting die hook come
into his mouth.

i

“ The Barbel is also curious for his baits, that is to say, that they
he clean and sweet, and have your worms well scoured, and not kept
in sour and musty moss, for he is a curious feeder ; but at a well-
scoured lob-worm he will bite as boldly as at any bait, and especially,
if a night or two before you fish for him, you shall bait the places
•where you intend to fish for him, wi th big worms cut into pieces * ; and
note, that none did ever over-bait the place, nor fish too early or too
late for a Barbel. And the Barbel will bite also at gentles, which
not being too much scoured, but green, are a choice bait for him,
and so is cheese, which is not to be too hard, but kept a day or two
in a wet linen cloth to make it tough : with this you may also bait
the water, a day or two before you fish for the Barbel, and be much
the likelier to catch store : and if the cheese were laid in clarified
honey a short time before, as namely, an hour or two, you are stiff
the likelier to catch fish : some have directed to cut the cheese into
thin pieces and toast it, and then tie it on the hook with fine silk :
and some advise to fish for the Barbel with sheep’s tallow and s off
cheese, beaten or worked into a paste, and that it is choicely good

* Instead of these graves, which are the sediment of tallow melted for making can-
dles, cut into small pieces, is mentioned by sir J. Hawkins as an excellent ground-b» lt
for Barbel, Gudgeons, and many other fish, if thrown in the night, before you angle-

PLATE XXIX.

in August, and I believe it : but doubtless the lob-worm well scoured,
and the gentle not too much scoured, and cheese ordered as I have
directed, are baits enough, and, I think, will serve in any month ,
though I shall commend any angler that tries conclusions, and is in-
dustrious to improve the art.”

“ Fishing for Barbel,” says one of his annotators, on the contrary,

“ is at best but a dull recreation. They are a sullen fish, and bite but
slowly. The angler drops in his bait, the bullet at the bottom of the line
fixes it to one spot of the river. Tired with waiting for a bite, he gene-
tally lays down his rod, and exercising the patience of a setting dog
Waits till he sees the top of the rod move ; then begins a struggle
between him and the fish, which he calls his sport; and that being
over, he lands his prize, fresh baits his hook, and lays in for another.

“ The young brood of wasps, hornets, and humble bees are re-
puted good baits for this fish.”

A slight description of this common fish may be sufficient. It
sometimes grows to the length of two or three feet in oui waters ,
and in the Danube, were formerly, if they are not at present, taken
frequently of a much larger size. After a dreadful carnage between
the Turks and Austrians, on the banks of the before-mentioned river,
Barbels were found in it of such a vast size, and in such numbers as
to become a matter of record ; and their propensity for human flesh
being well known, the circumstance was attributed to the heaps ®f
dead bodies that had been thrown into the water. The form of this
fish is not inelegant; the colours vary at different periods of growth,
being sometimes whitish or silvery, and olive on the back, and at
others yellowish more or less tinged with a golden hue. I he second

PLATE XXIX.

or largest spine of the dorsal fin is serrated in a very remarkable man-
ner ; beside this the fin in our specimen contains eleven rays : the
pectoral fin thirteen rays: ventral eleven: anal nine; and the tail
twenty-two.

Lcnd ° n ^ EJ>onma n iP.lClJ.I&nn0u,n.*r<y,-'.’,ao 7 .

PLATE 84

PLATE CX.

CYPRINUS CARPIO.

CARP.

*** PISCES ABDOMIN ALES.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Mouth without teeth : gill membrane with three rays : body
smooth, and whitish in general : ventral fins usually with nine rays.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

Second anterior ray of the dorsal and anal fin osseous and ser-
iated.

Cyprinus Carpio: ossiculo secundo in pinna dorsi anique ser-
rate.

Cyprinus Carpio: pinna ani radiis 9, cirris 4 pinna; dorsalis
radio secundo postice serrrato. Linn. Faun. Suec.
359.< Gmel. Linn. Syst. Nat. T. l . p. 3. p. 1411 .
sp. 21.

^yprinus cirris 4, ossiculo tertio pinnarum dorsi anique uncinulis
annato. Art. Gen. 4. Syn. 3. spec. 25.

-The Carp, originally a native only of the wanner parts of Europe, has
iYithin the space of the last three or four centuries become by degrees
habituated to colder climates, and, being a fish of excellent quality.

K 2

PLATE CX.

is now very generally naturalized in most of the northern parts of the
Continent, and in England. This fish is commonly supposed to have
been first introduced by Leonard Mascal in the year 1514, or, as
others believe, and with greater probability, at an earlier period ; at
least it is mentioned about twenty years before that time by Wynkx/Ti
de lVorde in the “ Boke of St. A loon's Bespeaks of it as a

“ dayntous fische;” and adds “ there ben but fewe in Englonde,
and therefore I write the casse of him.” Carps were introduced
into Denmark in the year 1560 by Pierre Oxe, and are completely
naturalized in that country ; they were also introduced into Holland
and Sweden, where they are now become naturalized. In Sweden,
however, it appears to be uncommon still, as several vessels sail
every year from Prussia to Sweden for the purpose of conveying
Carps to that country. Russia, according to Mr. Pennant, wants
the Carp to this day ; they, however, receive those fish from Prussia
in well-boats at some seasons of the year.

This fish varies in different countries very considerably : in the
milder parts of Europe they grow to a large size, but towards the
north they become gradually smaller. Carps vary also both in size
and flavour, according to the nature of the waters in which they
reside. Those of three or four pounds are common. In some parts
of Prussia they are not unusual of about ten, twelve, or fourteen
pounds weight. Mr. Pennant says, on his own knowledge, he can
speak of none that exceeded twenty pounds in weight ; but at the
same time adduces :he authority of Jovius, that they were sometimes
taken in the Lago di Como of two hundred pounds weight, and of
lizaezynski, who mentions others taken in the Dneister that were

* Published in 1496,

PLATE CX.

five feet in length. Carps of this enormons size must he very scarce
°n the continent however, since Bloch records one of thirty-two
pounds weight, taken in the domains of the Comte de Schulen-
bourgh, in Saxony, as a very extraordinary example, and tells us of
another taken at Dertz, upon the frontiers of Pomerania, of thirty-
e, ght pounds weight, which from its uncommon magnitude was
thought worthy of being presented to the King. It is chiefly in
Austria, Prussia and Poland that the Carp is cultivated with success,
an d where it forms a considerable article of commerce, the traders
Purchasing the fish of the nobility, who derive a great revenue from
the produce of their ponds.

The Carp is extremely tenacious of life, and highly prolific ; they
are reported to attain to the vast age of one hundred and fifty or
tvv ° hundred years; that its term of life exceeds a century we have
a number of well authenticated instances. BufFon says, he has seen

r> . J

ar ps in the fosses of Pont Chartrain, which were known to be one
hundred and fifty years old; and many of those introduced into the
Ponds at Versailles in the reign of Louis the Fourteenth were in
h e, ng a short time before the revolution.

* ts pawning season is in June, or, when the spring is forward,
month earlier ; they breed in the usual manner, and deposit their
Sgs among the herbage : one female is commonly observed to be
lc companied by three males. These fish live chiefly on aquatic
ns ^cts, worms, and plants, and during the spawning time swim in
tr °ops.

The dorsal fin in the specimen selected for our figure contains
e nty-three rays, pectoral fin ten, ventral seven, anal seven, and
1 c l ail nineteen.

I

■owi- • n’l > • ioaai . if-.'

.ilbl I ;; ■•/;> v*:fi£ .. -7 ses 1

. .i , . : : - . ’ -it"

'

i1::t . - •. i !m , . h

i

. . ' : ■ i *

.

. - *•

l

- PLATE 85

PLATE CXIII.

CYPRINUS TINCA.

TENCH.

**** PISCES ABDOMINALES.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Mouth without teeth : gill membrane with three rays : body smooth,
and whitish in general : ventral fins usually with nine rays.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

Scales small : fins thick.

Cyprinus Tinca: squamis parvis, pinnis crassis. Bloch. Fisck.
Dentschl. I. p. 83. n. 14.

Cyprinus Tinca: pinna ani radiis 25, cauda integra, corpore
mucoso, cirris 2. Linn. Fn. Suec. 263. — Mull,
Zool. Dan. p. 50. n. 42S. — Gmel. Linn. Syst.
Nat. T. l.p. 3 .p. 1413. sp. 25.

firama pinnis circinatis et cauda atris, See. Klein, miss. pise. 5.
p. 63.

Tinca. Rondel, pise. 2. p. 157. — Gesn. aq.p. 934. Jolinst. pise.

p. 646.— Will. Ichth. p. 251. t, 5.—Marg.
Danub. p. 47. t. 15.

Tench. Brit. Zool. 3. p. 306. n. 3.

PLATE CXIIL

The Tench is esteemed a silly fish, and one that may be taken
■without difficulty. It is found in most lakes and rivers, bnt seem* to
prefer tranquil waters in retired situations.

As an article of food, the Tench is not uniformly approved ; for
although in England it has many admirers, it is considered as- an
insipid and worthless fish, if not unwholesome, in some other coun-
tries. M. de Bergen believes the Tench sleeps during the winter,
and is revived again in spring by the genial warmth of the sun. In
the month of June they seek the herbage in the shallow parts of the
water to deposit their eggs.

The general colour is olive or olivaceous brown, variable in dif-
ferent fishes according to the season of the year. When in high
perfection the back is olive, the head and sides green glossed with
yellow, and the whole partaking of a fine gilded hue, as the center
of every scale is of a golden colour. The fins greenish, dusky, and
reddish at the base; the eyes fine red. The Tench is particularly dis-
tinguished from the minuteness of its scales. The dorsal fin contains
ten rays : pectoral fin twelve rays : ventral fin, nine rays.; anal fin
fight rays : and the tail twenty -four.

86

GUDGEON.

PLATE 86

PLATE LX XI,

CYPRINUS GOBIO.

GUDGEON.

***** PISCES ABDOMEN ALES:

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Mouth without teeth : gill membrane with three rays : body smooth,
whitish in general : ventral fins usually with nine rays..

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

Anal fin with eleven rays : beards two.

C y PRInus Gobio: pinna ani radius 2. cirris 2. Linn. Mus. Ad.

Fr. 2. p. j 07. — Gnul. Syst. 'Nat. T. l . p. 3.
p. 1412. sp. 3.

)ptmus maculosus, cauda bifurcata, cirro utrinque unico ad an-
gulos oris. Gron. Mus. 2. p. 2. n. 149.
Zooph. 1. p. 104.

ypi'inus oblongus variis cirris 2 ad angulum oris. Bloch. Fisch.
Dcutschl. 1 . p. £7. n. 11. A 8. /. 2.

M 2

PLATE LXXI.

Gobius Fluviatilis, Will. Ichth. p. 264. t. 2. 8./. 4.— Ge.s»«
aq. p. 399-

Gudgeon Raj. Rise. p. 123. — Brit. Zool. p. 308. n. 4.

The Gudgeon is found in most streams, rivers, and pools of fresh
water in England, and in similar situations in all the northern coun->
tries of Europe. During the heat of the summer, they haunt the
shallows of lakes, and gentle streams ; but in the autumn, and during
winter, they lie together in shoals in the deepest parts of the water.
As spring approaches they again desert the lakes and streams to pass
up the great rivers that flow into them, where they assemble to de-
posit their spawn against stones, or in other places of secuiity.

The female of this species is a full month in spawning, depo-
siting her eggs, a few at a time, during the whole of that peiiod, oi
even longer. The eggs are of a clear blueish colour and extremely
small : those eggs are eagerly sought aftor by the trout, by perch,
carp, and tench, and other fresh water fishes. This circumstance
has suggested a hint as to the propriety of introducing Gudgeons
into gentlemens’ fish-ponds, where any of the before-mentioned
species are kept, as being the best means of supplying them with
an excellent and, nutritious food ; and, when we consider the amaz-
ing fertility of the Gudgeon, no doubt with an abundance of it,

This fifli subfists on. plants, worms, and the fry of other fished
It is a species remarkable for the elegance of its form ; and many oi
its varieties are beautiful. The season of the year, the quality ofth e

PLATE LXXT.

Waters they inhabit, their food, and age, have each a considerable
influence upon the colours of this fish, and will easily account for the
Variations we so frequently observe in different individuals of this
species*

The Gudgeon is a fish that seldom increases to a large size. None
t»f the continental writers speak of its being found above eight inches
in length. Pennant remarks, that the few which are caught in
the Kennel and Cole are three times the weight of those found
elsewhere. The largest he ever heard of, was taken near Ux-
bridge, and weighed half a pound. Tire flesh of the Gudgeon is white,
of a delicious flavour, and so easy of digestion, as to be strongly re-
commended to sick persons. The voracity of this fish is known to
every angler: it bites greedily, and may be more readily caught than
many other fishes. Even by raking the bed of the rivers w'here they
inhabit, the Gudgeons may be enticed to the spot in shoals, for they
resort thither in quest of the worms turned up, and by repeating this
about every quarter of an hour, the shoals will be successively en-
creased so greatly, that they may be caught in any numbers. The
offal of animals, or bullock’s brains thrown into the water, will pro-
duce the same effect. Marsigli speaks of its fondness for human
flesh : he observes, that during the wars between the Austrians and
the Turks some years ago, when several battles were fought on the
banks of the Danube, and the mangled remains of both men and
horses were thrown into the river, the Gudgeons devoured the former
tvith voracity, but would not eat the horse flesh.

In the dorsal fin of the specimen figured in our plate there are
Cl ght rays ; pectoral fin fourteen : ventral eight : anal eleven ; and
,n the tail twenty-one.

MS

•v

.1 : J I

■ WO! „ , - 1 1 1!

T - • ; s 11 V -

\

: .

J J r 'rnS

*

. .

7, ids

- :

*

hr.”: r >

.b .

:r. ii ti*.

.

3ti‘ oJ-

_ %

rr ■ •

'

J1S

CHUB.

London. Tub* as the Act directs , fy EJJonovan Srt'.&CJi- J.Kvinplon Aug.t^idoj.

PLATE 87

PLATE CXV .

CYPRINUS JESES.

CHUB.

*** PISCES ABDOMIN ALES.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

^°uth without teeth : gill-membrane with three rays: body smooth,
and whitish in general: ventral fins usually with nine rays,

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

ou y head thick : snout roundifh : about ten rays in the anal

fin.

c

Yp RiNt/s Jeses: corpore et capite crasso, rostro rotundato, pinna
ani radiis 14. Bloch. Fisch. Dents chi. ]. p. 45 ,
n. 6. t. 6.

Q.

Yp R!Nus Jeses: pinna ani radiis 14, rostro rotundato. Gmel.

Linn. Sj//l. Nat. T. I. p.3.p. 13 14. sp. 20 .
e Phalus fluviatilis. Rondel, pise. 2 . p. 1 90.

Penn. Brit. Zool. V. 3. p. 368. sp. 175.

T 1 !

le Chub is an inhabitant of Europe, and is a species of the
*

Water kind, in some measure peculiar to large rivers, where it

M 2

PLATE CXV.

lies in holes and the most retired places : it is of a shy and timid nature,
and subsists on worms and insects. The spawning season is in May.

This is a fish of no esteem for the table, being coarse and full of
bones ; it grows only to a moderate size, a Chub of four or five
pounds weight being very unysua). The colours vary a little accord-
to the season of the year.

In the specimen represented in the annexed plate the dorsal fin
contains nine rays : pectoral twelve : ventral eight : anal ten : and
caudal eighteen.

I-C

PLATE 88

PLATE LXXVIL

CYPRINUS LEUCISCUS.

DACE.

* PISCES ABDOMINALES.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Mouth finall and without teeth : gill membrane with three rays:
body smooth, and whitish in general : ventral fins usually with nine
rays.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

Anal fin with eleven rays : dorsal fin ten.

Cyprinus Leuciscus : pinna ani radiis 11, et 10 in pinna dorsali,
Bloch, Fisch. Dcutschl. 3. p. 141. n. 28. t. 97.

/•I.

Cyprinus Leuciscus : pinna ani radiis 10, dorsali 9. Gmel. Linn.
Syst. Nat. 1424. sp. 12.

Cyprinus novem digitorum, ritulo longior et angustior, pinna ani ra-
diorum decern. Art ■ syn. 9.

leuciscus fluviatilis secundus. Gesn. aq. p. 26. ic. anim. p. 290.
^andoise, or Dard. Belon, Bloch, &c.

^ace, or Dare. Will, ichth. p. 260. Bay, pise. p. 121. Penn,
Brit. Zool. V. 3. p. 366.

PLATE LXXVII.

The Dace delights in clear streams, or in deep and still rivers, where
it subsists chiefly on worms. In summer it is remarkable lively, and
is frequently observed sporting near the surface of the water. The
Dace is the prey of all the larger and more voracious fishes that inha-
bit fresh waters ; but the perch and jack are its greatest enemies.
This is a prolific fish, multiplying prodigiously : the spawning time is
in June, when it deposits its eggs at the roots of aquatic plants, under
stones, or in the gravelly beds of rivers. Although the flesh of the
Dace is palatable and wholesome, it is held in very little esteem.

The ordinary size of this fish seldom exceeds four, five, or six inches,
those of eight or ten inches are uncommon. In France they are some-
times found a foot in length ; and Bloch informs us, it has been taken
in England eighteen inches in length, but on what authority we are
not informed. Pennant speaks of one that weighed a pound and a
half. The largest we have seen were caught in the river Thames,
and did not exceed the length of twelve inches.

This elegant species of Cyprinus appears abundantly common in
the early part of the summer in many of the English rivers. We sus-
pect it to be less plentiful on the Continent than with us, except in
France, and the southern parts of Germany. It occurs also in
Siberia.

In our specimen the pectoral fin contains eighteen rays : ventral
nine rays : and tail twenty-two rays.

.

MINOW.

^ 89

kf-k CJ&urmgtor

9

PLATE LX.

CYPRINUS PHOXINUS.

MINOJV.

* PISCES ABDOMINALES.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Mouth without teeth: gill-membrane with three rays: body smooth,
«nd whitish in general : ventral fins usually with nine rays.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS-

Anal fin with eight rays : upon the tail a dusky spot : body
pellucid.

Cyprinus Phoxinus : pinna ani radiis 8, macula fusca ad caudam,
corpore pellucido. Mull, prodr. Zool. dan .
p. 50. n. 430.— Gmel. Linn. Syst. Nat. p. 1422.
sp. 10.

Cyprinus Phoxinus. Bloch Fisch. Deutschl. 1. p. 6. n. 12.
t. 8./. 5.

^linow. Ray Pise. p. 125.

Penn. Brit. Zool. 3. p. 318. n. 11#

PLATE LX.

This pretty little fish is frequent in many of our fresh water stream*
that flow over a gravelly bottom, during the summer ; keeping toge-
ther in large shoals, and swimming very near the surface of the
water. Old Walton tells us that the Minow-, or Pent, (Pink) is not
easily found and caught till March, or April, for then it appeal's first
in the river, nature having taught it to shelter and hide itself in the
winter time in ditches near the river, both for the sake of security,
and to keep itself warm in the mud, or amongst the weeds.

“ The Minow (says this writer in another place) hath, when he
is in perfect season, and not sick, which is only presently after
spawning, a kind of dappled or waved colour, like to a panther, on
his sides, inclining to greenish and sky colour, his belly being milk
white, and his back almost black, or blackish. He Is a sharp biter
at a small worm, and in hot weather makes excellent sport for young
anglers, or boys, or women that love that recreation, and in the spring
they make of them excellent minow-tansies ; for being washed well
in salt, and their head and tails cut ofF, and their guts taken out, and
not washed after, they prove excellent for that U3e ; that is, being
fried with yolks of eggs, the flowers of cowslips, and of primroses,
and a little tansy ; thus used, they make a dainty dish of meat.”

In a note likewise under the history of the Perch, in the last
edition of the Complete Angler, we are told, that the largest perch
are taken with a minow, hooked with a good hold through the back-
fin, or rather through the upper-lip, as the perch, from the structure
of his mouth, cannot take the bait cross-wise like the pike. The
Minow is well known to be an excellent bait for the latter fish also,
and likewise for the trout, both which fishes, together with the perch,
are the greatest enemies of the Minow.

PLATE LX.

The Minow feeds on aquatic plants and worms, and is remarkably
prolific. It is a small kind, scarcely ever exceeding the length of
three or four inches. Both sexes are represented in the annexed
Plate, In point of number, the rays in the fins nearly accord in both.
The dorsal fin contains eight rays : pectoral ten rays : ventral sevea
rays ; anal eight ; and the caudal, nineteen;

I ■ 1

■

. r i .

i

90

ROACH.

I.on den. J^ub. a.< the. Act directs f\v J2 J) onovan,F J ic C 'JKivinptcne Nov'i ; ldo.j .

PLATE 90

PLATE LXVII.

CYPRINUS RITULUS.

ROACH.

*** riSCES ABDOMINALES.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Mouth without teeth : gill membrane with three rays: body smooth,
and whitish in general : ventral fins usually with nine rays.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

Anal fin with twelve rays, reddish.

Cyprinus Ritulus : pinna ani radiis 12, rubicunda. Linn. Fn.

Sv. 372. — Gmel. Syst. Nat. T. 1. p. 1426.
sp. 16.

Cyprinus iride pinnis ventris ac ani plerumque rubentibus. Art.
Gen. 3. syn. 10. sp. 10.

Cyprinus Ritulus. Bloch Fisch. Deutschl. 1. p. 32. n. 2. t. 2.
Ritulus. f. Rubellusfluviatilis. Will. icht. p . 262. — Jonst. pise. p. 130.
Roach. Penn. Brit. Zool. v. 3. p. 311. n. 7.

PLATE LXVII.

The Roach is abundant in almost every river throughout the tem-
perate parts of Europe. It is a fish that is known to delight in clear
and deep waters in the most retired situations, and in particular pre-
fers those still waters that have a sandy, or gravelly bottom.

In the river Thames the finest Roach are caught about the middle
of May, or early in June, when those fish come up in shoals from the
sea to deposit their spawn in the higher parts of the river. At that
season we have obtained them from the Thames fishermen of a large
size and in excellent perfection for the table. Bloch, treating on the
Roach found in Prussia, observes, that it seldom attains in that country
to a large size, its greatest weight not exceeding a pound, or a pound
and a half. We have Roach in England much larger than this. Sir
John Hawkins, in his annotations on old Walton the angler, re-
marks, that on the 15th of September 1754, he caught a Roach at
Hampton that measured fourteen inches and an eighth from the eye
to the fork, and in weight wanted but an ounce of two pounds ; and
this even, though of a vast size, proves inconsiderable compared with
the largest recorded by Mr. Pennant, the weight of which was five
pounds *.

Phis fish subsists on herbs, worms, See. The eggs are greenish,
and become red by boiling. The dorsal fin in the specimen we have
figured contains ten rays: pectoral thirteen: ventral nine : anal twelve;
and caudal twenty-two.

* “ In a list of fish sold in the London markets, with the greatest weight of each, com-
municated to us by an intelligent fishmonger, is mentioned one whose weight was h ve
pounds.” Penn. Brit . ZooL T. 3. p. 366.

PLATE 91

PLATE XL.

CYPRINUS ERYTHROPTHALMUS.

RED EYE.

ABDOMINALES.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Mouth without teeth : gill-membrane with three rays : body smooth,
and whitish in general ; ventral fins usually with nine rays.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER,

AND

SYNONYMS.

Body deep : iride orange ; ventral, anal fins, and tail red.

Cyprinus Erythropthalmus : latus, iride crocea, pinnis
ventralibus anali caudaque cinnabarinis.
^Yprimus Erythropthalmus pinna ani radiis 15, pinnis rubris.

Linn. Fn. Suec. 366. — Gmel. Linn. Sxjst.
1429. sp. 19.

This is certainly the Rud of Pennant, (No. 170), which he says is
f°Und in the Charwell, near Oxford ; in the Witham in Lincolnshire,
yol. ii.

F

PLATE XL.

and in the fens in Holderness. The same author conjectures that it
may be the Shallow of the Cam.

Linnreus having described Cypnnus Or/us as an inhabitant of our
fresh waters, without speaking of the other species, Erythroplhal-
mus, as a British fish, the two kinds have been erroneously con-
founded together as one species, by some writers in this country.
Bloch takes occasion to comment upon the foregoing remark of
Linnasus, in his history of fishes, when describing his Orphe “ Linne,”
he tells us, “ dit que ce poisson se ticnt dans le Rhin, et dans les
rivieres de V Angleterre. Mais je doute qu’on le trouve ni dans Pun,
ni dans les autres.” Another passage in the same description deserves
also notice, “ Quand Willugh. demande si notre Orphe est le meme
poisson que le rud des Anglais, il faut lui repondre negativement ;
car ce denier est le rotengle * *,

This is a remarkably common fish in many countries of Europe :
it is extremely prolific ; spawns early in the spring ; feeds on aquatic
plants, worms, and insects, and seldom grows to the length of more
than twelve or fourteen inches : as a British fish, it seems to be most
plentiful in the rivers in the north of England, or in Scotland. The
back is of a dark colour, blending into greenish till it approaches
near the lateral line, below which the sides are bright and silvery,
glossed very faintly with yellow : the colour of the iride is remark-
able, as is also the brilliant red of the fins, which form a striking
contrast to the delicate tints of the belly. The Linnsean specific
character, which, beside noticing the colour of the fins, is taken

■■ -- ~ - .r.-j? 1

* Meaning Cyprinus Erythropthalmus.

PLATE XL.

from the number of rays in the anal fin, is not to be depended
on; in our specimen, for example, there are only twelve rays
instead of fifteen. The dorsal fin has eleven rays: pectoral fin
nineteen : caudal twenty.

.

I

)

PLATE 92

PLATE XVIII.

CYPRINUS ALBURNUS.

BLEAK.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Mouth without teeth : branchiostegous membrane with three rays.
Body smooth, whitish : ventral fins in general with nine rays.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Twenty rays in the anal fin.

Cyprinus Alburnus pinna ani radiis 20. Fn. Su.ec. 3/7. •
Gruel. Linn. Syst. Nat. T.l. p. 3 . p. 1434.
sp. 24.

Leuciscus dorso ex viridi fusco, &cc. Klein, miss. pise. 5. p. 63.

n. 16. t. 18./. 3.

Albule. Gesn. Thierb. p. 159.

Bleak. Will. Icth. 263. — Rail. Syn. pise. 123.— Penn. Brit.
Zool. T. 3. p. 370. 176.

The Bleak is a very abundant fish in many of our rivers, and in
those of the north of Europe in general. The form is elegant, and
the colours brilliant : the flesh is in some esteem, but it is chiefly
taken for the sake of the beautiful silvery scales, which artists make
t* s e of in the manufactory of artificial pearl.

E 4

PLATE XVIII.

The credit of this invention is claimed by the French ; and it is
said they have arrived at such a degree of perfection in the art, that
independant of the plain silvery hue of the beads in common, they
can vary the colour to blue, green, or any other vivid tint they may
desire. The process is very short ; the scales are scraped off, washed,
and then reduced to a fine powder ; this is diluted with water, and
introduced into a thin bubble of glass, where it forms an internal
coating : the cavity is then filled with wax, through which a hole
is bored, and the bead is finished.

Gmelin speaks of this species as being from four to ten inches
in length : in the river Thames, about Battersea, or still higher up
the country, they are sometimes taken full eight inches in length ;
but the common size scarcely exceeds five or six inches at most.

At certain times in the summer, the Bleak is infested with a
creature of the Vermes tribe, which hastily increasing in size, very
often destroys it. Fishes so infested rise to the surface of the water,
where they leap and tumble about in the greatest agonies, and in
that state are well known to the fishermen by the name of Mad
Bleaks. Upon opening them at this season, there is always found
one, and sometimes more of these worms, in the intestines of each :
these rapacious creatures are flatfish, broad, and when extended, are
oftentimes twice the length of the fish they infest.

The Bleak may be taken at any season of the vear with a hook
and line. It is distinguished from every other species of the
Cyprinus genus by the superior length of the under jaw. The time
of spawning is in May, June, and July.

PLATE XVIII.

There is a small fish of this genus that appears in immense num-
bers during the month of July, in the Thames, near Blackwall and
Greenwich, where it is well known by the name of White Bait ;
and it is believed to be nothing more than the fry of this species.

eLATF 93

PLATE XCIIl.

CYPRINUS BRAMA.

BREAM.

*** PISCES A BDOMINJ LES.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Mouth without teeth : gill-membrane with three rays : body smooth*
and whitish in general : ventral fins usually with nine rays.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

Body broad, with the back arched : anal fin about twenty nine
rayed, and with the other fins fuscous.

Cyprinus Brama : latus dorso arcuato, pinnis fuscis : anali radiis
sub. 29.

Cyprinus Brama: pinna ani radiis 27. pinnis fuscis. Linn. Fn.

Succ. 360. — Gmel. Linn. Syst. nat. 1436. n.
27.

Cyprinus pinnis omnibus nigrescentibus, pinna ani ossiculorum 27.
Art. gen. 6. syn. 4. sp. 22.

Brama primo radio pinnae 5 dorsalis simplici &e. Klein, miss. pise.
S. p. 61. n. 1.

Brachsen, Gesner, Meyer , He,

Bream. Pain, Brit. Zool,

PLATE XCIII.

This fish is found in great lakes and in the deeper parts of still, or
gently flowing streams. Their food consists ot heibs, moist earth,
and worms, which they find at the bottom of the water. The
spawning season is in May, or as early as the end of September,
when the weather is warm and favourable ; at the commencement
of the spawning season they ascend laige rivers, and deposit theii
eggs, which are of a reddish colour in the most secure places
among the plants that grow in the water.

The Bream is a fish considered in England as insipid, and of little
consequence. On the continent however, especially in the territories
of the King of Prussia ; in the states of Holstein, Mecklenburgh, Li-
vonia, and in Sweden, the Bream is held in high repute. They
abound in the lakes of those countries, the fisheries of which are
rented at a high puce. 1 he flesh of this Ash is white and not ill fla-
voured. It is observed to live to a great age, and to attain to a con-
siderable size, growing commonly to the length of a foot or eighteen
inches, and sometimes even to between two and three feet. Those
of twelve or fourteen pounds weight are preferred foi the table.

It is easily distinguished by the great breadth and propoi donate la-
teral compression of the body : the head is small ; the back is remai k-
ably arched, and the fins somewhat falcated and dusky ; the lateral
line placed very low and waved irregularly. The colours of this fish
while living and in the water are beautiful, the upper parts partaking
of all the various hues of green and olive, changeable to purple, and
golden yellow, and as it descends towards the lateral line becoming
of the purest silver, which latter pervades the whole of the lower parts
ot the fish. The brilliancy of those colours are evanescent in the ex-
treme, vanishing as the creature dies, the purple fading, and the

PLATE XCIII.

green changing to a dusky colour glossed with silvery blue. The
former hues may be revived in some measure several hours after the
fish dies by moistening it with fresh water. The fishermen assert
that when the Breams ascend rivers they are collected into small
shoals, each of which is preceded by a leader who directs the course of
the shoal and differs in appearance from the rest. This is called by our
fishermen the “Queen bream,” and by the French “ Chef cle bremes.”
This kind of Bream is particularly described by Bloch, the one he
examined was thirteen inches long, and differed in the following par-
ticulars from the common breams, the eye was large, and the iris
blueish : the head, and bottom of the fins of a fine red purple,
the last bordered with a reddish band: the scales were smaller and
thicker : the body also was marked with several red spots of an irre-
gular form, and was covered with a viscous matter. It is conjectured
this may be a cross breed between the Cyprinus Erythrophtalmus and
the Bream. In the spring the Bream is sometimes found with a
number of minute whitish tubercles on the body, the effect of some
malady to which this fish is liable.

The number of rays in the anal fin are by no means sufficiently
constant as to afford us a criterion of the species, they are usually
about twenty seven in number but are not so uniformly. In the dor-
sal fin of one specimen we examined are twelve rays ; in the pectoral
fin eleven rays : in the ventral fin eight rays, and the tail twenty two.

94

STELLATED GLOBE-FISH.

Vo

London. I'uJkcu< the Act direct* by E Donovan^ 1 . JkClUytT^torUNov.i-iSo^.

PLATE 94

PLATE LXVI.

TETRODON STELLATUS.
STELLATED GLOBE-FISH,
**** PISCES BRACHIOSTEGI.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Jaws bony, extending, divided at the tip: aperture of the gills
linear : body muricated beneath : no ventral fins.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

Body above blue, beneath silvery : abdomen spinous, each spine
arising from a stellated root, of four rays.

Tetrodon Stellatus: supra coeruleus subtus argenteus, abdo-
mine aculeato : aculeorum radicibus stellatis qua-
dri-radiatis.

Globe Diodon. Penn. Brit. Zool. v. 3 , p. 132 . sp. 56.

The stellated Globe-fish, is one of the most singular creatures of
Ae finny tribe hitherto detected in the British seas. A fish of this
curious kind is described by Pennant in the British Zoology as a

PLATE LX VI.

species common to Europe, and South Carolina. “ As yet,” observes
Mr. Pennant, “ only a single specimen has been discovered in our
seas; taken at Penzance in Cornwall.” To this we may add another
instance within our more immediate knowledge, .of its being captured
in the British seas : about the year 1779, some short time after the
publication of the British Zoology, a very fine fish of this sort was
caught on the Cornish coast, and communicated to Mr. George
Humphrey, of Savillc House, Leicester Square. This specimen was
afterwards obtained by Mr. John Hunter, Surgeon, in whose
Museum the fish, very finely preserved in spirits, remains at
this time*. It is about eighteen inches in length, and when first
taken was remarkable for the uncommon brilliancy of its colours ac-
cording to the testimony of those who saw it at that time : the back
was of the finest ultramarine blue imaginable, the whole under sur-
face of a resplendent silver, and the belly beset with spines of a rich
carmine colour, which seemed to derive still greater beauty from the
admirable contrast of the silvery surface upon which they were dis-
posed. We are in possession of a third specimen that has been caught
in the European seas, that exactly corresponds with the above, but we
have not hitherto been so fortunate as to obtain a British specimen.

After perusing the description which Mr. Pennant leaves us of
this fish, we must really confess our astonishment, that any ichthyolo-
gist could possibly remain in doubt as to the identity of the species
that author means by his Globe Diodon. Mr. Pennant, it is true,
considers his fish as the Tetrodon hevigfttus of Linnaeus, in which
respect he is mistaken, but in other particulars his description of the

* This fish has the abdomen cut open to shew the structure of the internal organs, by
means of which the creature has the power of inflating tire external skin of the abdome#
at pleasure, like a bladder, to a prodigious size.

PLATE LX VI.

fish is pretty accurate, and may be generally relied upon. In stating this
we dissent entirely from the opinion entertained by another naturalist of
no m u c "brity in the science of ichthyology, the ingenious Dr.
Bloch • ■ Berlin. This writer treats the account given by our English
natural: st with unmerited severity. He dwells on the subject of the
Globe Diodon with much critical animadversion, and labours to prove
that the fish Mr. Pennant means, is not the Tetrodon lmvigatus of
Linnaeus, but the Linnatan Tetrodon Lagocephalus ; but with what
success we shall consider hereafter. His remarks on this topic arc
curious, and cannot be better expressed than in his own words.
“ M. Pennant (says that writer) rapporte a not repoisson le lasvigatus
de Linne ; mais en comparant son dessein avec la description que
Linne donne de ces deux poissons, on voit que son poisson est le
notre, ou le lagocephalus de Linne ; car chez le lasvigatus, il n y a
que la partie anterieure du ventre qui soit garnie de pointes. II lui
donne aussi deux dents au lieu de quatre T”

But it appears from hence that Dr. Bloch has presumed too far.
He even affords us reason to suspect, from this and various other
passages in his work, that he has ventured to criticise upon the ob-
servations of a writer whose language he was at best but imper-

'* Iu the latter part of this observation Dr. Bloch is right; the jaws and teeth are far
from well expressed in Pennant’s plate, a circumstance that may have arisen from an
•Oversight in the artist, as well as the author. In all the specimens of this fish that
have seen, the beak is cleft at the apex, both of the upper and lower mandible,
a nd by that means each is divided into two distinct teeth, but in Pennant s figure, the
mandibles appear entire, as if the fish were furnished with only a single tooth instead
of two in each jaw. This cleft being one of the principal characteristics of the genus
Ttrodon, mast have been evidently overlooked by Mr. Pennant.

PLATE LXVI.

\

tcctly acquainted with. We cannot otherwise account for his mis-
conception of almost every characteristic by which Pennant distin-
guishes his fish : and which he must have misconceived, or entirely
overlooked when he concluded so positively that fish, and his lago-
cephalus were the same species. To the eye of an experienced natu-
ralist nothing can appear more dissimilar than the Lagocephalus of
Bloch, and the Globe Diodon of Pennant. There- is one remark
of the latter writer especially, that ought to be observed ; and which,
if it had not escaped the notice of Bloch, must have convinced him
he was himself mistaken as to Pennant’s fish : — when speaking of the
abdominal spines of the Globe Diodon, this writer tells us, in lan-
guage the most decisive, that the belly of his fish “ was beset with
innumerable small sharp spines adhering to the skin by four pro-
cesses How then could Bloch conceive his Lagocephalus to be
the same fish, when he as plainly informs us, the spines in his fish
adhere to the skin by means of three processes instead of four ? —
“ Les etoiles (says he) sont disposees en vingt lignes a demi-cercles :
chacune est formee d’un piquant-qui est pose sur trois racines,” and
yet this ingenious ichthyologist, overlooking such a striking speci-
fical distinction of the two species, concludes that the Pennantian
fish must be his Lagocephalus ! — Dr. Shaw has inadvertently adopted
this erroneous conclusion, apparently from Bloch, in his General
Zoology, and at the same time encreases the confusion, by blending
in detail, the history and description of the true Lagocephalus, with
the remarks of Pennant on the Globe Diodon.

By attending to the diverging processes at the base of the abdo-
minal spines, the two species above confounded may be easily dis-

* Penn. Brit. Zoo!, v. 3, p. 132.

PLATE LXVI.

criminated from each other, without regarding other particulars in
■which they also differ materially. At the present time we have be-
fore us the Tetrodon lawigatus of Linnaeus which Pennant mistakes,
the Lagocephalus of Linnaeus and Bloch, and the Pennantian Globe
Diodon, all which are so obviously distinct from each other, that
■We cannot hesitate in pronouncing them to be three distinct species.
A few observations on each of these will not be deemed inapplicable
to the subject under consideration.

Laevigatus approaches nearer to our fish than the species Lago-
cephalus : its colours are the same, blue above, and silvery beneath,
but in this the abdominal spines are rather recurvate, and arise from an
oblique trifurcated root : they are small, numerous, and situated, as
Linnaeus observes, towards the anterior part of the abdomen. Our
fish resembles this, but has the whole surface of the abdomen, down
lo the vent, armed with spines, instead of the anterior part only:
those spines are fewer in number than in the former fish, of a much
tuore conspicuous size, and arise from a distinct stellated root of
fi )ur processes instead of three ; nor is the spine oblique as in the
preceding fish, but perfectly erect *. Lagocephalus is so remote
fiom the preceding, that a slight description, it is conceived, will
he sufficient to distinguish it. Instead of blue, the back is of a yel-
lowish, or testaceous brown, the sides brown instead of silvery.

* That this may not be conceived to arise from accident, or be observable only in
single specimen, it will be proper to observe, that the appearance of the spines,
an d their quadrifurcated roots, is precisely the same in two specimens of this fish in
°Ur own collection, that differ materially in point of size : and we have also seen three
others exactly corresponding in this particular.
v OL. IIJ f

K

PLATE LXVI.

and the back and sides marked with conspicuous stripes and spots
of black ; the abdominal spines are small, inclining, and diverging
at the base into three rays.

From the above remarks it will be obvious that a considerable
degree of confusion has heretofore prevailed respecting the before-
mentioned fishes. The Globe fish of our seas has not been ex-
plicitly described by any author, with the exception of Pennant : and
it may be even doubted whether any other author has hitherto ob-
served it. To obviate further error, we therefore wish to name it
Tetrodcn Stellatus, the Stellated Globe-fish, Mr. Pennant not having
given it any Latin specific name ; and that of Globe Diodon, the
English one adopted by him being inadmissible, for it is a Te-
trodon, and not a Diodon of Linnaeus.

The dorsal fin in the specimen figured in the annexed plate con-
tains eleven rays : pectoral fourteen ; anal ten ; and caudal six.

2> 95

SUN FISH

2 ,oruionJ‘uij > as the Act tfirettr by HJ)orunwt.Xt.F. &l,fto'iru/Ji>/i. May 1:1803 .

PLATE 95

THB

NATURAL HISTORY

OF

BRITISH FISHES.

/

PLATE XXV,

TETRODON MOLA,

SUN FISH.

BRANCHIOSTEGI.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Jaws bony, advanced, divided at the tip : aperture of the gills
War : body beneath muricated : no ventral fins.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Unarmed, rough, compressed, round : tail very short, rounded,
an d connected with the dorsal and anal fin : spiracles oval.

■L-Trodon Mola : inermis, asper, compressus, rotundatus, cauda
brevissima rotundata, pinna dorsali analique
annexa, spiraculis ovalibus. Itets. Nov.
Act. Stockh. 6. 2. 3. p. HI. t- 4.

PLATE XXV.

Mola Salviani, Orthragoriscus, Rondel. Sun-fish, JVillughbj/-
1. t. 26.

Tetrodon Levis, compressus, cauda truncata: pinna brevissima, dorsab
analique annexa. Syst. Nat. 12. p. 411*
7 i. 7. Gmelm. Syst. Nat. 1447. sp. 7.
Sun Fish from Loo. Borlase Cornwall, 267. tab. 26. Jig. 6.
Short Diodon* Penn. Brit. Zool. 3. p. 131. 55.

In the great scale of animated nature, there are perhaps few creatures
of a more extraordinary appearance than the Tetrodon Mola, or one
more likely to create surprise in the mind of a cursory observer. So
remarkable indeed is this appearance, that some might be inclined to
doubt the positive existence of a creature so formed, and certainly at
the first glance, a slight degree of scepticism in this respect is not
only pardonable, but laudable. To those who are conversant with
Natural History it cannot be unknown, for descriptions and figures
of it have been inserted in several works on the fish tribe, and be-
ing by no means unfrequent in the Mediterranean and other European
seas, the fish itself may have occurred to the notice of those who
reside near the sea shore.

The Germans call this fish Schwimmendekogf, and the French
tele nageante, or swimming head, a name sufficiently expressive of
its appearance, which is precisely that of the head and shoulders of
some larger fish cut off, and still retaining all the principles of lif c
and vigour.

The first figure given of this fish is supposed to be that by Salv 1 '
an. That of Pennant is certainly extremely bad ; and another by hi*

PLATE XXV.

predecessor, Borlase, is nothing better. That even of Bloch has in all
apparent probability been copied from an uncouthly stuffed specimen,
and instead of exhibiting in its colours some trace of the fine silvery
hue of the belly and sides, which is so conspicuous in a recent subject,
it is almost uniformly of a dirty blueish colour.

This seems not to have been a very common species on the Cornish
c °ast in the days of Borsale ; his figure was copied from one of the
drawings of Mr. Jago : at this time we find that it does appear on
the Cornish coast, but not in such plenty as it haunts some shores
l n warmer climates. This fish grows to the enormous weight of
four or five hundred pounds, and proves a valuable capture to the
fishermen, when taken, on account of the oil which they extract in
great plenty from it: the flesh is of little value, being oily and very
tank. It is not common, we believe, on any of our coasts : one that
Was seen in the Bristol channel about four years ago was deemed a
great rarity.

Our figure is copied from an elegant little specimen, which we
"'ere assured had been caught near the coast pf Brighton. Its form,
as represented, is nearly orbicular, and the skin rough with little
pustules : in the dorsal fin are thirteen rays : anal sixteen : pectoral
twelve : caudal fourteen.

Cm el in with great impropriety makes the oblong Sun Fish of
a

re nnant a variety of this species.

A 3

A

.

-

lorulon. P ubf as the -Act directs by KJ3orunean. Scd' A t'. fiii'ieu/ton. Nbvf J ; tSoti ■

PLATfc 96

PLATE XLI.

' TETRODON TRUNCATUS.

TRUNCATED SUN-FISH.

* PISCES BRANCH IOSTEGI.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Lws bony, advanced, divided at the tip : aperture of the gills
linear : body beneath muricated : no ventral fins.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

farmed, smooth, compressed, oblong and truncated: tail very small,
and connected with the dorsal and anal fin.

T

^Trodon TRUNCATUS : inermis Isvis, compressus) oblongus
truncatus cauda brevissima pinna dorsali
analique annexa. Gmel. Linn. Syst. Nat.
1448. sp. 7.

■j.

e trodon Mqla, truncatus (/3) — T. inermis, laevis, compressus,
oblongus, cauda brevissima, pinna dorsali
analique annexa, spiraculis lunatis. Hetzius
Nov. act. Stockh. 6. 2. p. 116.

V °L. II.

C

PLATE XLI.

Sun-fish from Mount’s-Bay. Borlase Cornwall. 268. tab. 26./. 1 f -
Oblong Sun-fish. Penn. Brit. Zool. V. 3. p. 100. n. 1.

Dr. Borlase appears to be the first, and almost only English writer,
•who has seen and described this fish. In his Natural History of
Cornwall, he speaks of it under the title of the Sun-fish from Mount’s
Bay, and mentions one that was taken at Plymouth in 1T34, that
weighed five hundred pounds. Whether Mr. Pennant ever had an
opportunity of inspecting this species is uncertain ; the figure given
of it in the British Zoology, as well as that of the Short Diodon,
Tetrodon Mola, is certainly an indifferent copy from the plate of
Borlase.

The principal fishery for the short Sun-fish, is carried on upon the
Western coasts, those of Cornwall in particular, where the oblong or
truncated Sun-fish is sometimes found in company with the other
sort. There are instances of the truncated Sun-fish being caught of
an enormous size upon that coast. We have once seen the dried
skin of this species, the animal of which, when living, weighed
between two and three hundred pounds. Our figure is taken from a
small specimen, obtained in a recent state, in one of our fishing excur-
sions on the Bristol channel. The dorsal fin in this, contains twelve
rays : pectoral fourteen : anal fifteen, and tail seventeen. This fish
subsists on worms of the testaceous and other tribes, small crabs, & c '
fragments of these being found on dissection in the stomach.

The truncated Sun-fish is described by the judicious Borlase a *
being altogether distinct from the other kind , and Mr. Pennant is t0

PLATE XLT.

be commended for having adhered to the opinion of that writer in the
British Zoology. We are only surprised that Gmelin, or any other
■Naturalist, after inspecting the two kinds, or even attending to the
remarks of Borlase, could for a moment believe them to be the
same. In the last edition of the Linnsean Systema Naturae, this
species stands however as a variety of the short Sun-fish, truncatus
$ Tetrodon Mola. Bloch does seem to be acquainted with this
truncated species : the short Sun-fish is described by that writer.

SHORTER pipe fish*

London Pub * ar the Act directr byEJkmo your ScJF.&CRu’isujitonAprr/jjSor.

- ' T > 9 ?

PLATE LVI.

SYNGNATHUS TYPHLE.

***** PISCES BRANCHIOSTEGI.

SHORTER PIPE-FISH.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Head small. Snout sub-cylindrical, long, turned up at the apex.
Mouth terminal, without teeth or tongue, and furnished with a lid.
Lower jaw moveable. Gill-covers large, striated, and closed or shut
ttp. Spiracle on the nape tubular, the opening small. Body articu-
lated with many sided scales. No ventral fins.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

Caudal and pectoral fins radiated : anal fin small ; body 'hexagonal ;
abdomen somewhat carinated ; snout broad and compressed.

Syngnathus Typhle : pinnis caudm pectoralibusque radiatis ani
minima, corpore sexangulato, abdomine sub-
carinato, rostro lato compresso.

SynOnathus Typhle : pinnis cauda?. ani, pectoralibusque radiatis,
corpore sexangulato. Linn • Fn. Suec. 377.-—
Gmel . Sj/st. Nat. t. 1. p. 3. 1454. sp. 1,

PLATE LVI.

Syngnathus corpore medio hexagono, cauda pinnata. Art. Gen . I*
$yn. 1. sp. 3.

Sea-Adder. Borl. Corn. p. 267. pi. 26. /. 12.

Shorter Pipe-fish. Penn. Brit. Zool. t. 3. p. 140. 61.

Le Syngnathe T’kompette. Buff, de Deterville, v. 7. p. 240.

The Syngnathi appear to be more imperfectly defined by natura-
lists than almost any other genera of fishes. With respect to the
British species in particular, nothing can be more ambiguous. Whe-
ther we advert to the days of Ray, and Willughby, or Sibbald ; to
Borlase, or the late Mr. Pennant, the obscurity prevails in an equal
measure. Linnaeus does not escape the critical censure of Dr. Bloch
for his erroneous conception of certain species, and it might be easy
to prove, as well as intimate, that Bloch himself has rather increased
than cleared up the confusion Linnaeus created. To enter into an
investigation of all the species described by Linnaeus, his successor
Gmelin, or by Bloch, would be irrelative to our present purpose.
The French naturalists, among whom Lacepede stands most distin-
guished, have endeavoured to restore the arrangement of the species of
this genera to lucid order, but after all there are uncertainties re-
maining to be overcome. Several of the species described by early
writers are far from being correctly known. Nor can we be certain,
in some instances, whether what are now considered as varieties, may
not in reality be distinct from the species to which they are supposed
to be connected ; or whether among the number of those described
as species, some have not been too hastily assumed, and may prove
hereafter to be varieties only.

PLATE LVI.

Notwithstanding the example of the great Linnaeus, there is a ra-
dical defect in presuming, that the presence or absence of any par-
ticular fin, can constitute an unerring specifical distinction of the
different fishes of this genus. Nature has herself afforded other
characters, that are equally perspicuous, and more constant, or at
least less liable to accident. Sometimes Linnaeus has paid a cursory
attention to those characters, but he does not attend sufficiently to
them. The fallacy of the Linncean specific characters, will be at
once seen for instance in the species Acus: should this be acci-
dentally bereft of the anal fin it becomes Pdagicus ; and it is only
by regarding its secondary character with caution, that the error can
be detected. Again, if both the pectoral and anal fin be destroyed,
What criterion have we to distinguish it from JEquoreus ? Ophidion
affords another example of the same nature : when recent, the body
is round and smooth, but when dry, appears llightly hexagonal, and
in this state, scarcely differs from the Linnsean species Bar'barus ; the
Pectoral fins are then the principal distinction, and if these be broken
°ff, the Opidion will correspond with the character of that species *.

* In treating of any genera less ambiguous than the present, Limneus could not bo
Considered blameable for adopting characters that might render imperfect specimens of
the species he describes liable to misconception. But when we consider the confusion
likely to prevail among the I. inn .can Si/ngnuthi, and their synonyms, in consequence, wc
cannot avoid expressing a wish that he had attended more closely to other collateral charac-
ters, He does regard the shape of the body, but this is not sufficient, flic exact struc-
ture of the snout, if taken into consideration, would have greatly assisted in determining
the respective species.

The fins in all these fishes are small and delicate, and therefore apt to he frequently mu-
tilated, and in dried specimens especially. In the figures given by old writers, we seldom
thid the fins correctly drawn, the fault arising perhaps from this cause, rather than lrotn the

PLATE LVI.

Of the British Syngnathi, Mr. Pennant mentions four kinds,
namely, the Longer Pipe-Fish : the Shorter Pipe-Fish, under
which is comprehended the two Linnaean species, Typhle and Acus ;
and the Little Pipe-Fish. The shorter Pipe-fish is the species under
consideration.

“ This,” says Mr. Pennant, “ is shorter and thicker than the
longer Pipe-fish, yet I have seen one of the length of sixteen inches.
The middle of the body in some, is hexangular, in others, heptan-
gular. Linnasus constitutes two species of them, his Syngnathus
Typhle, and Syngnathus Acus, but we join with Doctor Gronovius,
in thinking them only varieties of the same fish.”

Those two kinds being found occasionally together, have been
considered as appertaining, to the same species, by others, beside Gro-
novius, and Pennant. But it is scarcely any longer a matter of
opinion widi many, they are pretty generally admitted by Ichthyolo-

. ■ , . . — -ai

inattention of the designer. This precludes the possibility of quoting them as syno-
nyms with confidence. From the position of the angulated hinds, indeed, when sub-
jected to the eye of the artist, except in a profile view, the anal fin must be ne-
cessarily concealed beneath the abdomen: but the. omission, or misrepresentation of
the other fins are not excusable on this account.

The indefinite figure (No. 61, of Pennant’s Zoology,) in all probability had lost the
pectoral fins, since the description we suppose to relate to this figure, (No. 60.) speak*
of those fins, as does also the description (No. 61.) to which that figure refers. Bloch
is persuaded, that Osbeclc has misled Linnreus, in describing his species Pelagicus with 00 **
an anal fin, conceiving that part to have been accidentally destroyed. In this particular
■we have endeavoured to shew that Bloch is not correct, but in the present circumstance
it proves how easily one species may be mistaken for another, when their specific®*
distinction is taken chiefly from the fins only.

PLATE LVI.

gists at this time, to be specifically different. Linnaeus describes
them in the same words, observing only, that the body in Typhle is
Sl X sided, while that of Acus has seven sides. The seventh angle
in Acus, is formed by the raised line that extends longitudinally
along the belly, commencing at the throat, and reaching down to
the vent. This line in Acus is prominent and distinct. In Typhle
Such a line is observable likewise, traversing the center of the abdo-
minal plates in a similar manner, but it does not assume the strongly
e levated form of a carina as in Acus.

Linn reus regards the number of annulations in those species, only
as secondary to his specific characters. In this respect, he is per-
fectly right. We have examined many of both kinds, and find that
although in point of number there is generally an agreement between
ffe specimens of each individual sort, they are not constantly
file same. For instance in Typhle, the number of whose joints are
stated at 18 in the trunk, and 36 in the tail, we have found instead
’with 18... 37 — 19... 36 — and 17.. .42, the latter nearly corresponding
'with Acus. And Acus which is said to have 20 joints in the trunk,
a ud 43 in the tail, is also susceptible of variation.

This irregularity in the number of the annular joints, leads us to
have recourse to other characters, in which respect the structure of
file snout appears more constant than almost any other. So far as
We have been able to ascertain the circumstance, this may be trusted,
hi all the specimens of Typhle we have examined, the snout is large,
htoad, and sub-compressed on the sides. It passes from the crown of
file head, which is fiat, to the mouth, in a straight line, or with veiy
little sinuosity ; instead of which, in Acus, the outline from the nape
0v er the crown of the head rises conspicuously, then takes a curva*

PLATE LVT,

ture Over the eye, and slopes considerably towards the base of the
Snout. When viewed in profile, the difference between the two i*
very striking, the snout of Acus never appearing to exceed in breadth
two thirds of the head ; while in Typhle, the snout and head are both
of the same breadth. Had not Linnaeus previously assigned a specific
character to this species, wc should for this reason call it latirostris,
in order to distinguish it at once from the other kind.

It may be questioned whether the S. Typhle of Bloch be not
rather a variety of Acus in a young state, in which the belly has
been perhaps but slightly carinated. The structure of the snout aS
represented, is exactly that of Acus. He speaks also of five rays in
the anal fin, which is only one less than in Acus, at the same tinrs
that it is two more than is usual in the anal fin of Typhle.

The number of rays in the dorsal fin of the specimen delineated » n
our Plate is forty-one ; in the pectoral fin twelve ; in the anal fi 11
three ; and in the tail twelve

This kind is found in all the northern seas of Europe. The colon 1 '
is variable from greenish olive, to olivaceous yellow, and brown
variegated sometimes with dark, or blueish lines. It* length seldon*
exceeds a foot.

I

PELAGIC PIPE-FISH.

s 98

PLATE i>8

PLATE LVIIL

SYNGNATHUS PELAGICUS.

PELAGIC PIPE-FISH.

(

***** PISCES BRANCHIOSTEGI.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Head small. Snout sub -cylindrical, long, turned up at the apex.
Llouth terminal, without teeth or tongue, and furnished with a lid.
Lower jaw moveable. Gill-covers large, striated, and closed or shut
H** Spiracle on. the nape tubular, the opening small. Body articu*
Lted with many sided scales. No ventral fins.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

SYNONYMS.

Sectoral and caudal fin radiated: anal fin none; body linear and
* cv en sided.

^Tngnathus Pelagicus pinnis pectorahbus caudasque radiatis,
ani nulla, corpore linearis septemangulato.
^Nqnathus Pelagicus : pinnis pectorahbus caudseque radiatis
ani nulla, corpore septemangulato. Linn- Gmel.
Syst. Nat. 14S5. sp. 3.

Syngnathus Pelagicus. Osbeck it. 105.

Le Syngnathe Tuyau. Lose. Diet. Nat. T. 21 . p. 315.

v ol. hi.

G

PLATE LVIII.

This is a diminutive sort of Pipe-fish, not unfrequently caught Il!
the winter season among the sprats near our coasts. At the fi rst
glance, this little Fish appears to bear a very strong resemblance t°
Syngnathus Actts, and may possibly have been confounded with the
young of that species, for it has hitherto remained unnoticed as a
native of our seas *.

' The body of this species is marked longitudinally with seven
angles, in which particular it agrees with Syngnathus Acus. ^
differs in being of a more linear form, the snout is comparatively
smaller, and thef whole length of the fish scarcely ever exceeds fi vC
or six inches : those of seven inches long may be considered of a
large size. The colour is pale brown, marked more or less distinctly
with transverse darker bands, but this is no positive criterion, f h c
species can be distinguished only by its linear form, the shape of th c
snout, the greater number of joints in the body and tail, and by f h e
total absence of the anal fin.

Osbeck is the first describer of this species. He speaks of it as art
inhabitant of the Indian seas. Most likely it is of the migratory kii ic h
as it has been oftentimes seen floating with fuci, and other nianrt e
weeds, both in the Indian and Atlantic ocean. Osbeck describes ^
as destitute of an anal fin, which Bloch observes, has led LinnseU 5
into an error. Lacepede conjectures, however, that Bloch is himself
mistaken, and being unacquainted with the true Peiagicus, has repf e *

* Qucre. May not Pennant’s figure, No. 61, of Plate XX11I. Vol. Ill if Brit. Z°° 1 '
be taken from a fish of this species, in which the pectoral fins and tail w r ere dried vf'
or had been destroyed by accident ?

PLATE LVUI,

sented a variety of Acus under that name. This we are inclined to
think correct, because the fish delineated by Bloch does not appear in
any manner distinct from Acus , except in the slight distortion of the
body near the dorsal fin, and in having the body striped transversely
"nth a darker colour.

In the dorsal fin of the specimen we have represented, there were
twenty-three rays, in the pectoral fin fourteen, and in the tail ten.

.

I

PLATE 99

PLATE LXIIL

CENTRISCUS SCOLOPAX.

SNIPE, OR TRUMPET FISH.

***** PISCES BRANCHIOSTEGI.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Head produced into a very narrow snout : mouth without teeth,
l°Wer jaw longest. Aperture of the gills repandate. Body com-
passed : abdomen carinated. Ventral fins united.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS. --.33

Body scaly, and rough : tail straight, and extended.

p.

e Ntriscus Scolopax ; corpore squamoso scabro, cauda recta
extensa. Gron. Zooph.p. 128. n. 395. — Gmel.
Syst. Nut. T. 1. p. 3. p. 1461. sp. 2.

Pistes Scolopax pinna dorsali anteriore quinqueradiata, rostro Ion-
gissimo maxilla inferiore operculato. Linn . Syst.
Nat. X. I. p. 329. n. 8.

Ha]i S tes aculeis 2. loco pinnarum ventralium, solitario infra anum.
Art. Gen. 54. syn. 82.

^ntriscus scolopax. Bloch aiif. Fifch. I. p. 55. n. 1 , t. 123. f. 3.
V °E. in, i

PLATE LXIll.

Meerschnepf, and Schneppenfisch. Germ. — Becasse, Fr.

Trumpet, or Bellow’s-fish. Will, ichth. p. 160. t. 1 . I. 25. f. 2*
Raj. pise. 50.

Centriscus Scolopax is to be considered as one of the most choice
of our British fishes. Mr. Pennant never met it, nor does he men-
tion it on the authority of any other observer in the British Zoology-
We are acquainted with one or two, if not more, well authenticated
instances of its having been observed upon the western coasts of Eng-
land, about Devonshire and Cornwall. In the adjacent seas, to the
southward, this curious fish becomes rather common, especially to-
wards the coast of France, where the fishermen distinguish it by the
name of Becasse, and Becasse dc Mer , the Snipe fish, or Sea
Snipe. And again, in the Mediterranean sea it is more abundant still*
being commonly brought with other fish to the markets for sale.
The flesh of this species is very palatable, and wholesome, according
to the accounts of those who have visited the south of Europe, and
eaten of them, but being small they are esteemed of little value.

This is a fish of singular conformation ; nor is it, in our opinion*
more remarkable for its singularity than its uncommon share of ele-
gance. It scarcely ever exceeds the size of our figure. The whole
body is covered with rigid, pointed scales. Its colour is variable, fro* 11
a pale red to a purplish, or sanguineous colour, and in one of two sp e
cimens in our collection the sides, and abdomen, are glossed with a rich
yellow, or golden colour.

PLATE LXIII.

Although this fish be not of the voracious kind, which the structure
^f its elongated jaw must render impossible, it may prove itself on
some occasions a formidable enemy to other fishes of a diminutive
size, being capable of inflicting a grievous wound with the strong
serrated bony spine, or process, which constitutes the first ray of the
anterior dorsal fin. Besides this spine, the same fin contains three
other ravs of a bony texture, but these are slender, and, comparatively
to the former, very small. The rays of the second dorsal fin are
soft, and amount to nine in number : in the pectoral fin are fifteen
toys ; ventral seven ; anal thirteen ; and caudal fifteen.

• 1

:

r • .< ‘

.

■

'.V

■

< .

.

. ■ '

>'•

/

♦

■ ' .

100

lumpsucker.

7. end on Pub? as thx.Au directs, by lAlonovan . tcfl & CJiis'ington.

PLATE 100

PLATE X.

CYCLOPTERUS LUMPUS,

LUMP SUCKER.

** BRANCHIOSTEGL

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Head obtuse, mouth in the anterior part : tongue short and thick,
jaws furnished with numerous minute sharp teeth. Branch os tegeous
Membrane with four rays : cover of a single piece. Body short, thick,
destitute of scales. V entral fins connected : the sucker between them.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

\

AND

SYNONYMS.

Body angulated, with bony tubercles,

(-'yclopterus Lumpus : corpore squamis osseis angulato. GmeL
Si/st. Nat. T. 1. p. 3. 139. sp. 1. 1473.
^■ydopterus ordinibus tuberculorum septem. Slock.

LhMp, Sea Owl or Cock Paddle. Will.Icht. 208. — Raiisyn.
pisch. 77.

*-Ump Sucker. Penn. Brit. Zool. v. 3. p. 133. sp. 57.

1 his species frequents the British shores in the spring, and by some

^ le flesh is thought not indifferent when broiled, or stewed, after the
VOL. i.

e

PLATE X.

skin is taken off. Mr. Pennant says, they resort in multitudes at
that season to the coast of Sutherland, near the Ol d of Caithness ;
and that the seals which prey upon them leave the skins; numbets
of which thus emptied, float at that time ashore. It is easy (adds
that writer) to distinguish the place where seals are devouring this or
any unctuous fish, by the smoothness of the water immediately
above the spot ; it being the property of oil to still the agitation of
the waves, and render them smooth.

The Lumpsucker is found throughout the seas in the north part of
Europe. The Greenlanders, it is said, call them Nipisets, and are
remarkably fond of them, as they are of oily food in general.

Its organ of adhesion or sucker is large, and consists of a singula*
fleshy substance, surrounded by numerous little papilla ; by means
of which it adheres to the rocks in a manner truly astonishing. A
fish of a moderate size has been known to suspend a weight of above
twenty pounds upon which it had accidently fastened itself. M-
Pennant says still more, for he has known that on flinging a fish of
this kind just caught into a pail of water, it fixed itself so firmly to
the bottom, that- on taking it by the tail, the pail was lifted 11 P’
though it contained some gallons of water.

One or two writers think this species is sufficiently characterise
by the number of the tuberculated angles of the body, which are'
seven, namely, three on each side, and one along the back, fl
dorsal fin is placed near the tail, and consists of eleven rays; 111
the pectoral fin are twenty ; anal ten, and twelve in the tail.

UNCTUOUS LUMP SUCKER.

r Act directs hy KJioncvan. icF. & C.Jfiyirtffton.Ian ? i

PLATE 101

PLATE XLVII.

CYCLOPTERUS LIPARIS.

UNCTUOUS LUMP-SUCKER.

* PISCES BRANCHIOSTEGI.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Head obtuse, mouth in the anterior part : tongue short and thick,
jaws furnished with numerous minute sharp teeth. Branchostegous
Membrane with four rays : cover of a single piece. Body short, thick,
destitute of scales. Ventral fins connected: the sucker between them.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

Body naked : dorsal, anal, and tail fin united.

^Yclofterus Liparis : corpore nudo, pinnis dorsali anali cauda-
lique unitis. Art. Syn. p. in. n. 1. — ■
Gmel. Syst. Nat. 1417. sp. 3.— *et Cy-
clopterus lineatus. 1478. sp. 8.

Cyclopterus pinna pectorali-barbiformi. Bloch. Aus. Fisch, 1 .

p. 48. n. 2. t. 123./. 3. 4.

Cyclogaster. Gronov. Mus. 2. 157. Act. helv. 4. p. 265. t. 23.
S ea Snail. Wil. Icht. App. 17. Rail syn. pise. 74.

Unctuous Lump-sucker. Penn. Brit. Zool. 3. p. 135, n. 58.

PLATE XLVII.

Last winter a small fish of this curious kind presented itself by
accident to our observation, amongst a parcel of sprats brought for
sale to the fish-market at Billingsgate. Notwithstanding the extreme
singularity of its appearance, we were led in the first instance to
consider it only as a firongly marked variety of Cyclopterus liparis,
and this opinion we are inciined to retain after comparing it accu-
rately with other specimens, that are indisputably of the liparis
species.

When perfectly fresh, the head and body of this fish were strongly
marked with longitudinal streaks and waves of white, edged with
blue, and disposed on a ground of testaceous or rather chesnut colour.
It seemed, therefore, to accord pretty exactly with the Cyciopterus
lineatus of Gmelin, a species described by that author on the autho-
rity of a paper written by Iwan Lepechin, and inserted in the 18th
volume of the Transactions of the Royal Society of Petersburgh.
Our conjectures in this respect were confirmed on adverting to that
paper, for there cannot remain a doubt of the Cyclopterus lineatus
of Lepechin, being in reality of the same kind as our fish. This
point decided, it only rests with us to examine in what particulars
the lineatus differs specifically from liparis, before we presume to
announce the discovery of a new British species, however gratifying
such discovery would be to our assiduous perseverance, in endea-
vouring to ascertain the native products of our country.

Cyclopterus liparis, it should be premised, differs in no respect in
the general figure, from Cyclopterus lineatus. The body being
naked, and the dorsal, anal, and caudal fin being united, constitutes
the character of this species ; or in the language of Artedi and
Gmelin, “ corpore nudo, pinnis dorsali anali caudalique unitis.”

PLATE XLVII.

There is nothing in this character expressly different from that which
Lepechin, and on his authority Gmelin assigns to his lineatus “ cor-
pore nudo, pinnis dorsali, et anali sensim in caudalem excurrentibus,”
because in both the dorsal and anal fins are connected with the tail,
a nd the trivial distinction of those fins running gradually into the
tell, is insufficient to mark the species, as the same circumstance is
observable in Cyclopterus liparis.

Lepechin has thus far failed in endeavouring to assign to his spe-
cies lineatus, such a character as may distinguish his fish from liparis.
fiut before we intrude our individual opinion in preference to that
°f Lepechin, which has been received as correct by one of the most
distinguished societies in Europe, we shall examine the general
description, in order to discover if possible some peculiarities in the
Cyclopterus lineatus of that writer, that are not observable in C. liparis ;
ar >d these we think might be readily detected in the detail he has given,
if there really existed any difference between them.

The colour of lineatus is described as being of a chesnut colour, *
ex cept the belly, and part immediately surrounding it : the throat
P a le, and tuberculated : lower lip faint rosy : and both the head and
body marked with pretty broad whitish lines, some of which are
Hl 'aight, and the others undulated. Although this be not very
commonly the appearance of liparis, we have the authority of
several writers, for asserting that the back and sides are not unfre-
‘jucntly variegated, spotted, and striated longitudinally with brown.

Color totius piscis castaneus, excepto ventre cum vicina, gula pallidioribus tubercu.
s 1 u e labri inferioris dilute roseis. Per caput atijue latera corporis ducuntur lineae lon-
s finales, sat latse et partial recta, partial undulat* ad caudaai convergences, exalbioise
I-Lxrsca.

PLATE XL VII.

la the latter case, the brown stripes would leave the intermediate
spaces of a still lighter colour, and in those instances where the fish
proved to be strongly marked, would give it the same appearance as
the lineatus of Lepechin. We have observed liparis to differ very
considerably in colour at different seasons of the year, as wxll as in
the various stages of their growth. Small specimens have occurred in
which the sides and belly were white ; in some pale yellow, and in
others rosy the sides of the head usually partaking of the same tints
as those of the body. In a fish which we find to be so liable to
variation, both in respect of its colours and markings, we do not think
the longitudinal striae on lineatus to be sufficient to characterise it as
a species distinct from liparis, or even to authorise us in believing lC
to be any more than an accidental variety of that fish.

But before we conclude with this opinion, our attention reverts
to what another author has said of this fish. Bofc in the Nouveau
Dictionnaire dTlistoire Naturelle, calls this species Le Cycloptere
Ray6 a un seul rayon a la membrane des branchies, &c. In our
specimen this, character seemed to exist, there appearing to be really
only one ray in the gill-membrane, but on carefully inserting the
end of the finger under the gills, the membrane expanded, and
displayed seven branchiostegous rays, as in liparis, The specific
character which Bloch gives for the last mentioned fish, namely*
the barbiform appearance of the pectoral fins, is also very clearly
to be observed in both.

The Unctuous Lump-sucker is a native of the northern parts ct "
Europe. Those found on our own coasts seldom exceed the leng
of four or five inches, but such as frequent the shores of Greenland
and Kamtschatka, are oftentimes of a size, far more considerable

PLATE XL VII.

being from a foot to eighteen inches in length : The flesh of this
” s h is remarkably soft and oily, and is never eaten except by the
’'diabitaruts of Greenland, who devour it with avidity, and esteem
most delicious.

In the dorsal fin we found thirty-six rays : pectoral thirty-two :
anal twenty -six : tail twelve.

.

. .

: ■ . • - - - rrfi \ !•

/

102

OCELLATED SUCKER*

PLATE 102

PLATE LX XVI.

CYCLOPTERUS OCELLATUS.

OCELLATED SUCKER.

* PISCES BRANCH IOSTEGI.
generic character.

Head obtuse, mouth in the anterior part: tongue short and thick,
jaws furnished with numerous minute sharp teeth. Branchostegous
membrane with four rays : cover of a single piece. Body short, thick,
destitute of scales. Ventral fins connected: the sucker between
*hem.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND s

SYNONYMS.

Body naked, attenuated behind, and livid : snout projecting : ten-
cula four before the eyes; and two large ocellar spots on the hind part
°f the head.

Lyclofterus Lumpus: corpore nudo postice attenuato livida,
fronte producto, tentaculis quatuor ante oculos,
occipite maculis duabus magnis ocellaribus.
Lepadogaster, Gouan. pise. 177. t. 1 6. 7.

Lesser sucking-fish. Borlase Comm. 269. t.f. 28.

J u Ra sucker. Pen. Brit. Zool. T. 3. p. 137. n. 69.

Lyclopterus Lepidogaster, Jura sucker. Turt. V. 1. p. 907

v OL. IV. b

PLATE LXXVI.

Cyclopterus Cornueicus, Cornish Sucker. Shaw Gen .
Zool. V. 5. p. 2. p. 397.

For the discovery of this curious species of Cyclopterus on the
British coast we are indebted to Dr. Borlase: he found it on the coast
of Cornwall, and described it under the name of the Lesser Sucking-
fish, in his Natural History of that county. It was afterwards ob-
served by Mr. Pennant, in his tour through Scotland, in the sound of
Jura, and from this latter circumstance it is called the Jura Sucker in
the British Zoology of that author. And since that time it has occurred
upon other parts of the western coasts of England, besides Cornwall.

As we cannot hut disapprove the changing of established names
in the science of natural history, unless very cogent or sufficient rea-
sons can be at the same time advanced in favour of the supposed emen-
dation, we think Mr. Pennant not entirely free from blame m
abolishing the name given to it by Borlase, and substituting that
of the Jura Sucker. The alteration is very likely to mislead the
inexperienced naturalist into a belief of the species being peculiar
to the Sound of Jura ; or at least that it was originally detected in
that Sound, neither of which suggestions have the least foundation-
Mr. Pennant knew that the same fish had been previously found m
Cornwall by Dr. Borlase, and therefore if he had conceived the name
of Lesser Sucking-fish inapplicable, it would have been certainly more
consistent to term it the Cornish, than the Jura Sucker. Neither of those
names are indeed in our mind admissable, because the characters of the
fish itself affords one altogether expressive of the species, and which
tjannot easily be overlooked. Dr. Shaw seems conscious of an ma-

PLATE LXXVL

propriety in naming it the Jura Sucker, and therefore calls it the
Cornish Sucker, (Cyclopteras Cornubicus J in allusion to its original
discovery on the coast of Cornwall : in every other particular Dr.
Shaw has too implicitly acquiesced to the descriptive detail of Pen-
nant, the substance of which it will not be improper to transcribe in
this place previous to entering upon the history of this fish.

“ Its length is about four inches. The skin without scales, slip-
pery, and of a dusky colour. The body taper. The nose grows
slenderer from the head, and ends round.”

“ The teeth small. Before each eye is a small filament. Behind
the eyes are two semilunar marks.

“ In the middle of the back an oval mark formed by small dots of
a whitish colour. The dorsal fin lies near the tail, and consists of
eleven rays. The tail is rounded. The ventral have four rays, are
joined by an intervening membrane with an oval depression in the
middle. Beyond that is another strong membrane with a similar
depression. By means of these instruments it adheres to stones or
pocks.” Penn. Brit. Zool. v. 3. p. 137.

Early in the month of February last, through the politeness of a
very valuable correspondent, G. Montagu, Esq. of Kingsbridge, De-
vonshire, we were enabled to correct several errors in the above
description. Mr. Montagu, before this time, had taken an opportu-
nity of describing this as a plentiful species on the rocks of Milton on
the coast of Devonshire, in an interesting miscellaneous paper in-
serted in the seventh volume of the Transactions of the Linnean
Society of London: the observation induced us to request the favour

PLATE LXXV-L

of a few recent examples of the fish, and shortly after, in compliance
with our wishes, Mr. Montagu obliged us with five specimens of it,
the whole of which, as they were observed to differ in a few slight
particulars from each other, it was thought might afford us a more
adequate conception of this beautiful species than any solitary speci-
men. Among them were examples of the two sexes, and transitions
of growth that are highly interesting. The whole arriving in excel-
lent condition enabled us also to notice various circumstances that can
only be observed in recent specimens.

The largest of those fishes was selected for representation, and of
which, it is presumed, the figure which exhibits both the upper and
lower surface will convey a far more correct idea than any general
description we can subjoin. This, however, it should be observed,
was of a lighter colour than the rest, and had also the spots on the
body more distinct. The others were more dusky r , or darker ; and
two of them inclining to purplish brown, with minute inconspicuous
spots : the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins were also of a brighter purplish-
red in the deeper coloured specimens than in that we have represented.
Sometimes specimens occur that have the tail barred with white.
The most striking peculiarities, however, of those fishes at the first
View, was the perfectly ocellated appearance of the two large distinct
spots on the posterior part of the hind head, which Mr. Pennant, and
after him Dr. Shaw, denominate semilunar marks; and the four
conspicuous erect cirri, two of which are situated before each eye,
but which both those writers term a single filament. The occellated
spots are remarkable, and contribute much to the beauty, as well as
singular appearance of the fish : each consists of a large obovate spot
of a deep purple, inclosed within a broad pale brownish ring, and em-
bellished in die center with a brilliant blue dor, or pupil. Generally

PLATE LXXVI.

^Peaking, those spots become obscure soon after the fish dies ; in
°thers, they remain for two, three, or four days, nearly as distinctly
Visible as in the living fish. We have specimens even that have been
lr nmersed for months in spirit of wine, in which those spots, though
feint, may be observed, if attentively examined.

The four cirri before the eyes are of a fine red colour, they are
c rect, or slightly bending backwards, and two are rather shorter than
die others : those cirri are disposed in pairs, a longer and shorter one
being situated before each eye ; at the base they are connected, but
from thence they rise separately, and are perfectly distinct. How
Pennant could have mistaken those cirri, so far as it appears he has
fi°ne, is unaccountable : indeed his figures seem to be at variance
vvith his description, as though his artist had observed two filaments
before each eye in the very specimen represented, instead of one, as
Pennant describes it: there is certainly a slight appearance at least, of
fivo filaments before each eye, in both the figures of the Jura Sucker
Kiven in the British Zoology.

Gmelin omits this species of Cyclopterus in his edition of the Lin-
n aean Systema Naturre. Turton, in his translation of that work, sup-
plies the omission, describing it as Cyclopterus Lepidogaster, or Jura
tucker; his specific character, however, being taken from Pennant,
ls erroneous in the last mentioned particular, for he speaks of a single
filament before each eye as a principal criterion of the species, but
'''bid), it appears from the above particulars, is not correct; neither is
file snout of tin's fish truncated as that author describes.

The general appearance of this species is sufficiently explained by
{ be figure accompanying this description. The dorsal fin in our

PLATE LXXVI.

largest specimen contains eleven rays : pectoral fin seventeen : anal
ten : and tail six. The dorsal and anal fin are connected by a short
membrane to the base of the tail.

This species is found abundant on the rocks at Milton, on the
Devonshire coast, as before observed, where it can only be obtained
at low water, as it is never taken in the dredge.

103

BIMACULATED SUCKER.

PLATE 103

PLATE LXXVIIL

i CYCLOPTERUS BIMACULATUS.

B1MACULATED SUCKER.

* PISCES BRANCH 10 STEGl.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Head obtuse, mouth in the anterior part ; tongue short and thick,
jaws furnished with numerous minute sharp teeth. Branchostegous
Membrane with four rays: cover of a single piece. Body short,
thick, destitute of scales. Ventral fins connected : the sucker
between them.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

Body naked, attenuated behind, and rosy ; with a purple spot sur-
tounded by a white ring on each side of the abdomen.

Cyclopterus Bimaculatus: corpore nudo postice attenuato
roseus ; macula ventrali utrinque violacea albo-
cincta.

^Maculated Sucker. Penn. Brit. Zool. Append, v. 3.

n. 397. t. 22. — Montagu, in Linn. Trans. Soc.
v , 7. p. 293.

YOE. IV.

c

PLATE. LXXVIil.

This species of Sucker is of a smali, or rather diminutive size, but
will not be considered uninteresting cither in point of beauty or
rarity. Whether it has ever been discovered on any other than the
British coasts, admits of doubt ; a variety of circumstances incline
us to believe it has certainly not. Among the continental naturalists* *
it appears to be noticed only by those of France ; and we may infer,
from the tenor of their observations, that they are indebted to our
countryman Pennant for every particular respecting it*. The
species escaped the researches of the indefatigable Bloch, and it is also
omitted in the Gmehnimi edition of* the Systems hJsturse#

The first account given of this Cyclopterus is to be found in the
Appendix of Pennant’s British Zoology ; who informs the reader,
her Grace the Duchess Dowager of Portland did him the honour
of communicating it. He describes it as having “ the head flat and
tumid on each side : the body taper : the pectoral fins placed un-
usually high. It has only one dorsal fin ; placed low, or near the
tail. The tail is even at the end. The colour of the head and body
is of a fine pink : of the fins, whitish. On each side of the engine
of adherence on the belly, is a round black spot. Found neat
Weymouth.” — It may not be improper to add, that the specify
character assigned to the bimaculated Sucker, by Dr. Turton f, and

v J

* “ Le Cijdoptire UmacuU a les nageoires pectorales situtes vers le derriere d e
lite, et une tache noire sur cbatpie c6t£ du corps. II vit dans les mers d’Angleten e
Base, $c.

t « Cyclopterus bimaeulatus, Bimaculated Sucker. Head flat, tumid each .side, t8 P 6f
mg to a point; pectoral fins placed new the nape; &c." Turt. Trans, Lijin, Sy*t.

PLATE LXXVIII.

the general account by Dr. Shaw *, accord in every respect, except
* slight variation of language, with the above description.

A far more copious and satisfactory account of this elegant species
*Ppeared last year, in a paper written by G. Montagu, Esq., of
Knowle, in Devonshire, and inserted in the seventh volume of the
Transactions of the Linnasan Society. Mr. Montagu informs us,
he has frequently taken this species, by deep dredging, at Torcross,
tn Devonshire, adhering to stones and old shells, and has kept several
*hve for a day or two, in a glass of sea water. The first specimen
this fish we possessed, was taken on that coast by Mr. Montagu,
an d communicated to us in spirits, with an accurate description of
lts appearance while living. We have since found one specimen
it ourselves, affixed by its sucker to the shell of an oyster, in
•hedging on the coast of Kent, near the Nore.

it appears, both from the observations of Mr. Montagu, who
^ as had frequent opportunities of examining this fish, and from the
Solitary individual we have found, that Mr. Pennant was mistaken
as to one very striking and, indeed, decisive character of this spe-
c ‘ Cs : the black abdominal spots, as he terms them, but which, in
t i* e recent fish, are purple ; those purple spots are encircled with a
r ' air ow ring of white, which contributes much to the elegance of
fish, and forms a striking characteristic of the species.

tydopterus Bimaculatus. C* roseus, macula utrin'-ju© ventrali nigra, Sec-” Shaw.

Q

Z*ol. v. s. r . 2 . p. 398.

PLATE LXXVIII.

The general tint of this fish is a delicate rose colour, or pink>
very prettilv speckled with extremely minute dots of white. The
hides are pink, with an inner golden circle, and blue pupil ; and
the tins are variegated, or barred with reddish. This beautiful
creature is said to exceed, though rarely, an inch and a half in length-
The upper figures in our plate exhibit the fish much above the
natural size of our largest specimen, to afford an opportunity of
delineating it with more correctness than could conveniently be ac-
complished within a smaller compass. The dorsal fin, which i*
placed far behind, contains five rays ; pectoral, eleven apparent ray* *
ventral four : anal five : and caudal twelve.

DIMINUTIVE LUMP SUCKER.

PLATE 104

PLATE LX VIII.

CYCLOPTERUS MONTAGUE
DIMINUTIVE LUMP-SUCKER.

**** PISCES BRANCHIOSTEGI.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Head obtuse, mouth in the anterior part: tongue short and thick.
Jaws furnished with numerous minute sharp teeth. Branchostegous
membrane with four rays : cover of a single piece. Body short, thick,
destitute of scales. Ventral fins connected: the sucker between
them.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Body naked, lanceolate, diaphanous, tinged with reddish, and spotted
vv ith fuscous : dorsal, anal, and caudal fin distinct : organ of adhesion
oval.

^yclopteris Montagui : corpore nudo lanceolato diaphano
rubescente fusco-maculato, pinnis dorsali anali
caudalique distinctis, orbiculo ovali.

d °r our acquaintance with this beautiful little species of Cyclop-
te rus we are entirely indebted to the friendly communication of
eor ge Montagu, Esq. of Knowle House, Devonshire’ by whom
V °L. III. L

PLATE LXVIII.

it was discovered, and in compliment to whom we name it Mon'
tagui.

Mr. Montagu has seen three or four specimens of tliis fish on the
Devonshire coast, two of which he found lately near the ThurlstonC
rock, on the South coast of Devonshire. This diminutive species is
about three-fourths of an inch in length : perfectly smooth ; of 3
pale colour, tinged with pink, and marked all over the upper parts
and sides with numerous distinct roundish spots of purplish brown-
The head is large, and rather inflated about the gills, contracting 3
little in front: the body decreases gradually as far as the vent, and
afterwards still more considerably quite to the tail. The mouth is not
large in proportion to the size of the fish : its hides are silvery, with the
pupil black : gill covers obscure. It has no visible lateral line. The
pectoral fins consist of seventeen or eighteen rays ; these are placed
just before the sucker or instrument of adhesion, and turn under-
neath : the ventral fins nearly unite at their base, partly surround
the sucker, and are so approximate to the pectoral fins as to appear
connected : the anal fin is formed of about thirty rays, commencing
immediately behind the vent : the dorsal fin originates a little nearer
towards the head*, but many of the first rays are imperceptible
without the assistance of a deep lens ; those which are conspicuous
amount to about sixteen or eighteen, and both the anal and dorsal

* An oversight in the drawing and account sent to us by Mr. Montagu in the fit 5 *
instance has been kindly corrected since the plate was published. Mr. Montagu ha^
delineated and described the dorsal fin as originating lower towards the tail than >' ie
anal fill ; but soon after discovering another specimen, he perceived that he had bef« re
entirely overlooked the anterior part of the dorsal fin, which consists, as above mention® 1 *'
of a number of almost imperceptible rays, connected to the series of conspicuous ray*
are expressed in the profile figure of the fish ; the upper one in Kate 68.

PLATE LXVIII.

fins terminate close to the tail ; the caudal fin is rounded, consisting
of fifteen rays, and is marked with two transverse bands. The
Rucker, or organ of adhesion, is of an ovate form, the disk of which
is radiated from a central longitudinal line, and the radius is divided
>nto many lobes or compartments by means of oblique curved lines ;
the surface of this part is flat, but forms a prominent rim to the disk.
The whole fish when alive is diaphanous, and the fins are remarkably
pellucid.

The above description was obligingly communicated to us by
Mr. Montagu, who accompanied this account with an elegant
drawing taken from the fish while living, or very recent, and
kept in sea-water under the lens of a microscope for that pur-
pose ; and it is from this drawing the figures in the annexed plate
ar e copied, not having ourselves been so fortunate as to meet with
this curious fish. This is a liberty in which we can scarcely think
tt right to indulge, having already professed our intention of con-
fining ourselves, in this Work, to those particular species of British
fish that happen to fall under our immediate observation, and the
originals of which are in Our own possession. The present is a so-
litary, and it is presumed an excusable deviation from our design, to
t'dfich we have acceded, in our desire to enrich the British Fauna with
a n interesting fish, that might have otherwise been omitted : we neither
distrust the accuracy of the drawing, or the account sent with it,
c onsidering the respectable quarter from whence it was received ; but it
ls notwithstanding proper to acquaint the reader upon what authority
s uch a novelty is introduced.

This minute kind of Cyclopterus is brought forward as a new
s Pecies with some caution. Its diminutive size forms no positive

l 2

PLATE LXVIII-

criterion of its being new, since it might be only the fry of some kind
sufficiently well known when full grown ; hut this, we are persuaded,
from its characteristic particulars, cannot be the case. It may be the
young of a larger species, but whatever may be tire size to which it
anains at maturity, it is certainly new, in our opinion. The nearest
to which it approaches is Cyclopterus Liparis, and it is evidently
distinct from that. According to Mr. Montagu, the dorsal and anal
fin terminate close to the tail, but arc not connected with it, as we
have observed to prevail unerringly in Cyclopterus Liparis. This
may not be altogether satisfactory, when we consider how liable the
membranes, which connect those fins, are to be severed asunder by
accident. The structure of its sucker, or organ of adhesion, offers
a more decisive character : that of Liparis is circular, with the disk
broad, and somewhat heart-shaped: Cyclopterus Montagui has on
the contrary a sucker nearly of an ovate form, the disk of which is
oval. In both, the sucker is divided into two lateral lobes by means
of a longitudinal ligament, but in Liparis this ligament is broad, ot a
flimsy texture, and not immediately perceptible among the tranverse
folds of the sucker, while in Cyclopterus Montagui the longitudinal
line is narrow, and distinctly marked ; hut the exterior outline of
the radius, and the disk, are alone perfectly sufficient to prove them
distinct species without a reference to any othei character.

Several new species of Cyclopterus of a small size are men-
tioned by Gindin, on the authority of Pallas, who describes them
at length, and gives figures of them in his Spicilegia Zoologies,
neither of which agree however with our Cyclopterus Montagu 1 '
We at first suspected it might be his minutus from its size, g e "
neral habit, and form of the sucker, but the dorsal spine on the
anterior part of the back, and two bony tubercles on the sides, which

PLATE LXVIII.

Pallas describes, removes it entirely from our fish. We are indeed
fully satisfied, that it does not correspond with any species of the
Cyclopterus genus hitherto described, resting our decision upon the
fidelity of the drawing with which we have been favoured, ex-
cepting only the omission of the anterior part of the dorsal fin, as
before noticed.

t

101

COMMON ANGLER,

. tl'S? Ck J. living (c

PLATE 105

PLATE CL

LOPHIUS PISCATORIUS
COMMON ANGLER.

***PISCES BRANCHIOSTEGI.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Head compressed downwards : teeth numerous and acute ; tongue
kroad and armed with teeth : eyes vertical : noltrils small : gills three,
aperture lateral and simple : pectoral fins (in most species) somewhat
resembling feet : dorsal and anal fin oppofite, and near the tail : body
destitute of scales, and covered with a thin loose skin : vent in the
middle of the body : no lateral line.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

Body depressed : head rotundate.

Lophius Piscatorius : depressus, capite rotundato. Linn. Fn.

Suec. 298. — Mull, prodr. Zool. Dan. p. 38. n. 321 .
Liphius ore cirroso. It. scan. 321. — Linn. Mils. Ad. Fr. 55.
Gron. muf. 1. p. 51.

Lophius capite corpore latiore. Bloch Fisch. D&ulschl. 3. p. 82.

7 i. i. t. 81. — Le Diable de Mer. ib.

^ ana piscatrix, &c. Borlas. Cornub. 265. t. 21. f. 3. 6.

Load-fish, Frog-fish, Sea-Devil. Will. Ichth.p. 85. t. E. 1.

£ 2

Fishing-Frog. Parsons. Act. Angl. 1764. n. 53. p. 170. if. 13-
Angler. Brit. Sool. 3. p. 93. 95. n. 1 . 2. t. 94.

The Lophius PIscatorius is a fish of uncommon aspect and defor-
mity, bearing a remote resemblance to the figure of the common frog
in the tadpole state. Pliny and other Latin writers among the
ancients call it rana and rana marina, in allusion to this similitude.
The French, for the same reason, call it Grenouille de mer : the English
fishermen the Fishing Frog, and Frog-fish ; and the inhabitants of
various other countries by names equally significant of its general
resemblance to the tadpole of the common frog *. The English
name of Angler is of modern origin, and not familiar to our fisher-
men : it is a name assigned to it by Mr. Pennant, in his British
Zoology, and is sufficiently expressive of the very singular arts em-
ployed by this curious fish in the capture of its prey.

t |

The head, which constitutes the greater part of the whole animal;
is perfectly characteristic of the fish: this is of a roundish figure;
somewhat convex above, and flat beneath : the body, which is of a
size comparatively small, tapers gradually from behind the pectoral
fins to the tail. The mouth is preposterously large ; the lower
is advanced beyond the upper, and is furnished with a vast number of
long, roundish and acute teeth, disposed in two or more rows,
the posterior ones are moveable ; in the upper jaw are three rows of

* Belon says they further resemble the frog, affirming, that the pectoral fins
Pishing Frog serve the animal for the purposes of feet, and that with those it
he bottom of the sea as the frogs do iu the bogs and marshes.

of

at

PLATE CI.

teeth similar to the others. The tongue is whitish, and in one of our
specimens elegantly marbled with black. The eyes, .vhich are placed
on the summit of the head, are black, and curiously radiated with
white. Upon the anterior part of the head, before the eyes, are two
long slender moveable filaments or tentacula, the use of which is so
Well described by Pliny *, in speaking of the manners of this fish,
they are of a horny substance, and when complete are very long.
Besides those filaments on the head, Mr. Pennant speaks of three
others on the back : those latter however it should be observed arc
not distinct filaments like tire others, but the rays of a genuine dorsal
fin, being united together by a web ; and which induces us to believe
the specimen examined by Mr. Pennant, muft have been imperfect
in this particular. The whole body is covered with a thin and loose
skin, which is destitute of scales, and is of a brown colour, varied with
darker fuscous, and blackish ; the under side white : the pectoral fins
also, which are very large, are of a brown colour above and white
beneath. The margin of the head and body is fringed with a number
of small processes of a skin-like substance. "T he posterior dorsal fin
is situated near the tail, and is of a brown colour ; the tail blackish.

The fish seldom occurs of greater length than twenty or thirty
inches, but they are said to attain to a much larger size, even to the
length of five or six feet. It is a general inhabitant of the North and
Mediterranean Seas, and is found, though not very commonly, on
the coasts of England ; towards the Scottish islands, if we are not
misinformed, they are rather more abundant. As this fish swims in-
differently, and cannot pursue its prey with success, like many others,

* “ Eminentia sub oculis cornicula turbalo limo merit, assultmtes piscuhs attrahms, donee
tarn prope accedant, ut assiliat Plin. Lib. ix. c, 14.

r

PLATE CL

it adopts a different mode of attack ; it lays itself in ambush, half
covered with marine plants, or behind hillocks of sand and stones at
the bottom of the water ; and in this situation throws out the long
tentacula of its head, to attract the attention of the smaller fishes :
those singular and useful processes from their vermicular motion, as
they wave in the water, are easily mistaken for worms, which the
little fishes approaching with confidence.attempt to seize, and being
thus enticed close to the mouth of the Fishing Frog, who laid before
unperceived below, fall an easy prey to their wary enemy. The
English fishermen believe this fish to be very destructive to the broods
of young sharks, and under this idea, whenever they draw them up
in their nets, throw them back again into the sea. The flesh of
this fish is white, and having, it is said, the same flavour as the com-
mon frog, is eaten in many countries as a delicacy.'

I lie small dorsal fin on the anterior part of the back contains three
long setacious rays, and one behind very small ; the posterior dorsal
fin contains fourteen rays : pectoral fin twenty-seven rays : ventral
five: anal eight; and tail eight.

106

COMMON STURGEON

XoruL'n.l'uJ, , thr AcrAiii-vU h.vK.l)oi\o van, J\,Xtc

PLATE 106

PLATE LXV.

ACIPENSER STURIO.

COMMON STURGEON.

***** PISCES CHONDROPTERYGII.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Head obtuse. Mouth beneath the head, retractile, toothless : cirri
four, placed under the snout, and before the mouth. Aperture of
the gills on each side. Body elongated, with numerous plates, dis-
posed in series along the angles of the body.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

Snout obtuse : transverse diameter of the mouth equal to its length :
beards on the snout nearest the tip : lips bifid.

Acipensjer Sturio: rostro obtuso, oris diametro transverso longi-
tudini aequali. Guldenst. nov. comm. Petrop.
16. p. 532. — Gmel. Linn. Syst. Nat. T. I.
p. 3. p. 1483. sp. 1.

Acipenser cirris 4. squamis dorsalibus 1 1 . Linn. Syst. Nat. — Mus.
Ad. Fr. Me.

PLATE LXV.

Acipenser corpore tuberculis spinosis cxaspcrato. Art. gen. 6S-
synn. 91. Fn. Suec. 27.

Acipenser cirris 4, corpore tuberculorura spinosorum seriebus quin-
queangulo, rostro subacuto. Gron.mus. 1 . p. 60.
n. 131. Zooph. p. 39. n. 140.

Sturio sive Silurus. Salv. aq. 11.

Acipenser scutorum ordinibus quinque ad corpus asperum. Bloch
Fisch. Deutschl. 3. p. 89. n. 1. t. 88.

Sturgeon. Brit. Zool. 3. p. 127. PL xix.

The largest Sturgeon perhaps ever caught itt the rivers of this
country, is that mentioned by Mr. Pennant to have been found in the
river Esk some years ago, which weighed four hundred and sixty
pounds. Those of a smaller size, namely, from forty to fifty, or sixty
pounds, are not by any means common, but when they attain to
above an hundred pounds in weight they are certainly scarce. About
twelve months ago a Sturgeon, weighing one hundred and thirty-one
pounds, was caught in the river Maldon, near the Bucleigh Mills?
and this stands recorded as a very remarkable incident.

A Sturgeon of five hundred and fifty pounds weight, caught in one
of the Italian rivers in the year 1750, was esteemed so great a rarity?
according to Bloch, that the Duke de Carpinetto, who received it?
made a present of it to the Pope. In the northern parts of Europe?
Sturgeons even of this enormous size do not appear to be remarkably
uncommon. In some of the Norwegian rivers, and in Siberia,
are told the Sturgeon grows to such a vast size, that the roe alone

PLATE LXV.

taken from a single fish will sometimes weigh from two to three hun-
dred pounds ; and were we to give implicit credit to the assurances of
some writers, we might even suppose that Sturgeons are taken at times
in those parts of a thousand pounds weight each.

In all the northern parts of the world the Sturgeon hsheiy seems
to be considered as an object of the greatest consideration. In the
north of Europe, Asia, and America, there are regular fisheries for
them. In Russia the principal season for taking them, as Pallas ac-
quaints us, is m the depth of winter, when the natives assemble at a
stated period, and breaking through the ice, take them in great abun-
dance from the rivers, with the assistance of spears, or harpoons, and
long poles furnished with hooks at the extremity. The flesh of the
Sturgeon is excellent, and is eaten either fresh, salted, or pickled in
a peculiar manner. In this latter state it constitutes an article of ex-
tensive and lucrative commerce with those countries where the Stur-
geon is less plentiful ; as does likewise the caviare, three different
kinds of which they prepare from the roe of this fish.

The Sturgeon is a creature of a sluggish, quiet, nature, alternately
inhabiting the fresh waters, and the sea, and subsisting on the smallei
kinds of fish. It has been observed, that those Sturgeons which have
remained during the winter in the fresh waters return again to the sea
on the approach of summer. This appears to be contrary to their
usual course, for they commonly ascend the rivers in the spring after
remaining in the sea all the winter.

In our fish the dorsal fin contains thirty-five rays: pectoral tin
twenty-eight : ventral fin twenty-four : anal twenty-three, and the
tail one hundred and twenty- five.

SEA MONSTER.

PLATS 10 7

PLATE CXL

CHIMERA MONSTROSA.

SEA MONSTER.

****** PISCES CIIONDROPTERYGII.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Wead pointed above : spiracle single, quadripartite, and under the
neck : mouth placed beneath : upper lip five cleft: cutting teeth two
jn front both above and below: body elongated: dorsal spine

single.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

Snout with porous folds beneath : tail filiform.

Chimera Monstrosa: rostro subtus plicis pertusis, cauda fili-
form!.

Chimera Monstrosa: rostro subtus plicis pertusis. Linn.
Faun. Suec. 294.

Chimaera Monstrosa. Bloch Ausl. Fisch. I. p. 161. n. 1. t.
124.

Chimera. A scan. ic. rev , natur. t. 15.

Squalus cauda longiore, quam ipsum corpus. Art. Gen. 68.

Genus Galci. Jonst. pise. t. 44 .f. 2.

jSimia marina. Gesn. aq.p. 877. ic. anim.p. 153.

PLATE CXI.

Centrina prima, Centrina vera, Simia marina danica. Aldr. pise.

p. 402. 403. 405.

Vulpecula. Strom, sondm. p. 289.

This is a fish of very singular appearance and beauty. The body
is of a lengthened form, compressed and gradually tapering towards
the tail, which terminates in a long slender filament. The head is
large, thick, and ascending in front into a pyramidal form : each
jaw is furnished with a pair of broad laminae, which are crenulated
at the tip : the upper lip is divided into five parts, and the front,
from the mouth to the eyes, is marked by transverse undulations
and pores; a line of this kind runs across the forehead beneath the
point or tip, and is continued in a serpentine course into the lateral
line ; and another line passes from this beyond the eyes, which re-
tnms again towards the nostrils.

The whole body is dark-brown above, varied with yellowish
brown and silvery, and the lower parts of a bright silver colour.
The eyes large and of a green colour, with silvery irides, and very
brilliant, or shining with phosphoric splendour. The male is distin-
guished by having a small fringed crest on the top of the head, and
by the rough lengthened processes at the anal fin, which correspond
with those observed in the males of the Ray and Shark tribe.

The Chimsera Monstrosa inhabits the northern seas of Europe,
and is rarely seen so far to the southward as the British Isles:
grows to the length of three or four feet, and subsists on marine
worms and fish of the smaller kinds. The Norwegian fishermen

PLATE CXI.

call it the king of herrings, from the circumstance of its beings
often lurking among the shoals of that fish, the flesh of which ap-
pears to be its principal food. The flesh is hard, coarse, and un-
eatable; the inhabitants of Norway employ, however, the roes of
this fish in their pastry, and in making cakes ; and extract an oil from
the liver, which they consider of singular efficacy in disorders of the
eyes.

There are two species of the Chimsera genus, Monstrosa, and
Callorhynchus ; the latter of which is distinguished by the name of
Southern Chimera and Elephant Fish.

Ir

T,

' .. •

. 1

l . . ' ,

.

£ '

PLATE 108

PLATE LV,

SQUALUS CATULUS.

LESSER SPOTTED SHARK.

***** PISCES CHONDROPTERYGII.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Head obtuse. Spiracles four to seven, placed on the side of the neck,
and semilunar. Eyes oblong, vertical, half covered, and situated
before the temporal orifices. Mouth beneath, in the anterior part
of the head : teeth numerous, serrated, acute, partly moveable ;
partly fixed ; and unequal. Body oblong, roundish, and rough,
tvith tender prickles. Ventral fins for the most part smaller than
the pectoral ; approximate, and situated round the vent, or genitalia,
in the males.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Nostrils surrounded with a lobe and vermiform appendage: ventral
fins united.

SftUAL.cs Catulus : naribus lobulo et appendice vermiformi cinctis,
pinnis ventralibus concretis. Gmel. Linn . Syst.
Nat. p. 1490. sp. 10.'

Squalus varius pinnis ventralibus concretis. Bloch. Aush. Fisch. 1 .
p. 21. n. 5. t. 114.

Lesser Dog-fish. Penn. Brit. Zool. 3. p. 90. n. 9 .

PLATE LV.

The Lesser Spotted Shark is of the number of those voracious
creatures that haunt our coasts in plenty, and prove injurious to our
fisheries. They are often captured by the fishermen in the net when
trawling for fiat fish.

The largest specimen of this kind we have taken is two feet five
inches in length; and they very rarely exceed that measurement.
There is another species that approaches very nearly to this that
grows to about twice that size. This is Squalus Canicula, a fish so
nearly resembling the present both in the form of the body, the
colours and spots, as scarcely to be distinguished from it, except
by the ventral fins, which are always found unconnected with
each other, while in Squalus Catulus they are as invariably united.
Gmelin is in doubt whether Squalus Catulus may not be the male of
Squalus Canicula.

Both kinds are found in all the European seas ; and it is also said in
those of India.

PLATE CVIII.

SQUALUS CORNUBICUS.

PORBEAGLE SHARK.

****** PISCES CHONDROPTERIGIL
GENERIC CHARACTER.

Head obtuse. Spiracles four to seven, placed on the side of the neck,
and semilunar. Eyes oblong, vertical, half covered, and situated
before the temporal orifices. Mouth beneath, in the anterior part
■®f the head: teeth numerous, serrated, acute, partly moveable,
partly fixed, and unequal. Body oblong, roundish, and rough,
■with tender prickles. Ventral fins for the most part smaller than
the pectoral, approximate; and situated near the vent, or genitalia,
>n the males.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

Snout projecting, conic, and porous each side : posterior part of
the body depressed, and angulated.

Squalus Cornubicus : rostro prominente conico, lateribus minute
perforato, corpore postice depresso angulato.
Swalus Cornubicus: plica longitudinal! ad utrumque caudae
latus. Gmel. Linn. Syst. Nat. T. 1 . p. 3 . 1497 .
Squale nez. Broussen. Act. Paris, 1780 . p. 667. n. 16 .

■Porbeagle. Borlas. Cornub. 265 . t. 26 . n 4 .

Porbeagle. Penn. Brit. Zool. v. 3. p. 117. n, 49.

Peaumaris Shark. Penn. Brit. Zool. v. 3. p. 118 . n. 50. Lwtt,
Trans, v. 3,

vol. v

i

PLATE CVIII.

There is every reason to apprehend, that the first account of thi*
species of Shark extant, is to be found in that well-known work the
Natural History of Cornwall, by Dr. Borlase, where it occurs under
the title of the Porbeagle. The notice of the species is extremely con-
cise, but is accompanied with a tolerable figure of the animal, en-
graved after a drawing by the Rev. Mr. Jago, minister of Loo, in
that county, in the time of Ray.

The description of the Porbeagle in Mr. Pennant’s work is take*
from Dr. Borlase’s figure, and is so far pretty correct. Gmelin de-
scribes the Porbeagle under the specific name of Cornubicus , re-
ferring for authorities to the works of Dr. Borlase, Pennant, and als»
the paper in the Parifian Transactions, by Broussonet, treating of the
Squale nez, which he considers to be of the same kind. One of
the latefl: and best accounts of the fish is from the pen of Dr. Good-
•nough, Bishop of Carlisle, who describes a specimen, found on the
coast of Hastings in 180, ‘3, with considerable accuracy, in the
third volume of the Transactions of the Linnasan Society. The
individual mentioned had been landed four hours when Dr. Good-:
enough first saw it, and then weighed twenty-six pounds: the body>
from the tip of the nose to the extremity of the tail, was three fee 1
ten inches ; the colour on the back deep blue, and silvery white
beneath. The nose was projecting and sharp, and on both side*
from the nose to the eyes were many minute perforations or pores.
The general shape of the body was roundish, except for about si*
inches from the tail, where it was depressed, and formed an angle or
elevated line on each side. The teeth vary in number, according t0
the age of the fish, specimens being found with one, two, or even
three rows, when the animal attains to a large size.

PLATE CVIII.

The ample account Dr. Goodenough affords, agrees with our
specimen, which measures nearly four feet in length, and possesses a
triple series of long acute teeth in each jaw. Beside this example,
•which we procured in a recent state, the head of another, of larger
size, is preserved in our Museum : the animal to which the latter
belonged must have been about five feet in length, as nearly as can
be estimated. Those are the only specimens we have seen, and
hence we must conclude that it cannot be a very common fish on our
coasts. From the structure of its teeth it is supposed to be of the
voracious kind of Sharks; its food is uncertain, for upon opening
the stomach of our recent fish, that part was observed to be
empty ; the same circumstance was remarked likewise upon opening
that examined at Hastings, as above mentioned. The fins of this
Shark are rather large, that of the tail especially, which is of a semi-
lunar form, with the upper lobe or horn longer than the lower one *.

From a reference to our synonyms it will be seen, that the Por-
beagle and Beaumaris Shark are considered by us as the same animal,
contrary to the opinion generally prevalent with naturalists, and the
testimony of Mr. Pennant. Gmelin is an exception, for he makes
the Beaumaris Shark a variety of the other, though on what autho-

* In the description of the Beaumaris Shari;, lately published by Dr. Shaw, it i,
Mated, that “ in the British Zoology, the upper lobe of the tail is said to be ten, and the
lower thirteen inches long, but it is clear, from the plate engraved from Mr. Davies 1 *
drawing, this is au error.” Vide Gen. Zool . — There appears to be some oversight hi this
remark on the part of the last-mentioned ingenious writer instead of Mr. Pennant;
for it will be seen, on reconsulting the description in the British Zoology, that the
upper horn of the tail is “ one foot ten inches, and the lowar one foot one,’" which
agrees exactly with the ligate of the tail in the drawing.

PLATE CVIII.

rity we cannot pretend to determine *. The suspicions of Gmelin
on this subject are not altogether unfounded, though it must be re-
marked, that it is not exactly a variety of that species, but precisely
the same fish. — This we are at liberty to state on the best authority,
having been favoured some years ago by the Rev. Mr. Hugh Davies,
of Beaumaris (the gentleman from whom Mr.Pennant acknowledges to
have derived his information of the fish) with the orginal drawing and
description from whence the account of the Beaumaris Shark in the
British Zoology was taken +. This drawing was liberally put into
our hands by Mr. Davies, with permission to employ it in anv man-
ner likely to promote science; and we cannot therefore consistently
pass over it without offering some further observations respecting
it. From a slight comparison there appears sufficient reason to re-
gret, that a very striking dissimilarity prevails between the plate in
the above work and the original drawing from whence it professes to
be copied, the figure in the plate having been injudiciously altered
to the fancy of the artist, or the engraver, to give the animal a better
contour. By this means the accuracy of the first design is entirely
lost, and the deviation rendered considerable ; insomuch indeed as to
convey an idea of a very distinct fish, and thus involve the history of
the species itself in obscurity. Dr. Goodenough is among the number
of those misled by an implicit reliance on the plate in the British
Zoology ; for he observes (depending on the accuracy of the draw*
in s) that his fish, (Squalus Cornubicus,) cannot be the same as the

Dr. 1 nr ton, contrary to the example of his author makes two distinct species of
those fishes in his translation of the Systema Naturae.

t r ‘ Beaumaris Shark. This species was observed by my friend the Rev. Mr. Hugk
Davies, of Beaumaris, who favoured me with the description, and an accurate drawing
.made from the fish taken in a neighbouring wear.” Penn. Brit. Zool. V. 3.p. 128. n. 5p»

♦

i

PLATE CVIII.

Beaumaris Shark, as the first has a blunt nose, the Cornubicus a
sharp one, In the original drawing the nose is sharp, and the whole
body of a much more slender figure than the engraving represents.
—There is in fact not the slightest difference between the original
drawing of the Beaumaris Shark by Mr. Davies, and the Squalus
Cornubicus ; — they are both of the same species,

PICKED SHARK, OR DOG FISH.

London, Aub t OJ the Act dir tele, by E. Donovan UFA C k JJtiviryiton. Oehiutoj .

ATfe UO

PLATE LXXXI1.

SQUALUS ACANTHIAS.

PICKED SHARK, or DOG FISH .

* PISCES CHONDROPTERYGII.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Head obtuse. Spiracles from four to seven, placed on the side of the
neck, and semilunar. Eyes oblong, vertical, half covered, and situated
before the temporal orifices. Mouth beneath, in the anterior part
of the head: teeth numerous, serrated, acute, partly moveable:
partly fixed ; and unequal. Body oblong, roundish, and rough,
with tender prickles. Ventral fins for the most part smaller than
the pectoral, approximate, and situated round the vent, or genitalia,
in the males.

# Section. With temporal orifices , and no anal fin.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

Fuscous-grey, beneath white: body roundish: two dorsal fins
with an anterior spine each.

Squalus Acanthias: fusco-cinereis, subtus albus : corpore tere-
tiusculo, pinnis binis dorsalibus antice unispinosis.
SftUALus Acanthias: pinnis dorsalibus spinosis, corpore subtus
albus.

PLATE LXXXII.

SatJALUS Acanthias: pinnis dorsalibus spinosia, corpore tcreti-
usculo. Linn. Fn. Suec . 295. Mus. Ad,

Fr. 1. p. 53. lb. Wgoth. 174. Gmtl. Linn.

Syst.Nat.p. 1500. sp. 1.

Sau alus Acanthias corpore teretiusculo, dorso biaculeato.

Bloch. Fisk. Deutschl. 3. p. 74. n. 1. t. 85.

Galeus Acanthias sive spinax. Rondel. 373.

Will. Ichth. 56.

Bail. Pise. p. 21.

Aiguillat. Brousson. Act. Par. 1780 .

Picked-back Shark. Penn. Brit. Z«ol. v. 3. p • 100. sp. 40,

The picked Shark, or Dog-Fish, seldom grows to the length of more
than three or four feet ; the larger ones usually weighing, at the ut-
most, about twenty pounds. The prey of this voracious animal consists
principally of Herrings, Mackrel, and other fish that visit our
shores in their periodical migrations from the north seas, and which the
picked Dog-Fish pursues in immense bodies, following close in the rear
of the shoals. This species is far more abundant in the northern
than southern parts of Europe : it appears in the Baltic only rarely ,
on the coast of Greenland, Iceland, and the north of Scotland, it
infests the seas, and shores in swarms. The flesh of this species is
esteemed more delicate, and palatable, than the rest of the shark
tribe ; and being taken in the greatest abundance by the Scotch fisher-
men, constitutes an article of food among the lower orders, who either
eat it fresh, or cure U for exportation. The Icelanders, as well as the
Scotch, prepare a vast quantity of this fish by splitting it, and e**

PLATE LXXXIE

posing it in the air to dry: “it forms (says Mr. Pennant) a sort
of internal commerce on the coasts of Scotland, being carried, on
women’s backs, fourteen or sixteen miles up the country, and sold
or exchanged for necessaries. In some of the northern countries
the natives extract an oil from this fish.”

The present species is principally distinguished from the rest ot
the Shark tribe, by the strong bony spine situated before each of the
two dorsal fins. This is not, however, sufficient to distinguish
it from every other species of Shark, the Linnsean Squalus Spinax
possessing the same character. Those two analogous species,
though so closely allied to each other, may be readily ascertained
by the colour of the belly, which in our species is perfectly white,
in S. Spinax, dusky or black. Gmelin considers as a variety
of Squalus Acanthias, the fish described by Molina in his History
of Chili, a kind of Shark similar to ours, but having the body
marked with ocellated spots. We are not perfectly clear as to this
being a variety only, suspecting rather that it muse be a distinct
species, in which case there would be three kinds of Squalus, known
by having both dorsal fins armed anteriorly with a single spine
each.

Writers mention that the Danish and Norwegian fishermen regard
the spines of Squalus Acanthias as poisonous, and are therefore ex-
tremely cautious in its capture. It has been stated by Bloch, that
those spines appear already formed in the young Shark before it
ls excluded from the egg, only that they are not then so hard as
m the full grown animals. Two small specimens that have lately
occurred to our observation seem, however, to prove, that this is
not precisely the fact These were each about five inches long,

VOL. IV.

D

PLATE LXXXII.

and in both those fishes the dorsal spines, though observable, were
by no means completely formed : they were only visibly protruded
just above the skin at the base of the anterior part of the dorsal
fins, while in the full grown animal they were conspicuously erect,
and nearly the full length of the fin. This fish is said to couple in
September.

m

ANGEL SHARK.

i-"*

• van. S/it C.Jiirvifton . .

PLATE 1 1 1

PLATE XVII.

SQUALUS SQUATINA.

ANGEL SHARK.

PISCES CHONDROPTERYGII.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Head obtuse. Spiracles four to seven, placed on the side of the neck,
and semilunar. Eyes oblong, vertical, half covered, and situated
before the temporal orifices. Mouth beneath, in the anterior part
of the head: teeth numerous, serrated, acute, partly moveable:
partly fixed; and unequal. Body oblong, roundish, and rough,
with tender prickles. Ventral fins for the most part smaller than
the pectoral, approximate, and situated round the vent, or genitalia,
W the males.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

Pectoral fins large, and notched in front.

Squalus SuUatina : pinnis pectoralibus maximis anterius emargi-
natis. Gmelin. Syst. Nat. T . 1 . ]>. 3.
p. 1503. sp. 4.

•hqitalus pinna anali nulla, caudae duobus, ore terminali, naribus
cirrosis. Linn. Syst. Nat. 12. 1 . p. 398.

• /• i >«

r\ f

PLATE XVII.

Squalus capite plagioplatco lato, ore in apice capitis, naribus cirrosis-
Gron . Mus. 1 . 137. Zooph. 151.

Rhina sive Squatina autorum. Klein, miss. pise. 3. p. 14. n. 1*
t. 2. /. 5. 6.

Angel Fish. Penn. Brit . Zool. T. 3. p. 93. 39.

L’Angelot de Mer. Block.

The Angel Fish appears to be an intermediate creature betwee*
the two genera Rays and Sharks ; although it is with most pro-
priety referred to the latter. Of its fierceness and voracity, there
are many instances ; and it grows sometimes to such an enormous
size, as to become truly formidable. Mr. Pennant knew an instance
of a fisherman whose leg was terribly torn by a large one, which
lay within his nets in shallow water, and which he went to lay hold
of incautiously.

Like the Ray, the Angel Fish feeds on flounders and other flat
fish, which keep at the bottom of the water ; and haunts our coasts
in abundance. They are sometimes caught, and brought to the
fish markets, where they are sold under the name of Fiddle Fish ,
or Puppy Fish : the flesh is very indifferent, and the price of course
is inconsiderable. Among the ancients it was in great esteem as an
article of food ; they considered it the most delicate of the wind®
cartilaginous tribe.

Tire largest creature of this kind that is recorded as a native ni
our seas, weighed nearly an hundred weight : in the North and
Mediterranean Seas, where it is also very frequent, there are nr-

PLATE XVII.

Stances known of its having been taken of the length of six or eight
feet, and the weight of one of that size must be very great.

Above, the colour is of an ash colour, of various shades, accord -
•ng to the age of the fish : faintly speckled, and rough, with little
prickles ; beneath, it is entirely white. The Romans formerly made
*-ise of the skin to polish their wood and ivory ; and the Turks, It is
raid, make their best shagreen <?f it at this time.

• • vi »

/

/

\

3112

ELECTRIC RAY.

t?*r the Act directs by K. honey an tcT.b: (\ Hinny ton. 1

PLATE II 2

PLATE till.

/

RAJA TORPEDO.

ELECTRIC RAY.

****** PISCES CIIONDROPTERYGII.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Spiracles ten, five on each side, oblique, and placed beneath near
the neck : head small, pointed, not distinct from the breast, with the
mouth beneath, transverse, and toothed : body thin, depressed, and
rhombic.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Body entirely smooth.

Raja Torpedo : tota laevis. Linn. Mus. Fr. 2. p. SO. — Anted.

gen. 13. syn. 102. — Gmel. Syst. Nat. T. 1.
p. 3. 1504. 130. sp. 1. Bloch aus. Fisch. 1.
p. 44. n. 7. t. 122, 3, p. 1 18.

Raja dorso monopterygio, cauda brevi apice pinnato, lsevis, inermis,
rostro subobtuso. Gronov. Zooph. n. 1 52.

”R°Rpille, Duhamelf Lacepede, See. Torpille, Torpede, fr.

Tremble, and Domiggliose at Bourdeaux, upon
the coast of Poitou, Gascony, See . — Zitterfisch
vol. hi. c

PLATE LIII.

4

Germ. — Krampfisch. IT oil . — Torpcdine Sardinia •
Occhiatella Rome, Salvian.

Torpedo, Cramp-fish. Will. Ichtli. 81. RaiiSyn. Rise. 23.
Electric Ray. Penn. Brit. Zool. Vol. 3. p. 89. sp. 36.

It was not before the latter part of the preceding century that the
Torpedo was clearly proved to be an inhabitant of the British seas.
The first account of it as such that may be relied upon, is contained
in a letter addressed by Mr. Walsh to the late Mr. Pennant, dated
June 23, 1774, which, was laid before the Royal Society of London,
and published in their transactions of that year. “ To the author
of the British Zoology (says Mr. Walsh) it will, 1 am persuaded, be
no uirwelcome information, that the Torpedo, or Electric Ray, fre-
quents the shores of this island, contrary to a received opinion among
naturalists, who have, in general, considered it as an inhabitant only
of warmer climates.”

In consequence of the enquiries set on foot by Mr. Walsh in some
of our southern fishing ports, he had received several Torpedos from
the coast of Devonshire, when this information was communicated.
These were chiefly from Torbay. One obtained from Brixham
weighed fifty-three pounds avoirdupois weight, and measured four
feet in length, two feet and a half in breadth, and four inches and a
half in extreme thickness. The size of this Fish, as Mr. Walsh
observes, was enormous, for, he tells us, the largest of seventy sf e '
cirnens examined by him in the neighbourhood of Rochelle, where
they are not uncommon, weighed little more than ten pounds, and

PLATE LHI,

measured not quite two feet in length, not' sixteen in breadth;
and that mentioned by Red! to Lorenzini, which was considered
very large, weighed only twenty-four pounds.

This Fish is much more frequently taken on the southern coast,
m the vicinity of Torbay, than upon any other of the British shores.
Mr. Grant, a fishmonger on the spot, acquainted Mr. Walsh, that it is
however by no means found in plenty even here, as it rarely happens
that more than one is taken at a time ; nor can the proper season fop
catching them be ascertained, as they have been seen at all times of
the year. The usual depth of water in which they are caught is from
thirty-six to forty fathom, and being of the Ray kind are commonly
taken with them. As to the time when their young are to be seen,
Mr. Grant observes, no satisfactory information cqn be obtained, but
it is imagined, that the sedson for them and the Rays is the same.
He further adds, that the benumbing qualities of these fish is pretty
strong through the net, though much weaker than when they are
taken out. The Torpedo has been taken also of a large size near
Mountsbay, Cornwall. Mr. Smith, in his History of Waterford,
speaks of one six or eight pounds weight, being taken about sixty
years ago at Dungarvan in Ireland. At Ring, a village in the
neighbourhood of that place, Mr. Walsh was told they sometimes
capture two or three of them in the course of a year. Mr. Pennant
relates that it has been once caught off Pembroke, and we can further
s ay, upon the best authority, that this species has been more than
°nce taken upon the sandy coasts near Tenby, in the county of Pem-
brokeshire, South Wales.

Miat the history of the Torpedo has undergone more assiduous
nvvstigation than that of almost any other creature of the finny race,

C 2

plate LIIl.

is a truth of which every naturalist must be aware. Among the
earlier writers of antiquity this Fish was perfectly well known.
Hippocrates mentions the Torpedo, classes it with the edible kinds
of fishes, and recommends the flesh as proper food for persons affected
with the dropsy. Aristotle speaks of it in terms that leave no doubt
upon the mind of the classic reader, that he was to a certain extent
acquainted with its manners of life *. Pliny only repeats the observa-
tions of Aristotle, his disciple Theophrastus, and other Greek writers
of celebrity, when he asserts, that the Torpedo knows her own
powers, in being able to benumb others without being herself affected.
Aristotle tells us, as well as Pliny, that the Torpedo conceals itself in
the mud, and waits in readiness to exert its benumbing influence upon
the fishes that swim over it, and which falling motionless as if they
were dead to the bottom, become an easy prey to this their lurking
enemyf. Aristotle was himself apparently indebted for this know-
ledge, at least in some degree, to preceding writers, whose labours
have not survived the wreck of time. That Plato was acquainted
with the peculiar powers of this Fish before that period is evident;
there is one very striking passage in his dialogue between Socrates,
and another which proves the truth of this opinion beyond dispute. — '
“ Thou hast benumbed my senses by thy objections, as that great
fish of the sea, the Torpedo, benumb those who approach it.” The
evidence of Tiphilus, of Plutarch, Oppian, and other writers of anti-
quity, might be mentioned also, were it incumbent to prove, that

* Arist. lib. v. c. 5. — Lib. ix. c. 37. Nagxu.

+ “ Quo magis miror quosdara existimasse, aquatalibus nullum inesse senstim. No vlt
torpedo cum suani ipsa non torpens : morsaque in limose occultat, pisces qui securi sup er
natantes obtorpuere corripiens,” Plin . lib . IX. c. 42.

PLATE LIII.

the Torpedo had been considered in all ages as an object of consider-
able interest and curiosity.

But when we reflect upon the infant state of natural philosophy in
those early ages, the testimony of those writers must be admitted
with caution. The ancients knew this Fish, and they also knew the
benumbing powers which nature has endowed it with, but its history
was still involved in fable. To the united exertions of talents, and
assiduous investigation, which in a pre-eminent degree distinguished
the former century, we are indebted for the only authentic particulars
respecting it, that can be relied upon in confidence. The accurate
Borelli, and Lorenzini, and after them the indefatigable Reaumur,
opened the way to an accurate enquiry into the electric pro-
perties of the animal by dissecting it, and pointing out in a per-
spicuous manner, the organs through whose medium this property
is exerted. To say that the cause and effects arising from the shocks
of the Torpedo were however proved to be electric by either of those
writers, would be erroneous. The credit of this discovery is due to
the memory of our own countryman, Mr. Walsh, who, by a series
of experiments before unattempted, was enabled to demonstrate
the fact. It was by the fortunate application of the newly detected
principles of eleclricity, as a cause to the effects which it was already
known this animal possessed, that Mr. Walsh was more happy in his
speculations than his predecessors. He was the first to reason upon
the analogy between the powers of electricity, and the inherent elec-
tricity of this creature. His experiments were pursued with the
greatest industry, and in the sequel proved both satisfactory and con-
clusive. But Mr. Walsh was himself disposed, with becoming can-
dour, to allow every honour to his friend Dr. Franklin, whose im-
portant discoveries on electricity had laid the foundation upon which

c 3

PLATE LIII.

his theory was established. This is sufficiently demonstrated in the
conclusion of one of his letters on the Torpedo, in whjch he compli-
ments his friend in an unusual strain of animation. “ I rejoice
(says Mr. Walsh) in addressing these communications to you. He,
who predicted, and shewed that electricity wings the formidable bolt
of the atmosphere, will hear with attention, that in the deep it speeds
an humbler bolt, silent and invisible: He, who analysed the elec-
trified phial, will hear with pleasure that its laws prevail in animate
phials : He, who by reason became an electrician, will hear with
reverence of an instinctive electrician*, gifted in his birth with a.
wonderful apparatus, and with the skill to use it.” Phil. Trans.

The paper communicated by Mr. Walsh to the Royal Society in
the year 1773, upon the subject of the Torpedo, are extremely
curious. They embrace a variety of observations that occurred to
him in the progress of his experiments, the most material of which it
would be improper to pass over in silence : these we shall select, and
lay before the reader as nearly as convenient in the language of the
writer.

* This is not the only creature endowed by nature with those amazing properties,
Gymnotut Electricus, or the Electric Ed, possessing the same powers, as does likewise
Silurus Etectricus, though in a less vigorous degree, and perhaps many others not at
present known may be gifted with a similar means of defence against their enemies.
A recent French author (Lfties) speaks thus of bodies which possess the inherent princi-
ples of electricity , — “ Quelque substances naturclles reroivem la vertu llectrique des
mains de la nature pur des moyens qui nous sont encore inconnus ; piles paroissent con
stammentdans l’etat flccnique. Telle est une espece de Rate qu’on trouve sur les cotes
de France, et qui porlc le norn de Tortile, parce quelle engrrardit la main de celui qui
la touche. I) autres poi sons, tels que le Tremblcur du Niger, et VAwguille de Surirunr,
jouissent de latnthue propriety.”

PLATE LIII.

The sea coast of France near Rochelle, and a small spot called the
Isle of Re, afforded Mr. Walsh an ample opportunity for prose-
cuting his experiments, the Torpedo being frequent in those places.
He was restrained by the jealousy of the government, from making
those experiments where these animals are caught, but he received
them alive, and in such a state of vigour, as enabled him to proceed
successfully in his enquiry. With respect to the effect of the Toipedo,
he observes, 11 it appears to be absolutely electrical, forming its cii-
cuit through the same conductors with electricity, and being inter-
cepted by the same nonconductors, as glass and sealing wax. The
back, and the breast of the animal, appear to be in different states
of electricity, I mean in particular the upper, and lower surfaces of
the two assemblages of pliant cylinders, engraved in the work of
Lorenzini. By the knowledge of this circumstance, we have been
able to direct his shocks, though they were small, through a ciieuit
of four persons all feeling them, and likewise through a considerable
length of wire, held by two insulated persons, one touching his
lower surface, and the other his upper. W hen the wire was ex-
changed for glass or sealing wax, no effect could be obtained, but as
soon as it was resumed, the two persons became liable to the shock.
These experiments have been varied many ways, and repeated times
without number, and they all determined the choice of conductors,
to be the same in the Torpedo, as in the Leyden phial. The sen-
sations likewise, occasioned by the one and the other, in the human
frame, are precisely similar. Not only the shock, but the numbing
sensation, which the animal sometimes dispenses, expiessed inFiench
by the words engourdissement and fourmillemefit, may be exactly
imitated with the phial, by means of Lane’s electrometer ; the regu-
lating rod of which, to produce the latter effect, must be brought
almost into contact with the prime conductor, which joins the phial.

c 4

PLATE LI II.

It is a singularity, that the Torpedo when insulated, should be able
to give us insulated likewise, forty or fifty successive shocks, from
nearly the same part ; and these, with little, if any diminution of
their force. Each effort of the animal to give the shock, is con-
veniently accompanied by a depression of his eyes, by which even
his attempts to give it to the non-conductors can be observed : in
respect to the rest of his body, he is in a great degree motionless,
though not entirely so. I have taken no less than fifty, of the
above-mentioned successive shocks, from an insulated Torpedo, in
the space of a minute and a half. All our experiments confirm,
tnat the electricity of the Torpedo, is condensed in the instant of its
explosion, by a sudden energy of the animal ; anil as there is no
gradual accumulation, or retention of it, as in case of charged
glass, it is not at all surprising, that no signs of attraction or repul-
sion, were perceived in the pith balls. In short, the effect of the
Torpedo appears to arise from a compressed elastic fluid, restoring
itself to its equilibrium, in the same way, and by the same mediums,
as the elastic fluid compressed in charged glass. The skin of the
animal, bad conductor as it is, seems to be a better conductor of
his electricity, than the thinnest plate of elastic air. Notwithstand-
ing the weak spring of the Torpedinal electricity, I was able, in the
public exhibitions of my experiments at La Rochelle, to convey it
through a circuit formed from one surface of the animal to the
other, by two long brass wires, and four persons, which number,
at times, was enci eased even to eight. The several persons were
made to communicate with each other, and the two outermost with
the wires, by means of water contained in the basons, properly
disposed between them for that purpose ; each person dipping his t
hands in the nearest basin, connectively with his neighbour on either
side.”

/

PLATE On.

“ The effect produced by the Torpedo, when in air, appeared on
Many repeated experiments to be about four times as strong, as when
in water.”

The following detailed particulars, of a series of experiments per-
formed by Mr. Walsh, in presence of the academy of Rochelle,
appeared 1 in the French Gazette of the 30th of October, 1772, as
the extract of a letter received from Sieur Seignette, mayor of that
place, and secretary of the academy.

“ A live Torpedo was placed on a table. Round another table
stood five persons insulated. Two brass wires, each thirteen feet
long, were suspended to the ceiling by silken strings. One of
these wires rested by one end on the wet napkin on which
the fish lay: the other end was immersed in a basin full of
Water, placed on a second table, on which stood four other basins
Hk ewise full of water. The first person put a finger of one hand
,n the basin in which the wire was immersed, and a finger of the
°ther hand in a second basin. The second person put a finger
of one hand in this last basin, and a finger of the other hand in
the third ; and so on successively, till the five persons communi-
cated with one another by the water in the basins. In the last
hasin, one end of the second wire was immersed; and with the
other end, Mr. Walsh touched the back of the Torpedo, when
five persons felt a commotion, which differed in nothing from
that of the Leyden experiment, except in the degree of force.
Mr. Walsh, who was not in the circle of conduction, received
Oo shock. This experiment was repeated several times, even with
ei ght persons ; and always with the same success. The action of
th e Torpedo, is communicated by the same mediums, as that of

PLATE LIIL

the electric fluid. The bodies which intercept the action of the
one, intercept likewise the action of the other. The effects pro-
duced by the Torpedo, resemble in every respect a weak elec-
tricity. This exhibition of the electric powers of the Torpedo,
before the academy of La Rochelle, was at a meeting, held for
the purpose, in my apartments on the 22d of July, 1772, and
stands registered in the journals of the academy.”

Mr. Walsh further states, in relating this affair to the Royal
Society of London, that the effect of the animal in these experi-
ments, was transmitted through as great an extent and variety of
conductors, as almost at any time he had been able to obtain it, and
the experiments included nearly all the points, in which its analogy
with the Leyden phial had been observed. These points were stated
to the gentlemen present, as were the circumstances in which the
two effects appeared to vary. It was likewise represented to them,
that cur experiments had been almost wholly with the animal in
• air : that its action in the water was a capital desideratum : that in-
deed, all as yet done, was little more than opening the door to in-
quiry : that much remained to be examined by the electrician, as
well as the anatomist : that as artificial electricity had thrown light
upon the operations of the Torpedo, this might in return, if well
considered, throw light on artificial electricity ; particularly in those
respects, in which they now seemed to differ. The Torpedo in
these experiments, dispensed only the distinct, instantaneous stroke,
so well known by the name of the electric shock. That protracted
but lighter sensation, that torpor or numbness which he at times
induces, and from which he takes his name, was not then expel
cnced from the animal ; but it was imitated widi artificial electricity*
and shewn to be producible by a quick consecution of minute shocks*

PLATE LIII.

This, in the Torpedo, may perhaps be effected by the successive
discharge of his numerous cylinders, in the nature of a running
fire of musquetry ; the strong single shock may be his general
v olley. In the continued effect, as well as in the instantaneous,
fits eyes, which are usually prominent, are withdrawn into their
sockets.”

“ A large Torpedo, very liberal of his shocks, being held with
both hands, by his electric organs above and below, was briskly
plunged into water, to the depth of a foot, and instantly raised an
equal height in air ; and was thus continually plunged and raised, as
rprick as possible, for the space of a minute. On the instant his
lower surface touched the water in his descent, he always gave a
violent shock, and another still more violent in his ascent ; both
which shocks, but particularly the last, were accompanied with a
Writhing in his body, as if meant to force an escape. Besides these
two shocks from the surface of the water, which may yet be consi-
dered as delivered in the air, he constantly gave at least two when
Wholly in the air, and as constantly one, and sometimes two, when
Wholly in the water. The shocks in water appeared, as far as sen-
sation could decide, not to have near a fourth part of the force of
those which took place at the surface of the water, nor much more
than a fourth of those entirely in air.”

“ The shocks received in a certain time were not on this occasion
counted by a watch, as they had been on a former, when fifty were
delivered in a minute and half, by the animal in an insulated and
nnagitated state : but from the quickness with which the immersions
Were made, it may be presumed there were full twenty of these in a
minute ; from whence the number of shocks in that time must have
ai nounted to above 'an hundred. This experiment, therefore, while

PLATE LIIL

h discovered the comparative force between a shock in water and one
in air, and between a shock delivered with greater exertion on the
part of the animal, and one with less, seemed to determine that the
charge of his organs with electricity was effected in an instant, 3®
well as the discharge.”

“ The Torpedo when put into a flat basket, open at the top, but
secured by a net with wide meshes, and in this confinement was let
down into the water a foot below the surface : being there touched
, through the meshes, with only a single finger, on one of his electric
organs, while the other hand was held at a distance in the water, he
gave shocks which were distinctly felt in both hands.”

“ The circuit for the passage of the effect being contracted to the
finger and thumb of one hand, applied above, and below to a single
organ, produced a shock, to our sensation, of twice the force of that
in the larger circuit by the arms.”

“ The Torpedo still confined in the basket, being raised to withn*
three inches of the surface of the water, was there touched with *
short iron bolt, which was held half above, and half in the water, by
one hand, while the other hand dipped, as before, at a distance in the
water ; arul strong shocks, felt in both hands, were thus obtaine-1
through the iron.”

“ A wet hempen cord being fastened to the iron bolt, was held lU
the hand above water, while the bolt touched the Torpedo, and tbs
shocks were obtained through both these substances.”

“ A less powerful Torpedo, suspended in a small net, being
frequently dipped into water, and raised again, gave, from £ b c

V

PLATE Lilt

Surface of the water, slight shocks, through the net, to the person
holding it.”

<£ These experiments in water manifested, that bodies, immersed
in that element, might be affected by immediate contact with the
Torpedo ; that the shorter the circuit in which the electricity moved,
the greater would be the effect ; and that the shock was communi-
cable, from the animal in water, to persons in air through some
substances.”

«< How far harpoons and nets, consisting of wood and hemp,,
could in like circumstances, as it has been frequently asserted, convey
the effect, was not so particularly tried as to enable us to confirm it.
I mention the omission in hope that some one may be induced to
determine the point by express trial.”

/

« w e convinced ourselves, on former occasions, that the accurate
Krempfer, who so well describes the effect of the Torpedo, and hap-
pily compares it with lightening, was deceived in the ciicumstance,
that it could be avoided by holding in the breath, which we found
no more to prevent the shock of the Torpedo, when he was disposed
to give it, than it would prevent the shock of the Leyden phial.”
t

“ Several persons, forming as many distinct circuits, can be affected
by one stroke of the animal, as well as when joined in a single circuit.
For instance, four persons, touching separately his upper and lower
surfaces, were all affected. Two persons likewise, after the electri-
city had passed through a wire into a basin of water, transmitted it
from thence in two distinct channels, as their sensation convinced
them, into another basin of water, from whence it was conducted.

PLATE LIII.

probably in an united state, by a single wire. How much further the
effect might be thus divided, and subdivided into different channels,
was not determined ; but it was found to be proportionally weakened
by multiplying these circuits, as it had been by extending the single
circuit.” '

A very complete, and most instructive series of the Torpedo,
including both the sexes, with anatomical preparations of the
several organs concerned in producing the electric effects of the
animal, are preserved in the valuable collection of the late Mr f-
Hunter *, which we have been obligingly permitted to inspect.
Most of those specimens were sent by Mr. Walsh, from the coast
of France. Mr. Hunter was induced at the solicitation of Mr.
Waish, to prosecute his inquiries relative to the internal organization
of tne 1 orpedo, at the same time that Mr. Waish was himself en-
gaged in a course of experiments on its electricity, and the result of
both were laid before the Royal Society, in the year 1773.

Of the general structure and anatomy of the Torpedo, Mr.
Hunter observes in this paper f, he shall say nothing, because it does
not difFer materially in those respects from the rest of the Ray tribe,
except in its electric organs, which he proceeds to explain as follows ■'
“ These organs are placed on each side of the cranium and gills, ■
reaching from thence to the semicircular cartilages of each great
fin, and extending longitudinally from the anterior extremity of the
animal, to the transverse cartilage which divides the thorax from the

* The property at this time of the Royal College of Surgeons, London,
t Phil. Trans. 1773. p. 43.

V

PLATE LIII.

abdomen; and within these limits, they occupy the whole space
between the skin of the upper, and of the under surface : they are
thickest at the edges, hear the centre of the fish, and become gra-
dually thinner towards the extremities. Each electric organ, at its
inner longitudinal edge, is a convex elliptic curve. The anterior
extremity of each organ, makes the section of a small circle ; and
the posterior extremity makes nearly a right angle with the inner
edge. Each organ is attached to the surrounding parts by a close
Cellular membrane, and also by short and strong tendinous fibtes,
which pass directly across, from its outer edge, to the semicircular
cartilages. They are covered above and below by the common skin
of the animal ; under which there is a thin fascia spread over the
whole organ. This is composed of fibres which run longitudinally,
or in the direction of the body of the animal : these fibres appear to
be perforated in innumerable places ; which gives the fascia the ap-
pearance of being fasciculated : its edges all round, are closely con-
nected to the skin, and at last appear to be lost, or to degenerate into
the common cellular membrane of the skin. Immediately under this
is another membrane exactly of the same kind, the fibres of which,
in some measure, decussate those of the former, passing from the
middle line of the body outwards and backwards. The inner edge
of this is lost with the first described ; the anterior, outer, and poste-
rior edges, are partly attached to the semi-circular cartilages, and
partly lost in the common cellular membrane. This inner fascia
appears to be continued into the electric organ, by so many pro-
cesses, and thereby makes the membranous sides or sheaths of the
columns, which are presently to be described ; and between these pro-
cesses the fascia covers the end of each column, making the outermost
or first partition. Each organ is about five inches in length, and, at
the anterior end, three in breadth, though it is but little more than

PLATE Lift.

lialf as broad at the posterior extremity. Each consists wholly of
perpendicular columns, reaching from the upper to the under surface
of the body, and varying in their lengths, according to the thickness
of the parts of the body where they are placed ; the longest column
being about an inch and a half, and the shortest about one fourth of
an inch in length, and their diameters about two tenths of an inch.
The figures of these columns are very irregular, varying according
to the situation and other circumstances. The greatest number of
them are either irregular hexagons, or irregular pentagons; but
from the irregularity of some of them, it happens, that a pretty
regular quadrangular column is sometimes formed. Those of the
exterior row, are either quadrangular, or hexagonal, having one
side external, two lateral, and either one or two internal. In the
second row, they are mostly pentagons. Their coats are very thin,
and seem transparent, closely connected with each other, having a
kind of loose net-work of tendinous fibres, passing transversely and
obliquely between the columns, and uniting them more firmly to-
gether. These are most observable, where the large trunks of the
nerves pass. The columns are also attached by strong inelastic
fibres, passing directly from the one to the other. The number of
columns in different Torpedos of rather small size, appears to be
about 470 in each organ, but the number varies according to the
size of the fish ; and in a very large Torpedo, the number of co-
lumns in one electric organ was 1182. They must therefore in-
crease, not only in size, but in number, during the growth of the
animal, new ones forming perhaps every year on the exterior edges*
as they are the smallest. This process may be similar to the forma-
tion of new teeth in the human jaw, as it increases. Each column
is divided by horizontal partitions, placed over each other at very
small distances, and forming numerous insterstices, which appear to

PLATE LIH.

contain a fluid. These partitions consist of a very thin membrane,
considerably transparent. Their edges appear to be attached to one
another, and the whole is attached by a fine cellular membrane, to
the inside of the columns. They are not totally detached from one
another ; and I have found them adhering at different places, by
blood vessels passing from one to another. The number of par-
titions contained in a column of one inch in length, of a Torpedo,
which had been preserved in proof spirit, appeared, upon a careful
examination, to be one hundred and fifty : and this number, in a
given length of column, appears to be common to all sizes in the
same state of humidity, for by drying they may be greatly altered ;
whence it appears probable, that the increase in the length of a co-
lumn, during the growth of the animal, does not enlarge the dis-
tance between each partition in proportion to the growth ; but that
new partitions are formed, and added to the extremity of the column
from the fascia. The partitions are very vascular ; the arteries are
branches from the veins of the gills, which convey the blood that
has received the influence of respiration. They pass along with the
nerves to the electric organ, and enter with them : then ramify, in
every direction into innumerable small branches upon the sides of
the columns, sending in from the circumference all around upon each
partition small arteries, which ramify, and anastomose upon it ; and
passing also from one partition to another, anastomose with the
vessels of the adjacent partitions. The veins of the electric organ,
pass out close to the nerves, and run between the gills, to the auricle
of the heart. The nerves inserted into each electric organ, arise by
three very large trunks, from the first of these in its passage out-
wards, turns round a cartilage of the cranium, and sends a few
branches to the first gill j and to the anterior part of the head, and
then passes into the organ towards its anterior extremity. The
vol. in.

\

I

PLATE LIII.

second trunk enters the gills between the first and second openings*
and after furnishing it with small branches, passes into the organ
near its middle. The third trunk, after leaving the skull, divides
itself into two branches, which pass to the electric organ through
the gills ; one between the second and third openings, the other be-
tween the third and fourth, giving small branches to the gill itself.
These nerves having entered the organs, ramify in every direction
between the columns, and send in small branches upon each par-
tition where they are lost. The magnitude, and number of the
nerves bestowed on these organs, in proportion to their size, must
on reflection, appear as extraordinary as the phenomena they afford.
Nerves are given to parts either for sensation or action. If we ex*
cept the more important senses of hearing, seeing, tasting, and smel-
ling, which do not belong to the electric organs, there is no part,
even of the most perfect animal, which, in proportion to its size, is
so liberally supplied with nerves ; nor do the nerves seem necessary
for any sensation, which can be supposed to belong to the electric
organs ; and, with respect to action, there is no part of any animal
with which I am acquainted, however strong and constant its na-
tural actions may be, which has so great a proportion of nerves.
If it be then probable, that those nerves are not necessary for the
purposes of sensation or action, may we not conclude that they are
subservient to the formation, collection, or management of the
electric fluid ? especially as it appeals evident from Mr. Walsh’s
experiments, that the will of the animal does absolutely controul
the electric powers of its body ; which must depend on the energy
of the nerves.”

That the electric organs of the Torpedo are described with accu-
racy by Mr. Hunter, in the above paper, is pretty certain. The most

PLATE LIII.

diligent naturalists among those who have since attended to the in-
ternal structure of the animal, having been unable to detect any
omission of material consequence in that anatomical dissertation.
The observations of Mr. Walsh and Mr. Hunter roused the curiosity
of many. The Abbe Rozier entered at considerable length into its
history, an account of which was published about two years after
the joint papers of Mr. Walsh and Mr. Hunter appeared in the
transactions of the Royal Society. Duhamel followed, and was
equally assiduous in his investigations. And Spallanzani, beside
some other ingenious observers, pursued the same enquiry. There
is-also a very copious dissertation on the electric properties of the
Torpedo, with strictures on the observations of Mr. Walsh and Mr.
Hunter, by Mr. Cavendish, in the sixty-sixth volume of the Philoso-
phical Transactions. To the writings of these respective authors
we must refer the reader, desirous of more ample information con-
cerning the anatomy of those organs, as we shall ourselves take leave
of the subject, after relating some few particulars that have fallen
from the pen of Lacepede respecting them. Those observations are
not important for their novelty, but still deserve mention. This
naturalist, proceeding to describe those parts of the Torpedo in which
the galvanic faculty resides, explains the structure of those organs in
toe following manner : — “ De chaque cote du crane et des branchies
es t, un organe particulier qui s’entend communement depuis le bout
museau iusqu’a, ce cartilage demi-circulaire qui fait partie du dia-
Phragme, et qui separe la cavite de la poitrine de celle de l’abdomen.
Cet orange aboutit d’ailleurs, par son cbt6 exterieur, presque a l’ori-
hce de la nageoire pectorale, et est plus epais dans son cote interieur.
Entre cet organe et la peau, on voit deux especes de bandes superposees
*’une a 1’autre, dont la superieure, a fibres longitudinales, s’unit avec
' r * Peau par le moyen d’un tissu cellulaire, et dont Tinferieure, a. fibres

D 2

PLATE LIII.

transversales, se continue dans 1’organe par tm ties-grand nombre dc
prolongemens membraneux, qui y forment des prismes verticaux a
cinq ou six pans, ou pour mieux dire des tubes dont la hauteur dimi-
nue a mesure qu’ils s’approchent du bord, et qui sont remplis d’une
substance raollasse, transparente, qu’on a reconnu, par l’analyse, etre
composee d’albumine et de gelatine. On a compte dans chacun des
deux organes d’une Torpille , jusqu’a pres de douze cents de ces
prismes, les un reguliers, les autres irreguliers, mais tous divises,
dans leur interieur, en plusieurs intervalles, par des cloisons mera-
braneuses, horizontales, transparentes. De plus, chaque organe est
traverse par des arteres, des veines, et des nerfs, qui courent dans
toutes les directions, et qui y portent une vie active

“ On ne peut se refuser a voir, dans ce double organe, une
assemblage de piles galvaniques plus petites, mais aussi beaucoup
plus nombreuses que celles qui ont ete observees dans la Gymnote
Electrujue t. C’est done encore le fluide galvanique qui agit ici,
et non le fluide electrique j mais les differences qui existent entr’eux
sont trop legeres pour qu’on doive changer les expressions employees
ci-devant J.” — “ On peut done encore dire, 1°, que toute 1’electricite
de la Torpille est renfermee, et produite par ses doubles organes,
et que les autres parties de son corps ne servent que de conducteurs ;
2°, que l’effect des organes semble etre dependant et subordonne a sa
volonte ; 3°, qu’on ignore si elle peut faire agir un organe hide-
pendamment de l’autre ; 4°, qu’on ne re^oit aucune commotion

* Vide also Journal de Physique de l’Abb£ Eozier, 1775.
t Gynmotus Electricus, Electric Eel.

J Bose. Nov. Diet. Nat.

PLATE LIII.

lorsqu’on touclie en meine temps les deux organes en dessus ou
dessous, mais qu’il y en a toujours, une lorsqu’on etablit une com-
munication entre le dos, et le ventre ; 5o, que la peau et les nageoires
servent de conducteurs, quoique plus foiblement que le fer.”

The benumbing faculties of this animal, when exerted to the ut-
most, are neither so powerful, nor so terrible, as the ignorant in early
times were taught to conceive. In the warmth of an invigoiated
imagination, their poets feigned that vessels in full sail might be
arrested in their progress through the briny waves by its intervention
only ; and that the astonished fishermen were oftentimes struck mo-
tionless while hauling up their nets in which their lurking captive,
the Torpedo, lay entangled. Oppian describes the power of its
shock upon the angler in a similar manner.

“ The hook’d Torpedo, with instinctive force,

Calls all his magic from its secret source :

Quick through the slender line and polish’d wand
It darts, and tingles in th* offending hand.

The palsied fisherman, in dumb surprise,

Feels through his frame the chilling vapours rise :

Drops the lost rod, and seems, in stiffening pain.

Some frost-fix’d wanderer on the polar plain.”

Shaw's T runs.

But although the exaggerations of the ancients are not to be re-
tained, we are not entirely to reject their evidence. The history of
the animal is now better known ; the extent of its electric powers
more fully ascertained ; and yet the assertions of the ancients in some
particulars deserve credit. Pliny tells us, that the Totpedo, when

PLATE LIII.

touched with a spear or stick, can benumb the strongest arm, or stop
the swiftest foot. That the Torpedo cannot be handled with impu-
nity, when at first taken out of the water, we have the assurance of
some old fishermen, who have several times caught it in their nets,
when trawling upon the southern coast for flat fish. They insisted
that its benumbing influence was felt with equal force, when touched
with the boat hook, or the hand. Another circumstance related by
Pliny, is verified by Mr. Walsh, who tells us, that when the Tor-
pedo is accidentally left upon the shore by the ebbing tide, it buries
itself in the sand, by briskly flapping the extremities, which falls
upon the upper surface of the fish, and by that means conceals it
from view. In this situation Mr. Walsh observes, the Torpedo is
capable of giving its most violent shock, which is strong enough to
throw down the passenger that inadvertently treads upon him. Spal-
lanzani discovered in the course of his experiments, that not only
the Torpedo in an infant state, but those yet unborn, when extracted
from the womb of the pregnant female, are able to communicate
the electric shock with a sensible degree of vigour. Some further
experiments were tried on this animal, by Dr. John Ingenhouz, at
Leghorn, in the year 1773, in company with Dr. Drummond, the
particulars of which are inserted in the philosophical transactions.
From the remarks of this gentleman we learn, that the Torpedo
upon that coast lie on a muddy bottom, about twenty miles from the
shore. He took an excursion to this spot for the express purpose of
fishing for them, and caught five. Before the nets were taken up,
he charged a coated jar by means of a glass tube, and gave a shock to
some of the sailors, who all told him they felt exactly the same sensa-
tion when they touched the Torpedo. He further learnt, that this
creature has very little force in the winter, and cannot live a long
time out of the water. As soon as caught, he put the Torpedos,

PLATE LIII.

with other fish, into a tub of water, the latter of which did not ap-
pear to be at all hurt by those associates *. On pressing his thumbs
upon the upper side of the two soft bodies on each side the head.
Dr. Ingenhouz, in about the space of a minute or two, felt a sudden
trembling in the thumbs, which extended no further than the bauds,
and lasted about two seconds. Sometimes the shock was so strong
as almost to oblige the hand to let go the fish, and at others was
scarcely at all perceptible. The Torpedo being suspended by a clean
and dry silk ribbon, attracted no light bodies, such as pith balls, or
others put near it. A coated bottle applied to the fish thus suspended,
did not at all become charged. When the fish gave the shock in the
dark, he heard no cracking noise, nor could he perceive any sparks.
When the fish was pinced with the nails, it did not give more, or
fewer strokes than when not pinced. But by folding its body, or
fending its right side to the left, the shocks were felt more frequently,
and every circumstance tended to prove, that those shocks were per-
fectly voluntary.

Writers are by no means agreed as to the goodness of this fish,
as an article for the table. Galen recommends it, because the flesh is
e asy of digestion, and salutary for persons in ill health, and he also
tells us, that the living fish applied externally to the head, cures many
disorders with which that part is sometimes affected. Dioscorides
s ays, the rheumatism is cured by applying it externally. Eondelet
does not allow the flesh to be wholesome, assuring us the Prefect of

* This appears to imply a contradiction to the experiments of M. Reaumur, who con-
futed a live Torpedo in a bucket of sea-water with a duck for some hours, when the
latter was found dead, as was concluded, from the reiterated shocks received from the
Torpedo.

PLATE LIIL

Health, forbids its being sold in the markets at Venice, though on
the coast of France it is sometimes sold and eaten. Mr. Walsh
caused one of a large size that was caught at Brixham, on the south
coast of England, to be dressed and brought to table, but some
friends suffered a little by their curiosity in tasting it. The electric
organs, the latter observes, which make up one half of the fish, are
mucilaginous, and unwholesome, but the rest is palatable as any of
the Ray tribe. Dr. Bloch remarks, with much propriety, that the
new experiments which have been made in our days upon the prin-
ciples of electricity, clearly show, that a commotion of the same
nature as that occasioned by the shocks of the Torpedo, might be
successfully employed for the relief of some disorders, to which the
human frame is incident. Among the Abyssinians, it is customary to
administer the Torpedo for the cure of the fever, by applying it suc-
cessively to all the members of the person affected. This operation
is attended with cruel torture, but as a remedy, is deemed in-
fallible. The same custom prevails also among the Ethiopians.

In point of colours of the upper surface of this fish, are observed
to vary considerably, from a pale brown to a deep blackish purple.
The five remarkable dusky spots, which are strongly characteristic
of the mediterranean sort, is comparatively very pale in those found
in the more northern parts of Europe, and in many are not at all
perceivable. They feed on other fish, a surmullet, and a plaise,
having been found by Mr. Walsh in the stomach of a Torpedo, on
dissection. The generation of the Torpedo is described by Aris-
totle *, and the accuracy of this writer has been confirmed, by the

# Arist. Hist, anno lib. v. c. 5,

PLATE LIII.

teftimony of a late observer ; notwithstanding Lorenzini is disposed,
to contest the veracity of this ancient philosopher. M. Saunier of
La Rochelle, upon opening a very large Torpedo, on the 10th of
September, discovered floating in the left matrice, nine foetuses quite
formed, near two inches long, and distinct from them nine eggs in a
state of forwardness ; and in the right matrice were four foetuses,
and nine eggs, in the same state as the former. Aristotle was there-
fore right in asserting that the Torpedo brings forth her young at
the autumnal equinox.

The Torpedo is distinguished from all other species of the Ray
tribe, by the perfect smoothness of the skin all over. Near the ex-
tremities a vast number of minute pores may be observed. The eyes
are small : and the whole appearance of the fish is inelegant, if not
disgusting.

I

’*

\

103

MIRROR RAY.

fuA* oj the Act direct* . hy K.Dorunan. isF.tt'ueJMiviiuit

PLATE (33

PLATE CIII.

RAJA MIRALETUS.

MIRROR RAY.

«**#.:>* PISCES CHONDROTTERYGII.

GENERIC CHARACTER,

Spiracles ten, five oil each side, oblique, and placed beneath near
the neck : head small, pointed, not distinct from the breast, with the
mouth beneath; transverse, and toothed: body thin, depressed, and
rhombic.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS,

Back and belly smooth ; near the eyes aculeatcd, and a triple row
6f spines on the tail.

Raja Miraletus: dorso ventreque glabris, aculeis ad oculos,
ternoque eorum ordine in cauda. Finn. Mus . Ad,
Ft. 2. p. 50. Art. Gen. 72. syn. 101. — Gmel.
Linn. Syst. Nat. T. 1 . p. 3. p. 1507. sp. 4.

Raja dorso dipterygio, aculeorum ordine solitario, cauda gracili pin-
nata, ordine aculeorum terno roftro subaculcato,
Gron. Zoopiu 155.

Dasybatus in utroque dorsi latere mascula magna oculi. Klein, miss,
pise. 3. p. 35. n. 2.

Raja Oculata. Jonst. pise. t. 10. f. 4.

Raja lsevis oculata. Will. Ichth. 72. Kay. Pise, p- 2i,

F

VOL, V_

PLATE ClII.

I he specimen of this curious fish in our Museum was purcflasaf
in the London markets in the month of August, 1807. The size
was that of a small Thornback, measuring about twenty-three inches
from the tip of the nose to the extremity of the tail. The figure
resembled the Homerling Ray, for, like that species, the whole of
the upper surface was marked with roundish spots of brown upon a
pale livid ground, and the tail armed with a triple series of promi-
nent spines, those on each side being equal in point of magnitude
with the others disposed along the middle. The ocellar spot in the
centre of each wing was so very distinctly marked, that the fish
appeared altogether a novelty, and at once struck us that it could
be no other than the Raja Miraletus of Linnsus, a species described
as a native of the Mediterranean, but not before noticed by any
writer as an inhabitant of our seas. The pupil was formed by a
large and very dark purple spot, encircled by a ring of shining sil-
very green, which inclined in some directions of light to blue, and was
enclosed by a broad and dark boundary, composed of five equidistant
contiguous spots of blackish purple ; the whole resembling in some
degree the eye of a peacock’s feather.— The subject, as nearly as
we could learn, was caught on the coast of Sussex.

Although we present this as the Raja Miraletus of Linnxus with
perfea confidence, it is not without some hesitation at lcasr, that we
can offer it as a distinct species. In every respect, except the ocellar
spot on the wings, it perfectly agrees with the Homerling Ray, and
may possibly prove, on further examination of other specimens, to
be only a lusus, or remarkable variety of that fish. We have cer-
tainly seen vast numbers of the Homerling without ever once ob-
serving any mark similar to this upon them, but the same character
has occurred to our notice in another species of Ray, the com-

PLATE CIII.

*non Skate. Our suspicions of its not being a genuine species were

first excited by perceiving among a number of the Skate of various
sizes, several of the smaller ones marked exactly in the same manner.
They were evidently Skate from their general figure, from the larger
spines on the tail being disposed down the middle in a single
series, and the uniform blackness of the lower surface, the dingy
aspect of which is assumed from the innumerable small black specks
with which the skin in that part is dotted. A large Skate afterwards
occurred, in which the same annular mark was very observable ; and
from that time for some years past becoming more attentive to this
circumstance, we have perceived it in the Skate more or less con-
spicuous in every stage of growth. This we believe has not been
hitherto mentioned by writers ; the fact is, however, cei tain, and cieai ly
proves that those ocellated spots are not peculiar to Raja Miraletus,
and consequently insufficient to prove it a species. In every other re-
spect, as before observed, it agrees with the Homerling, and upon
the whole may prove, as already suggested, to be only a variety of
that species. It is certainly a very remarkable and curious fish,
whether it be a variety, or a species, and highly worthy of a place in
the present work.

*

t

PLATE U4

PLATE XX.

RAJA RUBUS.

ROUGH RAY.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Spiracles ten, five on each side, oblique, and placed beneath,
near the neck : head small, pointed, not distinct from the breast,
with the mouth beneath, transverse, and toothed : body thin, de-
pressed, and rhombic.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

Back a single, tail with three rows of spines.

Raja Rubus: ordine aculeorum in dorso unico, tribusque in cauda
Block. Child. Linn. Syst. Nat. T. 1 . p. 3-
p. 1501 . sp. 10 .

La Ronce. Block.

Linnaeus was either unacquainted with this fish ; or perhaps mis-
took it, as Block observes, for a variety of the common Thornback.
It has been since described by other writers, and lastly by Gmelin.
This author is of opinion, that the Ray which Mr. Pennant found
in Lock Broom, in the Shire of Ross, in Scotland, and which he

PLATE XX.

calls the Rough Ray, is of this species : an opinion, we think, not
unlikely, although his description does not strictly agree with any of
those specimens we have had an opportunity of noticing. In small
subjects, the tuberculated and prickly appearance of the skin is less
obvious, in proportion than in the larger ones ; but the triple row
of spines on the tail, and single one on the back, is sufficiently
apparent in the smallest we have seen.

This species is sometimes brought to the London markets, and is
known on the coasts of Pembrokeshire by the name of Sand Ray.

115

STING RAY.

London J> u bfaJ die-da direa* .bjT.born,\ankI.kCk JJlbnngton Aufl.u8o6 .

PUTfe 115

PLATE XCIX.

RAJA PASTINACEA,

STING RAT.

*** PISCES CHONDROPTERYGII.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Spiracles ten, five on each fide, oblique, and placed beneath near
the neck : head small, pointed, not distinct from the breast, with the
mouth beneath, transverse, and toothed : body thin, depressed, and
rhombic.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

Tail finless, and armed with a serrated spine.

> >

Raja Pastinacea : cauda apterygia, aculea sagittato. Bloch.

Fisch. Deutschl. 3. p. 12. n. 4. t. 82.

Raja Pastinacea: corpore glabro, aculeo longo ariterius serrato
in cauda et dorso apterygio. Linn. Mus. Ad. Fr. 2.
p. 51. Acted, gen. 71. Syn. 100. Mull, prodr.
Zool. dan. p. 37. n. 310. — Gmel. Syjl. Nat. T. 1.
p. 3. 1509.

Raja cauda sagittata. Faster, op. sub. sec. 2. p. 33. t. 4. f. 5 — 10.
Rastinaca Marina. Jo?ist. pise. p. 32. t. 9./. 7.

Rastinaca Marina nostra. Aldr. pife. p.‘ 42&.

d 2

PLATE XCIX.

Gcj. Kaempf. Jap.p. 1 55.

Fire Flaire. Ray syn . pise. 24.

Sting Ray. Penn. Brit. Zool. 3. p. 71. n. 6.

The Common Sting Ray is known by having the tail destitute of
any fin, and being armed with a strong serrated spine of a bony'
texture. The Raja Aquila has a similar spine on the tail, but the
tail itself is furnished with a fin at the tip. There are also some
others of the Ray tribe that are armed in like manner with spines,
but differ in other respects specifically. Gmelin admits two varieties
of our Raja Pastinacea, the Altavela of Willughby and Ray, having
two dorsal spines serrated anteriorly, and the Uarnak of Forskall,
the body of which is spotted. — As the Sting Ray sheds its spine
annually, and the new spine appears before the old one drops off, w©
have suspected that the Altavela may be only the common kind, at
that precise period when both spines appear ; and with respect to^the
Uarnak or spotted kind, we believe this depends only on the age of
the fish, all the smaller ones we have seen having been more or less
variegated with spots when first caught, and even sometimes we have
observed the same in those of the largest size. The general colour
of the upper surface, when perfectly fresh, is a light brown, par-
taking of a testaceous hue, and tinged in parts with blueish ; some
time after death the whole becomes more dusky, The lower surface
is white. Its length in general from two to three feet.

In point of figure the Sting Ray bears some resemblance to the
Skate ; like that fish its skin is perfectly smooth, but the body is of a
more rotundate form in the contour, and exceeds it considerably in
thickness. The flesh is rank and disagreeable, so much indeed that

PLATE XCIX.

it is seldom eaten, and the capture of it an object of consideration
only for the sake of the oil which may be extracted from the liver.
The fishery of the Sting Ray is also attended with some danger, the
sting on the tail, from whence it derives its name, being capable of
inflicting a most severe wound. This formidable weapon, which the
animal employs with astonishing dexterity and force against its
enemies, consists of a narrow flattened spine, four, five, or six inches
in length, acutely pointed and barbed along the edges, with small
incurvated teeth : this sting has the texture of bone, and is remark-
able for its strength. The fishermen consider the sting as highly
poisonous, conceiving that at the same time it lacerates the flesh, a
most malignant and acrimonious fluid is instilled into the wound.
Aldrovandus, Rondelitius, Linnseus, and various other writers, enter-
tain the same opinion ; Pennant, on the contrary, denies the fact :
he observes, that “ this weapon of offence is capable of giving a very
bad wound, and which is attended with dangerous symptoms, when
it falls on a tendinous part, or on a person in bad habit of body ;
but as to any fish having a spine charged with actual poison, (he adds,)
he must deny his assent to it, though the report is sanctioned by the
name of Linmeus.” We entirely coincide with Pennant, that the
spine of the Sting Ray is by no means charged with any actual poison,
and that the danger resulting from the wound inflicted, depends solely
Upon the ordinary circumstances attendant on any other wound.

This fish is mentioned by Pliny, Aristotle, and va.ious other
writers of antiquity. The ancient poets feigned that the wound of
its spine was attended with the most direful effects. Circe, the
enchantress, is said to have armed her son with a spear pointed with
its spine, as the most terrible weapon she could devise, and with
which he afterwards unintentionally killed his father Ulysses. It »

PLATE XCIX.

not impossible that in the invention of those fables the ancients allude
indiscriminately both to this Ray and the analogous species Aquila,
which also inhabits the seas of the South of Europe, rather than to
this species individually. Pliny describes both kinds, as does like-
wise Aristotle, but although the characters of the two fishes were
well discriminated by those early Naturalists, it is more than probable
the poets were less precise, as both fishes were known to be endowed
with the same kind of offensive weapon.

p-

116

THORNBACK.

London PuL^aj the Act direct/ by E. Donovan b F & C Ruing U>n. May ‘ >So% .

PLATE 116

PLATE XXVI,

RAIA CLAVATA.

THORNBACK.

CIIONDROPTERYGII.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Spiracles ten, five on each side, oblique, and placed beneath, near
the neck : head small, pointed, not distinct from the breast, with
the mouth beneath, transverse, and toothed : body thin, depressed,

and rhombic.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

Body spinous : teeth tuberculated : a strong cartilage across the

abdomen.

*

Raia Clavata ; aculeata, dentibus tuberculosis, cartilagine trans-
versa abdominali. Linn . Fn. Slice. 293,
Gmel.p. 1510. sp. 8.

.. * i ' ,, rauda ordine aculeoium soli - *

Raja dorso dipterygio aculeis scabro, cauua om

tario, apice pinnato, lostio acummato.

Gronev. mus. 1 . 1 40.

PLATE XXVI.

Raja ordme aculeorum unguiformium unico in dorso caudaquc.

Bloch. Deutschl. 3. 58,

Raja clavata. Bay, Will. &(c.

Thornback. Penn. Brit.Zool. 3. p. 69. n. 5,

Tins common fish, according to Mr. Pennant, is easily distin,
guished from the other species of Ray, by the rows of strong sharp
spines, disposed along the back and tail. The number of those rows
are far from constant, and almost every author speak of them dif-
ferently. In one of a large growth Mr. Pennant found three rows
on the back and five on the tail : some mention but three rows on
the latter; and others only one. The characters which Artedi ,
and after him Linnaeus, have assigned this species, are not free from
objection, for as M. Bloch very justly observes they are certainly too
general; all the rays having the cartilage across the belly, and many
the blunt or tuberculated teeth as in this species.

In respect of colour, it is well known this fish is apt to vary a
little. Klein speaks of them having the upper surface marked with
round whitish spots, and such as are brought to the London markets
answer to this description : Mr. Pennant considers these whitish spots
as a character of the young fish, but we have observed them more or
less distinct on the largest as well as the smallest specimens that have
occurred to our notice ; and some of these have weighed twenty or
thirty pounds each, if not more.

Like the Skate, the young of this kind are called Maids, and are
of a better flavour than the old ones. Among naturalists it is gene-

PLATE XXVI.

rally believed, that this fish casts off and renews its large tuberciv
lated spines every year, and that the places from which they have
fallen may be easily perceived bv the whitish marks that remain m
the skin. When the ground colour of the back is a lightish ash,
and the round whitish spots are each distinctly encircled with a ring
of black, the upper surface of this common fish has a pretty orna-
mented appearance. The under side is pure white with only a few
spines.

The Thornback is taken at most seasons, but in the greatest abun-
dance in the spring and summer, because they approach the shores at
those times in vast numbers to deposit their eggs among the weeds.
The eggs of these fish bear a strong resemblance to those of the Shark
tribe, having a quadrangular, black, and horny shell, but the cor-
ners do not terminate in long filaments as in those of the Shark.
Like the other kinds of flat fish, the Thornback frequents sandy
shores, and feeds on all kinds of small fish and worms, both of the
naked and shelly tribes.

I

The amazing size to which these fish sometimes grow is almost
incredible ; a ray supposed to be of this species was captured near
the island of St. Christopher’s, in 1 634, that measured twelve feet
in length ; and Gmelin informs us, that this species does sometimes
grow to that size. On the coast of Norway they are taken in vast
quantities : the flesh the natives eat, either fresh or salted, and from
the liver extract an oil for burning in their lamps, or other domestic
purposes. The flesh of the Thornback, is thought, in England, in-
ferior to the Skate, and is not unfrequently sold for it, by the Lon-
don fish-mongers.

ft-

STARRY RAY.

= 117

!

London. fij>f at tkedoi tOnea . by LLOononm i C4J.8Lvi,uttc„

pure i \ 7

i> L A T E CX IV.

RAJA RADI AT A.

STARRY RAY.

****** PISCES CHONDROPTERIGIL
GENERIC CHARACTER.

Spiracles ten, five on each side, oblique, and placed beneath, near
the neck : head small, pointed, not distinct from the breast, with the
tnouth beneath, transverse, and toothed : body thin, depressed, and
fhombic.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Spines on the upper surface large and divergent into radiated pro-
cesses at the base : a single series of large subconic spines down the
back and tail.

Raja radiata : supta aculeata: aculeis magnis Lasi divergenti-
bus radiatis, dorso caudaque ordine unico acule-
orum subconitorum.

, f

r" ■ iiiSi.-Sg i

This is a new species of Ray, and one the most singular of
its tribe at present known. The figure in the annexed plate repie-
sents this fish in its natural size. It was caught on the north coast

VOL. v.

M

PLATE CXIV.

l

of Britain, and obligingly communicated to us by Mr. Statchbury,
of the Old Jewry, London.

»

As the individual specimen above mentioned is the only one of its
kind that has occurred to our observation, we are unable to deter-
mine. if this curious species ever attains to a larger size ; though we
should rather suspect it may. Whether, however, it be in the
young or adult state, it is obviously of a species not hitherto de-
scribed by any author, and is therefore to be regarded as an interesting
addition to the Raja genus ' and to the British Fuujiu in particular.

Should this fish grow to a large size it must become a powerful
and formidable animal. The whole of the upper surface is aculeated,
or beset with spines of a small size, interspersed with others which
are much larger in proportion to the magnitude of the fish than is
observeable in any other of the Ray tribe. The greater spines are of
two kinds; those with a large subconic furrowed base, and such as
are distinguished by their remarkable radiated processes, divergent
at the base as from a common center, and assuming altogether a sin-
gular stellated appearance. Those with a conic base are disposed
chiefly in a single series along the back and tail ; and the others, which
are radiated at the base, are scattered over the surface of the wings ;
the latter-mentioned spines are extremely curious, and appear to b«
entirely peculiar to this particular species.

118

marine, or spotted lamprey.

PLATE 118

PLATE LXXXI.

PETROMYZON MARINUS.

MARINE, OR SPOTTED LAMPREY .

* PISCES CHONDROPTERYGII.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Head more slender than the body. Mouth longer above than
beneath : teeth orange, hollow within, and surrounded by a fleshy
margin. Spiracles seven on each side the neck. A fistulous aperture
on the nape. Without pectoral, or ventral fins.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

Mouth papillous within: second dorsal fin distinct from the tail.

Petromyzon marinus : ore intus papilloso, pinna dorsali pos-
teriore a cauda distincta. Linn. in. Suec. 292.
Gmel. Linn. Syst. Nat. 1513. 129. sp. 1.

t

Petromyzon marinus, ordinibus dentium pluribus. Bloch
Fisch. Deutschl. 3. f. 38. n. 1 . t. 87.
Petromyzon maeulosus, ordinibus dentium circiter viginti. Art. gen.
64. syn. 90.

PLATE LXXXI.

Lampreda marina. Gem. paralip. p. 22.

Lamprey, or Lamprey Eel. Will. Ichth. p. 105.
Jiaii Pise. 35 .

Pen. Brit. Zool. v. 3 . p. 76. sp. 27.

The spotted Lamprey is a marine fish, ascending the larger rivers
only early in the spring to spawn, and returning again to the sea
after an absence of three or four months. It is a general inhabitant
of all the northern seas of Europe ; and is found in most of the
principal continental rivers in March and April. The spotted Lam-
prey is apparently less abundant in the British than the north seas.
We have some reason to believe, with Pennant, that it is more
common in the vicinity of the Severn than in most other of our
rivers, or perhaps with the exception of certain rivers in Scotland
and Ireland. In the river Usk, a few miles from its junction with
the Bristol channel, we know this fish to be occasionally taken of a
large size, and in some plenty. A specimen of about two feet long,
that was caught last spring at the entrance of the Thames, is now in
our possession, but we cannot learn that it ever ascends this
river to spawn.

Authors speak of the spotted Lamprey as a very prolific fish.
The usual size is from eighteen inches to two feet, and sometimes
three, which last it may be presumed very rarely to exceed. Bose,
a French writer of the present day, indeed asserts, that this fish grows
to the enormous length of six or eight feet, and is then about
four inches in diameter ; but on what authority this assertion is
advanced, is not mentioned. The strong adhesive power which

I*L AT E LXXXI.

the mouth of this fish possesses is astonishing : it has been ascertained
by experiment, that when once it has securely affixed itself by the
mouth to a stone, or other heavy body, it will retain its hold for
a considerable space of time, even when lifted up by the tail with
the object twice or thrice its own weight suspended to it by this means.
This tenacious property must afford the animal a powerful and almost
invincible advantage in seizing upon its prey. Independently of
this, it is a fish endowed with much strength, and remarkable for
its activity both in the water, and on the shore, where it occasionally
prowls in search of worms, and other objects of food. The colour of
this species appears to vary materially at various seasons, and at
different periods of growth : the specimen from which our figure
is copied was of a bright green, tinged with blue, yellow, and
reddish, and marbled in an elegant manner with black ; and those
colours, the green especially, prevailed so strongly as to be
retained in the specimen after remaining some months in spirits.
Cther Lampreys have been seen of a blueish colour, spotted
with black; olivaceous, with spots of a dusky hue; or pale
and reddish, marbled with chesnut, instead of black.

The flesh of the Lamprey is esteemed delicious by many : those
of a middle size are however most admired for the table, being of
a milder flavour, and less fat than those of a large size. In early times
this fish was held in high repute in this country as a luxurious
article of food, constantly appearing at the splendid ^banquets of the
great. The partiality of Henry I. King of England, to this favourite
dish appears, upon the testimony cf the best historians, to have been
the occasion of his death. Mr. Pennant speaks of it as an ancient
custom for the City of Gloucester annually to present his Majesty

PLATE LXXXI.

with a Lamprey -pye, covered with a large raised crust ; and further
observes, as the gift is made at Christmas, it is with great difficulty
the Corporation can procure any fresh Lampreys at that time, though
they give a guinea a-piece for them so early in the season. The
Lamprey potted is admired as a delicacy by our modern epicures.
Bloch mentions another mode of curing this fish, as practised in
some of the fishing towns in the north of Germany, in the neigh-
bourhood of which they take the Lamprey in the greatest plenty :
the fishermen cut the fish into pieces, and, after broiling it, pack
it in barrels, with a pickle of vinegar and spices * *, and transport it
as an article of trade to the interior of the Continent, where this fish
is scarcely ever taken, or is entirely unknown. The Lamprey is in
the highest season in the spring; the flesh becomes flabby in the
summer, after it has remained long in the fresh waters, and is not
then considered very wholesome.

* Sometimes they pickle it in a liquor composed of vinegar, salt, and pepper, with

*n infusion of thyme, and a little bay-leaf, which will preserve the fish for months, if
kept in a cold situation.

sn9

LAMPERN.OR LESSER LAMPREY.

tri /iii'ctr ,\.l—n«ran A- /-'a- ('Jia-inctfn Jp’.-il i ■ ifi'-U-

. PLATfc 1 1 9

PLATE LIV.

PETROMYZON FLUVIATILIS.

LAMPERN, or LESSER LAMPREY.

****** pjsCES CHONDROPTERYGII.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Head more slender than the body. Mouth longer above than be-
neath : teeth orange, hollow within, and surrounded by a fleshy
margin. Spiracles feven on each side the neck. A fistulous aperture
on the nape. Without pectoral, and ventral fins.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

.. SYNONYMS.

Second dorsal fin angulated.

Petromyzon FLUviATtLis, pinna dorsali posteriore angulata.

Linn. Fn. Suec. 290.— Gmel. Syst. Nat. I.
p. 3. 1514. sp. 2.

Petromyzon unico ordine denticulorum minimorum in limbo oris
praeter inferiores majores. Arted. gen. 64.
syn. 89. sp. 99.

PLATE L1V.

Petromyzon ordine dentium unico. Bloch. Fisch. Deutschl. 3.

p. 41. /. 88. f. 1. 2.

Mustela. Plin. lib. 9. c. 19.

Lampreda. Gem. ic. anim. p. 326.

Le Petromyzon pricka. Bose. Hist. Nat. — Petite Lampvoie, or
lamproie de riviere. Bujfon de Deterville, Sic.
Lesser Lamprey. Penn. Brit. Zool. v. 3. p. 60. n. 2.

The lesser Lamprey is specifically defined by the angulated struc-
ture of the second dorsal fin. Bloch thinks it is to be distinguished
from the rest of the Petromyzon genus by the teeth ; which, accord-
ing to this writer, consist of a single series disposed in a circular man-
ner within the mouth. Llis account is different from that of our
countryman Mr. Pennant. Hie latter compares tire form of the
mouth to that of the sea lamprey. “ On the upper part (he says)
is a bifurcated tootli , on each side are three rows of very minute
ones ; on the lower part are seven teeth, the exterior of which on
each side is the largest.” 1 o reconcile those authors is no task of
difficulty. Mr. Pennant has taken into consideration the detached
teeth in different parts of the mouth, while Bloch regarded only those
which are conspicuous in the upper and lower series, and even those
he does not speak of with his accustomed accuracy.

Since Dr. Bloch considers the disposition of those teeth as a speci-
fical cntci ion of Petromyzon fluviatilis, it will not be thought improper
to describe them minutely. In the anterior part of the mouth
we observe a singular bony process, or tooth, of a size comparatively
very large, which being curved and pointed at both extremities, r«-

PLATE LIY.

jumble two remote teeth, and have been described as such by Bloch,
in speaking of the anterior circle of them ; but there is no incision or
separation of any kind between them to constitute two teeth. On
each side contiguous to this bony process, but still distinct, is a tooth
with a double fang ; the process in the center, and double tooth on
each side, forming together the first principal series of the teeth.
The next behind are two trifurcated teeth, not extending, like the
preceding, entirely across the roof of the mouth, but only placed
one on each side of it. 'I he third, or posterior series, contain in
the center seven distinct teeth rising from a single bony process, the
exterior ones on each side from the central tooth becoming gradually
larp-er and longer. At each end of this series is a small detached tooth
with a double fang. Beside these, there are in the anterior part of the
mouth, in front of the bifurcated process mentioned in the first series,
five or six teeth of a middle size, disposed in an irregular manner.
The outer border of the mouth has a number of other teeth that are
very minute, but still perceptible to the touch when the finger is
drawn over them.

The only species of this genus described by writers as inhabitants
of this country, are marinus, fluviatilis, and branchialis. The kind
we are now speaking of cannot readily be confounded with the two
others. Marinus in a young state, is marked and spotted very dis-
tinctly : fluviatilis, it should be observed, is likewise found occasion-
ally variegated with dusky marks more or less distinct, but it is uni-
formly distinguished by the connection between the second dorsal fin,
and that of the tail, the second dorsal fin in P . Marinus being distinct.
The species branchialis is known by the linear form of this fin,
the annulated body, and the mouth being destitute of teeth, a cir-
cumstance, the latter, that has escaped the observation of Mr. Pennant,

E 3

PLATE LIV.

Petromyzon fluviatilis varies greatly in respect of colour. The belly
is commonly silvery : the sides rather darker, and sometimes yellow,
finely glossed with gold : the back dusky, blueish, blackish, or ob-
scurely streaked ; and the fins brown, sometimes violet, sometimes
sanguineous. Lacepede describes several analogous species that are
found in the rivers of France. One in particular that approaches
very nearly to the young of this ; and were it not for the rounded
instead of angulated form of the dorsal fins, we might be inclined
to think it rather a variety than a distinct species. The kind alluded
to is called by Lacepede, Petromyzon septceil, and is described as
being six or seven inches long, the colour greyish lead colour, and
all the lower parts or a yellowish white. It is found in abundance
in the Seine, and rivers flowing into that water.

Tfie lesser Lamprey inhabits various parts of Europe, but is no
where more frequent than in Prussia, and some of the states of the
German empire, especially in Silesia, Pomerania, and the marsh of
Brandenburgh. The rivers of France produce it likewise, although
in less abundance. According to Gmelin, it is found in the lakes of
Japan, and South Ac rifca, as well as those of Europe. In England
this fish is more abundant in the Thames, than any other river.
Mr. Pennant speaks of this sort being caught in vast quantities, by
the fishermen in the vicinity of Mortlake, to be sold to the Dutch
as bait for their cod and turbot fisheries *. The larger ones are

“ Above 450,000 have been sold in a season for forty shillings per thousand Of
late, about 100.000 have been sent to Harwich for the same purpose. It is said the
Dutch have the secret of preserving them till the Turbet fishery.” Penn. Brit. Zool.
If we are not misinformed, these are taken much less abundantly, than in the tune of
Mr. Pennant. The demand for them has dselined some'year*.

PLATE LIV.

sometimes potted with the great Sea Lamprey, and Deing of a much
milder flavour are in more esteem. Commonly, they are eaten
stewed like eels. Broiled or fried they are rather tough, and of no
very pleasant flavour. They bear a low price, and are remarkable
for having no vertebral bone.

This fish is prepared for table in another manner, in some part
of the German empire ; after broiling them, and placing them m
layers with bay-leaves, spices, and vinegar, they are packed up in
barrels, and sent to different parts of the country. Bloch, who informs
us of this particular, acquaints us further, that they are only esteemed
good in the winter; during the summer, he says they ale not whole-
some. It is at this season of the year, they are afflicted with a
disease that breaks out in little excrescences, which the fishermen call
Tti'itde. They conceal themselves at such times among the stones at
the bottom of the water, or retire to the sea, from whence they
migrate into the rivers again in the month of January. Their
spawning season is in March and April, when they deposit a vast
number of eggs, among the stones on the banks of rivers, where
many of them are eagerly devoured by other fishes.

This creature is extremely tenacious of life, existing many
hours after it is taken from its native element. On the borders oi
the river Bausker in Courland, where they are taken of a larger
size than elsewhere, they are captured in great numbers under the
ice in the winter, and being packed in snow are conveyed alive to
very remote parts of the empire. When the Lampreys conveyed
in this manner are unpacked at the close of their journey, they ap-
pear torpid, but upon being immersed in cold watci, soon recover
their activity.

PLATE LIV.

Through the fistulous opening on the head, this fish spouts
out the water in the same manner as the animals of the ceta-
ceous tribe.

*

1

1

TfiOUT.

120

London. I’ubi'a-r the Act direetir6yEDonavan,kF&C tcJ.Bhrbyiam. Feb-i-i8o6 .

PLATE 120

/

. PLATE LXXXV.

SALMO FARIO.
x TROUT.

*** RISCES ABDOMINALES.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

Head smooth, and compressed. Mouth large : lips small : tongue
white, cartilaginous, and moveable : teeth in the jaws, and upon the
tongue. Eves moderate, and lateral. Branchiostegous membrane with
from four to twelve rays ; gill-cover of three plates. Body long, co-
vered with rounded and very finely striated scales : back convex :
lateral line straight, and nearest to the back : posterior dorsal fin
fleshy without rays : ventral fin of many rays.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER

AND

SYNONYMS.

Body spotted with red : lower jaw rather longest.

Salmo Fario : maculis rubris maxilla inferiore sublongsore. Art.
gen. 12. syn. 23. sp. 51.

Salmo Fario. Linn. Fn. Suec. 548. Gmel. Linn. Syst. NaL
T. 1. p. 3. 1367. n. 4.

Salmo ocellis rubris iridibus lucidioribus, pinna anali radices 1 1 .

j Block. Fisch. Deutschl. 1. p. 148. n. 3. t. 22.
Will. Ichih. 199. — Raii syn. pise. 6 5 — Penn. Bnt.
Zool. v. 3. p. 297. sp. 146.

Trout.

PLATE LXXXV.

The Trout is one of the most beautiful of the fresh water tribe of
fishes. It is a native of Europe and Siberia, inhabiting rivers that
communicate with the sea, the waters of which are pure and cold,
with a pebbly, or rocky bottom, and is therefore found in the greatest
numbers as well as perfection in the rapid streams among mountains.
The frout is found in most other clear waters, and is the principal in-
habitant of lakes in alpine situations throughout Europe.

Like the salmon, the Trout swims with much velocity. The ac-
tivity and strength of this fish is astonishing : at the commencement of
the spawning season it rushes up rivers difficult of access in defiance
of numberless obstacles, in search of the most retired places to depo-
sit its spawn, and in its progress will leap over stones or other impedi-
ments in the course of the river to the height of four or five feet. The
food of the 1 rout consists of small fishes, testaceous animals, and flies
which they catch by leaping out of the water, such as the Ephemera,
and Phryganece, which hover near the surface. The spawning sea-
son is from September to October or later ; the eggs are about the
size of a pea, and of a bright orange colour.

This fish is subject to many varieties, differing in appearance ac-
cording to the nature of the waters it inhabits, or the seasons of the
year. In general when small, or of a moderate size, they are yellow-
ish, or olivaceous, with a dusky back, the belly white and silvery, and
the sides and back marked with a greater or less number of distinct
red spots encircled with white, or blueish. The varieties spoken of
by writers with regard to their form, colour, and dimensions are nu-
merous, some of which may probably on further investigation proveto
be distinct species, rather than varieties. The variety taken accord-

PLATE LXXXV.

ing to Mr. Pennant in Llyndivi *, a lake in South Wales, and called
Cock y dail, is marked with red and black spots as big as sixpences ;
Trout with spots conspicuously large, but not so considerable as those,
we have taken in plenty in the Dee river, Merionethshire. In tire
Eynion, a river not far from Machynlleth in the latter county, and
also in one of the Snowdonian lakes, according to the Hon. Dailies
Barrington, are found a variety of the Trout which is naturally de-
formed, having a crookedness in the tail, more decidedly characterised
than in the common Perch t. The Trouts of certain lakes in Ireland,
such as those in the province of Gailaway, known by the name of the
Gillaroo Trout, are remarkable for the great thickness of their sto-
machs, though do not differ in other respects from the common
Trout!. There are certain Trouts in the lakes of Scotland that are
spotted very differently from the common sort, those we shall not
enumerate among the varieties of the common Trout, as we suspect
they may be of a distinct species.

With regard to size, the Trout varies greatly: its ordinary length
is about twelve inches. Old Walton records the Fordidge Trout

* Llyn Teivi?

t Phil, Trans . v* l. 64. p. 116. 310.

t Hr. Pennant had an opportunity of comparing one of the Gillaroo Trouts, with a
large one from the Uxbridge river; the last was, if he recollects, smaller and out of season,
and its stomach, notw ith;, landing it was very thick, was much inferior in strength to that of
the former ; but on the whole there was not the least specific difference between the two
subjects. Penn. Brit. Znol. The thickness of the stomach of this fish proceeds, no doubt
as Pennant imagines, from the superior quantity of shell fish which it finds in the waters it
inhabits, and which may cal! more frequently for the use of its commuting powers tha»
is requisite ia Tiouts,

PLATE LXXXV.

as one of the largest kinds : this, he tells us, bears the name of
a town in Kent, near Canterbury, where it is usually caught: many
of those Trout, he observes, are nearly as large as the Salmon, but
are known by the difference of their colour ; and the flefh, in their
best season, cuts very white: these, Walton supposed, hved alter-
nately nine months in the sea, and three in the river. The Trouts
of Ireland called by the natives Buddaghs, are found of a large size
in Lough Neagh, some of which have been known to weigh thirty
pounds. Trouts are also taken in Hulse Water, a lake in Cumber-
land, which are reported to be of a size superior to those*. In the
reign of Charles the second, a Trout was taken in the river Kennet,
near Newberry, with a casting net, that measured forty-five inches f.
One of the largest we have seen was caught ir. a stream contiguous to
the Thames, near Hampton, Surrey, about three years ago. This gi-
gantic creature measured thirty nine inches from the tip of the nose to
the end of the tail : the jaws of this overgrown fish were more elonga-
ted than usual in the Trout, and both those and the tongue were armed
with strong incurvated teeth, of a white colour, tinged with pale vio-
let ; and as in the Salmon, when out of season, the tip of the lower
jaw turned up, and was received when the mouth closed, between the
two fore teeth in the upper jaw. The colour was subolivaceous on
the back, tinged with fine golden yellow ; on the sides were several
broad spaces of a lighter colour, marked with a cluster of scarlet
Spots ; and the back was spotted with orange. The whole of the
lower surface was of a pale Salmon colour ; the fins yellowifh, with
the rays pale pink at the extremity, and' at the base orange colour ; the
pectoral fin and tip of the dorsal fin, and tail dusky ; the two latter

* It is said those are sometimes found so large as to weigh thirty’poundj.
t §ir J, Hawkins note on Walton Camp. Angl. p. 122.

PLATE LXXXV.

spotted with dirty orange. This enormous fish is the subject repre-
sented in the annexed plate, and which it was conceived would be
deemed more interesting than one of the ordinary kind. Another indi-
vidual of the common Trout, little inferior to this, was formerly pre-
served in the Edinburgh Museum, the colours of which agreed with
this, except in being generally darker; die figure and disposition
of the spots are the same ; this was caught in a small rivulet near
Edinbugh, and is now in our possession. Besides those, we have
seen a third Trout of large size, in which the spots were deeper
red than in either of the former. — The Trouts of the lake of Geneva
have been long celebrated for their vast size. Gesner relates that
Trouts three cubits in length have been taken in that lake.

The flesh of this fish is in high repute for the excellence of its
flavour. It is has been remarked that the Trout is fat when other fish
are thin, and meagre on the contrary, when others are fat, so that
in the winter the flesh is white and of a bad flavour, and in the sum-
mer red, and good. We may add that this difference in the colour
of the flesh does not depend on the seasons, having ourselves seen
Trout both of the red, and white kind, taken at the same season in
two contiguous streams in Cardiganshire, one of which invariably
produces the red, and the other the white Trout. Walton says, the
Trout comes in and goes out of season with the stag and buck, and
are in high perfection in May.

Ausonius, who lived in the beginning of the fifth century, seems
to be considered the first of the ancient writers who has noticed
the Trout ; he celebrates it for its beauty without adverting to the
deliciousness of its flesh. Authors of later times speak of it with the
highest commendation as an article of food, excepting those of a

I

PLATE LXXXV.

large size, which are generally moist, or coarse, and of an ill flavour.
The Trout varies in excellence, according to the qualities of the
waters they inhabit, and the nature of their food : one sort, which
is found at the source of the Orbe, in the Canton of Berne, is cele-
brated for the delicious flavour it acquires from subsisting chiefly on
Crabs, and other crustaceous animals ; — those of the purest mountain
streams are also preferred to such as are found in swampy places in
the low lands, or in still waters. The fisheries of the Trout are
under the cognizance of the laws in most countries; in England, the
Trout is regarded as private property, and protected by penal statutes.
In Germany the laws are very severe, those who take the Trout
unlawfully being punished with imprisonment, and in some of the
provinces even with the loss of a hand. In the kingdom of Congo,
where, according to Bloch, the Trout is also found, the like offence
is punishable with death.

The first dorsal fin in the common Trout usually contains about
eleven rays; pectoral fin thirteen; ventral fin nine; anal fin nine;
and tail twenty-five.

*

*

!

-

I

■

I

I

\

1

i

f

••

i