C. Scolopax, Linn. Syst. Nat. torn. 1. p. 415. Block, Ichth. pl. 123. f. 1. Don. Brit. Fish. vol. iii. pl. 63. Turt. Brit. Faun. p. 117. Shaw, Nat. Misc. vol. xiv. pl. 584. Flem. Brit. An. p. 220. Cuv. Reg. An. torn. 11. p. 268. Trumpet-Fish, Will. Hist. Pise. p. 160. c. xi. tab. I. 25. f. 2. Couch in Linn. Trans, vol. xiv. p. 89. Yarr. Brit. Fish. vol. 1. p. 302. Snipe-nosed Trumpet-Fish, Penn. Brit. Zool. (Edit. 1812). vol. iii. p. 190.

* Mag, of Nat. Hist. vol. v. p. 18.

† Reg. An. torn. ii. p. 256. note (2).

Length

From four to five inches.

Description

(Form). "Body oval, compressed: snout elongated, the jaw-bones forming a tube extending an inch and a half before the eyes; mouth placed at the extremity, small, without teeth: eyes large: back elevated, forming a slight ridge, and ending in a short spine just in advance of the long and strong denticulated spine of the first dorsal fin: scales on the body hard, rough, minutely ciliated at the free edge, the surface granulated: first dorsal with but three spinous rays (generally said to be four); the first three times as long as, and also much stronger than, the others, pointed, moveable, and toothed like a saw on the under part, constituting a formidable weapon of defence; the other spines short, but their points projecting beyond the membrane by which they are united: the rays of the second dorsal soft: anal elongated; the rays short: pectorals small: ventrals also small, with a depression behind in which they can be lodged.

D. 4 - 12; A. 18; C. 16; P. 17; V. 4.

(Colours). Back red, the sides rather lighter; sides of the head and belly silvery, tinged with gold-colour: irides silvery, streaked with red; pupils black: all the fins grayish white." Yarr.

An individual of this species is recorded to have been thrown on shore at Menabilly near Fowey, Cornwall, early in the year 1804*. Donovan appears to have been acquainted with one or two other instances in which it had occurred on the western coasts of England. Common in the Mediterranean.