Page:Natural History, Fishes.djvu/313

Rh the ventrals, and by a very singular hoe-like horn on the snout, bent forwards and tipped with spines. In the Northern Chimæra (Chimæra monstrosa, .) the head is strangely uncouth, the snout ascending in a blunt point; the mouth far below, small; the face and cheeks scored with

irregular waved furrows. The colours are beautiful; many shades of rich brown, on a shining white ground; the eyes are particularly large and brilliant. It attains three feet in length, and is sometimes seen on the northern coasts of Scotland. From its pursuit of the shoals of Herrings, on which it principally feeds, it is sometimes called the King of the Herrings. The female deposits large leathery eggs or capsules, flattened, with velvety margins, having some resemblance to those of Sharks or Rays. These eggs are esteemed by the Norwegians, who eat them in pastry; the flesh of the animal is coarse, hard, and uneatable. An oil is extracted in copious