filament on the head, and its termination is still more varied; in
some it is almost simple, as though formed of a single undilated hair;
in others, it is surmounted by a small, dense, globular mass of short
filaments; and in others again, it has two, or even three large fleshy
processes at its end, not unlike the baits which terminate the fishing
filaments of the anglers.

In the species figured, the Antennarius Iaevigatus, the skin is
smooth, and furnished with short loose processes; the filament on the
head is short, and terminated by a small knob of clustered minute
filaments; this is succeeded by two other processes, each resembling
a fin supported by a single ray, and fringed, especially towards its
upper part, by loose portions of skin; to these succeed the back fin,
supported, as usual, by many rays. The colour is pale, irregularly
blotched, spotted, and streaked with brown, the markings varying
considerably in different individuals; it is also dotted irregularly
with white. By these characters it may be known from the other species
of the genus, with which it appears to have been associated by
Linnaeus, under the common name of Lophius Histrio. It was first
scientifically distinguished by M. Bosc, a French naturalist, who
observed it, on his voyage to America, among the Sargasso weed: he
described and figured it, not without some imperfections, in the
Nouveau Dictionnaire d'Histoire Naturelle. It has since been figured,
but not described, by Dr. Mitchell in the Transactions of the New York
Society; and one very nearly resembling it has been described by Mr.
Bennett with a figure, in the Geological Journal. The genus to which
it belongs is most completely treated of by M. Cuvier, in the Memoires
du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle.

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