210 ORDER ACANTHOPTERYGII. 



the vertebrae in particular, are but very slightly in- 

 durated ; their stomach is elongated, and their cceca 

 very numerous ; the natatory bladder is wanting, and 

 their mucous flesh is very rapidly decomposed. 



Several species are found in the European Seas, 

 which differ in the number of their dorsal rays, and 

 which, when entire, that is when young, frequently 

 present a most singular appearance from the prolonga- 

 tion of their fins. 



The most brilliant of the Mediterranean species has 

 but from one hundred and forty to one hundred and 

 fifty dorsal rays ; it has only been seen small, or of a 

 moderate size. Another has from a hundred and 

 seventy to a hundred and seventy-five, specimens of 

 which are found in cabinets, from four to five feet in 

 length. A third has more than two hundred of these 

 rays, and is more than seven feet in length. 



The Arctic Ocean produces two species, called in 



various degrees of individual mutilation. It is the same with respect 

 to the Vogmar of the Icelanders of Olafsan and Powelsen, Isl., tr. 

 fr. pi. li., or Gymnogaster arcticus of Briinnich, Soc. Scient. Copenh. 

 iii. pi. xiii., which is the genus Bogmarus, Bl. Schn. ; with respect 

 to the Gymnetre cepedien, Risso. 1st. Ed. pi. v. f. 17. ; to the Argyc- 

 tius quadrimaculatus, Rafin. Caratt. i. f. 3., to his Scarcina quadrl- 

 maculata and imperialis ; to the Gymnetrus Mediterraneus of Otto ; 

 to the Epidesmus maculatus of Ranzani, Opusc. Scientif. Fascic. 

 viii., and to the Regalecus maculatus of Nardo, Phys. Journ., Pavia 

 viii. pi. i. f. 1 . All these fishes hardly differ in species, and not in 

 the least as to genus. Bonnelli's specimen was the least mutilated : 

 he calls it Trachypterus cristatus, Acad. Turin xxiv. pi. ix. 



