310 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



the bones are quite soft, and from this fact its generic name is de- 

 rived. Through the vertebrae even a needle can be passed without 

 difficulty, the resistance being about the same as in piercing cartilage, 

 while many of the bones are entirely wanting, and their places mere- 

 ly indicated. Of the habits of this fish we know nothing. It belongs 

 to deep water, and is of slow motion. To no family does it appear to 

 approach so nearly as to the Salmonidas. 



NEW FISHES FROM LAKE SUPERIOR. 



PROF. AGASSIZ gave an account of two new fishes obtained by him 

 at Lake Superior, which he regarded as types of two new genera. 

 The first is an entirely new type in the class of fishes. It is a small 

 fish, five or six inches long, which, in some respects, resembles several 

 families, but is most like the Percoids, though distinct from them. 

 Fossil species with similar characters are found in the cretaceous 

 formations. This is the second, Prof. A. remarked, of the " old- 

 fashioned" fishes, so to speak, corresponding in their structure to a 

 fossil species, which has been observed in this country. The other 

 fish is the only living representative of a large family of fossil species. 

 The existence of these two species has undoubtedly reference to the 

 fact, that America is the oldest extensive continent which has been 

 upheaved above the level of the sea. In New Holland, two genera 

 exist bearing similar relations to older families, a fish and a shell, 

 which have their analogues among the oolitic deposits. Proc. Bos- 

 ton Nat. Hist. Society. 



NOTICE OF A RIBBON-FISH TAKEN OFF THE COAST OF NOR- 

 THUMBERLAND. 



ON the 26th of March, a fine specimen of the Gymnetrus or ribbon- 

 fish was captured off the coast of Northumberland, England, by the 

 crew of a fishing-boat. The animal was seen floating on the water, 

 nearly dead; and when opened it was found to have swallowed a 

 piece of zinc, which had evidently been the cause of its weak condi- 

 tion. These fish apparently live on the ground in the deep sea ; and 

 the smallness of their mouths, which does not permit their taking 

 ordinary bait, will account for their being so seldom seen. 



It is described, by those who saw it a few hours after its capture, as 

 being of a uniform silvery-gray color, with a few black spots to- 

 wards the anterior part of the body. It presents somewhat the form 

 of a double-edged sword-blade, being excessively compressed; the 

 length is 12 feet 3 inches, the mouth not being projected forward, 

 and directly behind the gills it is 8 inches deep; 2 feet farther back 

 it attains its greatest depth of 11 inches. The thickness through 

 the head is 2 inches. When first taken it was of a brilliant irides- 

 cent hue, but this soon faded away. No scales are visible to the 

 naked eye, but they are easily detected with a microscope. Four 

 flattened ridges, each more than an inch broad, extend from the 

 head to the tail. The head is small and short, measuring only 9 



