478 DEEP-SEA FISHES OP THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



Regalecus maculaius, NARno, Giorn. di Fisiea (sec. n), vn, 116, pi. i, tig. 1. 



" Traehypterus Vosta; COCCO." 



Traehypterus Spitiolce, Cuvier and Valenciennes, loo. cit., 328, pi. ccxcvi. — Bonaparte, Catalogo, No. 



712. — (li'.\ niEP., Cat. Fisb. Brit. Mus., m, 300. — Canestrini, "/'• <''•> 1 ;) 3. 

 Traehypterus /<Uj; Ouvier and Valenciennes, up. cit., x, 333.— Costa, Fauna Napolitana, Pesci, pi. ix, his. 



A Traehypterus having the lower line of the body straight; dorsal rays 1.17-1 70, these 

 rays being rough; the lateral line spinous; and the height of the body contained from 4 to 

 10 times in the total length of the fish (excluding the caudal). 



Radial formula: D. 4-8+120-170; P. 10. 



Color, silvery white, with a few round, black spots or blotches. 



Three species, for a long time considered distinct by European ichthyologists, and 

 recognized by them under the names of T. spinolce, T. taenia and T. iris, have been shown 

 by Emery to be identical, being successive stages of one and the same species. In a very 

 important paper published by him in the "Acts" of the Academy of Lincei, Rome (in, 

 1870, 390-395, tigs. 1-0), and in the "Mittheilungen aus der Zoologischen Station zu Neapel" 

 (1879, 1581) he has given full particulars of his examinations of 23 specimens. 



This species is known only from the Mediterranean. The largest individuals under the 

 name of Traehypterus iris have been recorded from Nice, Banyul, Sicily, Corsica, Leghorn, 

 and Elba. The specimen discussed by Moreau was 1.5 meters in length. A smaller size, 

 described as T. spinolw, has been identified from Nice, Cctte, Elba, Naples, and Sicily. The 

 specimen obtained by Moreau from Cette was 0.95 meter long. A smaller form, as identi- 

 fied by Moreau under the name of T. fake (T. tania), has been obtained from Nice, (Jette, 

 Messina, and Algiers. Moreau's specimen was 0.52 meter in length. 



Among the common names are Pesee bannera (Naples), Flamba (Cette), Squaglia sole 

 (Naples). Rondeletius and Gesner called it Falx Venetorum — the Venetian blade. 



TRACHYPTERUS GRYPHURUS, Lowe. 

 Traehypterus grypkurut, Lowe, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1850, 248. — GOnther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., in, 301. 



Intermediate between T. taenia and T. iris, approaching perhaps nearest to the latter, 

 but differing in its deeper shape, its depth being two-elevenths of the total length, and in the 

 more backward position of the third dark side spot. The ventral tins arc short, only equal- 

 in:' one-twelfth of the body without the caudal tin, and the first four produced rays of the 

 first dorsal are equal in length to the ventral tins. The lateral line ends as in Cuvier and 

 Valenciennes's figure (t. 297) of T. iris, but is quite unarmed. The ventral line is serrulate, 

 and the whole surface, particularly towards the ventral Hue. is finely shagreened or granu- 

 late, the granulations becoming stronger toward the ventral line, as in the same figure. In 

 shape and proportions it agrees better with T. taenia, but differs in several important par- 

 ticulars from Cuvier and Valenciennes's description of that fish. The only individual exam- 

 ined occurred in June, 1845, and has been added by me to the collection of the Cambridge 

 Philosophical Society. It was scarcely quite dead when I first saw it, and was in the most, 

 perfect state of preservation. Another Traehypterus had occurred in June, 1S44, and was 

 probably the same species; but the example was unfortunately thrown away by the person 

 to whom it had been missent without my seeing it. It was said to have been about 3 

 feet long. The whole body is pure bright silver, appearing as if frosted, from the tine 

 granulations of the surface. The fins are of a delicate scarlet or vermilion, the lower 

 point or angle of the caudal being tipped, and the hinder end of the dorsal edged, with 

 black. On the sides are •'! blackish oval or elliptic spots. This example was 25 inches 

 long exclusive of the caudal fin, wdiich resembles a bat's or griffon's wing, and is erected in 

 a fanlike manner, the lower lobe or portion being suppressed or undeveloped, and only 

 indicated by the presence of 5 short spinules or abortive rays. (Lowe.) 



This species is known from a single specimen obtained by Lowe at Madeira in 1849, and 

 is distinguished from T. traehypterus chiefly by the fact that its lateral line is smooth, as well 

 as by minor characteristics. 



