drummond's echiodon. 135 



joins. Anal fin begins close behind the vent, is broader than 

 the dorsal throughout, and is widest as it approaches the caudal 

 fin, which it also joins. Near the caudal fin the rays of the 

 anal are wider by four times than the body itself. Middle 

 rays of the pectoral longest. Colour of the first half of the 

 body dull flesh-colour, and behind this are brown markings, 

 as well along the base of the dorsal and anal fins as top of 

 the head, caudal, and hind ward rays of the longer fins. 

 Caudal, gill-cover, and a part of the under surface, bright 

 silver. Dorsal fin rays one hundred and eighty, as also the 

 anal; pectoral sixteen, caudal twelve. The vertebra? number 

 eighty-eight. The second example referred to was in length 

 only eight inches. 



In the number of the "Zoologist" for April, 1863, was a 

 paragraph which stated that six specimens of this fish had 

 been obtained at Banflf, in the preceding March, by Mr. 

 Thomas Edwards, their length varying from four to five 

 inches: — "The teeth most formidable-looking weapons, even in 

 these small specimens. The spine, too, at the back of the 

 head is very conspicuous; no scales discoverable when the fish 

 were fresh from the sea." In consequence of this announce- 

 ment two of these examples were obligingly sent to me by 

 Mr. Edwards; of which one was laid on a card in a dry 

 condition, and did not measure quite two inches and a half. 

 The other, which was a little longer, was preserved in diluted 

 spirit. The characteristic teeth were plainly seen; and between 

 the two curved prominent ones in front of the lower jaw 

 were others much shorter, and not represented in Mr. 

 Drummond's figure. The mystache long and slender, reaching 

 opposite the hindmost border of the eye. Eye large and 

 oval; no scales. The shape much more slender than in Mr. 

 Drummond's plate, so that Mr. Edwards was inclined to give 

 them the name of Whipfishes. In a letter which accompanied 

 the specimens it is said that when alive the colour was 

 beautifully clear, or of a crystal-like hue, and so transparent 

 that the vertebrae might be counted. The largest example 

 had a fine blush of red down the dorsal ridge, and along 

 the belly, except near the vent, at which part there was an 

 oblong silvery spot; pupil of the eye very dark green, with 

 a white iris; head also white. Their motion through the 



