GEN. HEMIRAMPHUS. THE HALF-BEAK. 105 



spring to the height of several feet, leap over each 

 other in sing-ular confusion, and again sink beneath 

 Still further ursjed, thev mount again and rush along 

 the surface, bj repeated starts, for more than a 

 hundred feet, without once dipping beneath, or 

 scarcely seeming to touch the water. At last the 

 pursuer springs after them, usually across their 

 course ; and again they all disappear together. — 

 Some must fall a prey to the enemy ; but as many 

 hunt in company, it must be long before the pur- 

 suit is abandoned." (Apud Yarrell.) 



Gen. LXII. Hemiramphus. — This genus is cha- 

 racterised by small teeth in both jaws, the upper one 

 being very short, the lower long, prolonged into a 

 semi-beak which is without teeth : in other respects 

 it resembles the genus Belone. It abounds in tro- 

 pical seas; but, with the exception of the young 

 fry, no specimen has been seen, according to Mr. 

 Yarrell, in the Mediterranean, the Channel, nor the 

 Northern Seas; and Dr. Richardson affirms that 

 none have been detected on the shores of North 

 America. Is the statement of Mr. Mudie, that a 

 stray individual is occasionally met with on the 

 shores of England, nothing more than an inference ? 

 (Late English edit, of Regne Animal.) 



(Sp. 120.) II. Europceus. The European Hemi- 

 ramphus or Half- beak has very properly been intro- 

 duced conditionally into our scientific catalogue by 

 Mr. Yarrell, upon the authority of Mr. Couch, 

 who met with this small fish (Linn. Transactions, 

 vol. xiv.); and upon a communication sent to 



