28 ZENID.E. 



abundant, is at least a perfectly well-known and regular frequenter of the 

 coast, caught always yearly in its proper season, and sold habitually in 

 the market. It were difficult to account for its re-appearance under these 

 circumstances, after such an interval, on the hypothesis of its specific 

 identity with the European fish. 



The existence of a Lampris guttata again still further south, rests 

 merely on the vague impressions of a Negro Prince. — See Yarr. Brit. 

 Fishes i. 174; and Cuv. and Val. 10. 47. 



In regard to the Madeiran fish, the following description with the ac- 

 companying figure, is taken from an individual which measured three feet 

 four inches and a half in length, and which was said to weigh upwards of 

 sixty pounds — 



Shape subrhombic rather than oval, deep and short, deepest forwards in a line 

 through the base of the pectoral or commencement of the dorsal fin, the depth 

 here beingr contained only one thirteenth instead of one quarter more than twice in 

 the whole length : hence it is rather a deeper fish than Lampris giittutus Retz, 

 according to MM. Cuvier and Valenciennes's measurements of that fish, taken 

 from a rather smaller individual of only three feet long. The whole body is 

 compressed ; yet of considerable thickness forwards at the nape, above the base 

 of the pectoral fins ; diminishing, from a thickness there nearly equal to one 

 seventh of the whole length, to one of one twenty-seventh at the root of the tail; 

 which is short, distinct, abruptly contracted behind the ends of the dorsal and 

 anal fins to between one seventh and one eighth of the greatest depth forwards. 

 The thickness at the root of the tail, is to the height at the same, as four to seven. 

 At the origin of the fin, above and beneath, is a curved or lunate transverse cut 

 or dimple, similar to that which exists in many Sharks ; and indicating much 

 play or freedom of motion in the caudal fin. 



Head small and somewhat pointed ; short, but rather longer than in MM. 

 Cuvier and Valenciennes's fish, being one third and five sevenths, instead of one 

 fourth part of the whole length. The whole is remarkaldy plain and even ; re- 

 minding one, in the neat packing and arrangement of the maxillaries and opercles, 

 of the Tunny. The profile descends gradually, and in a perfectly straight and 

 even line from the commencement of the dorsal fin to the tip of the rather short 

 and moderately protractile muzzle. This is conspicuously different from the 

 rounded convex general outline, and depression at the origin of the back in the 

 European fish. From the )>eginning of the dorsal fin down to the nape, the ridge 

 is almost keeled ; and from the throat to the ventral fins beneath it is conspicu- 

 ously so, as if by an internal strong and prominent breast-bone, the edge of which 

 is slightly grooved or channeled. The outline of the throat and breast is rounded, 

 convex (not straight -as above) ; descending as far back as beneath the pectoral 

 fins : it then begins to ascend towards the tail. The top of the head behind the 

 eyes is very broad, but altogether plain, and Avithout sculpture. 



The eyes are large, but obviously smaller than in the European fish ; their 

 diameter equalling one fifth part only of the length of the head, instead of more 

 than one third part ("plus du tiers" Cuv. and Val.): they are placed above 

 the middle of its height : their orbits are quite plain and flat : all the opercles 

 are the same ; unarmed, entire. The outline of the pre-oporcle is obliquely para- 

 bolic. The opercle, subopercle, and interopercle form together a large segment of 

 a circle. The nostrils are two small, oblong, simple orifices, placed rather high, 



