34 ZENID-E. 



length ; the latter being thus a little longer than the pectoral. The high front 

 part of the dorsal fin was also longer than before ; being nearer one-fourth than 

 one-fifth part of the whole length. In all other points, external and internal, it 

 agreed with the previous descriptions, with the following exceptions or additions : 

 the ventral fins were not only rather longer, but less falcate or more oblong and 

 obtuse at the tips than usual : the breast-keel was clianneled only close before the 

 root of the ventral fins : the sides were of a fuller pink than usual, with the white 

 spots more distinct, and extending over the opercles and cheeks, but not becoming 

 confluent on the sides of the breast. The lateral line made a slight loop down- 

 wards immediately before the beginning of its straight part in the middle of the 

 flesliy fore-part of the tail. The air-bladder was elongated, oblong, but not large, 

 with its coats extremely fragile. The liver was large, its lobes narrow, and nearly 

 as long as the stomach which was a foot long, and an inch and half in diameter. 

 Both the oesophagus and stomach were filled with various small soft-coated Crus- 

 tacece, and traces of remains of fish. The ovaries were two cylindric masses, nearly 

 as long as the stomach, and turgid with half- formed eggs. The flesh only upon the 

 enormous cubitals was red like beef: the rest was white, and looking delicate 

 enough when boiled ; but it was rather dry and insipid to the taste ; resembling 

 that of the Dourado {Cori/phcena equisetis, Linn). The fin-formula, &c. was 



6 4- 1 -h IX 

 D. 1 -I- 52 ; A. 1 -f- 40 ; P. 1 -H 24 ; V. 17 ; C. 



ti -I- I + VIII 



M. B. 6 ; Vertae 23 abd. -f 22 caud. = 45. 



The six last dorsal and the four last anal fin-rays were attached to a single 

 interspinal only, which was spatulate or much dilated at its apex. The hinder 

 ribs are extremely long and crowded ; the last two or three being soldered to- 

 gether in their middle, forming a back to the abdominal vault ; from the end of 

 which, here as elsewhere, and not from the still more variable position of the first 

 anal interspinal, I reckon the commencement of the caudal vertebrae. In this 

 particular fish, however, from the approximation and variable degree of cohesion 

 of the lower hinder apophysis or ribs, it is not easy to determine which is the 

 first free single apophyses indicating the first true caudal vertebrae. The enormous 

 cubitus on each side was a foot high and half as wide : resembling in size a blade- 

 bone of mutton, but extremely thin and laminar. Its lower edge comes down 

 quite to the ventral keel, where it is soldered to the edge of that of the other side. 

 The first regular interspinal of the dorsal fin is attached to the superior apophysis 

 of the first vertebra, which is scarcely shorter than the others : all being re- 

 markably short and equal. The first short ray of the anal fin is attached im- 

 mediately to the points of the two inferior apophyses or ribs of the fifteenth ab- 

 dominal vertebra. In front of the dorsal fin there is an interspinal belonging to 

 its first short buried spine, which is unconnected with any process from the ver- 

 tebra, and free within the flesh upon the nape. 



Thus then, besides the points exposed in the specific character, the 

 Madeiran Lampris is a deeper fish, with the head longer and the eye 

 smaller, than the European. 



There is something about this fish winch commands the admiration of 

 the most incurious and unobservant. It is not usual to see great size, 

 and richness without gaudiness of colour, in such combination. The very 



