BEKYX SPLENDENS. 



53 



ral plate, are silvery and scarlet, punctate with red dots. The upper part of the 

 eyeball is stained of a deep rich indigo or violet hue, foi-ming a conspicuous dark 

 sort of narrow eyebrow. The iris is scarlet and silvery iridescent. The pupil pale 

 opal, with a brassy or pale golden lustre. 



The dorsal and the caudal fins are deeper scarlet than the others, particularly 

 towards the tips of the rays ; which in all the fins are deeper-coloured than their 

 subpellucid web. 



The usual size of this species is from ten to sixteen or eighteen inches ; 

 and large individuals are less common than in B. decadactj/lus, Cuv. One, 

 however, measured twenty-three inches in length, weighing five pounds and 

 three quarters. 



One singular distinction which exists between this fish and B. decadac- 

 tylu^, Cuv. is the comparatively rapid decomposition of the viscera. I 

 have repeatedly had individuals of both sorts brought for examination, 

 which had been caught together ; and whilst the whole contents of the ab- 

 domen in B. decadac tylus have been in the most perfect preservation, those 

 of B. splende?is, though in other respects the fishes were quite fresh, have 

 proved entirely decomposed. And I have only been able to overcome 

 this difficulty by going out in the fishing-boats, and being present at the 

 actual capture of this latter species, the " Alfonsin a casta cumprida" of 

 the fishermen ; which begins to be met with of small size at the depth of 

 one hundred and fifty or two hundred fathoms, but is scarcely taken in full 

 size and plenty except with its congener, B. decadactj/liis, Cuv., the " Al- 

 fonsin a casta larga," at the enormous depth of from three to four hun- 

 dred fathoms, and from one to two leagues from shore. 



On opening the abdomen, the mass of viscera is small compared with its 

 cavity ; the peritoneal lining of which is dark or black. The liver is pale, and 

 small, with the lobes short : the gall-bladder is rather large, distinct, elliptic, with 

 a short duct, not reaching beyond the lobes of the liver. The stomach is small 

 or of moderate size, white, and oblong; with its ascending branch large in dia- 

 meter, and originating exactly from its middle. Cceca from twenty-five to thirty, 

 slender, free, distinct, forming two flat palmate fascicles, but set in a single row 

 round the pi/lorus, with a pair sometimes lower down. They are white or pale, 

 unequal in length, some reaching nearly to the vent, but in general of moderate 

 length. The intestine is pale, and of moderate diameter and length, making only 

 one rather short volution or two bends, and then going straight to the vent. The 

 air-bladder is of moderate size, oblong-oval, and attached all its length to the 

 spinal column, from which it is not separable without rupture. In several female 

 individuals, examined anatomically thus in August, the ovaries were rather large, 

 distinct, short, and pear-shaped ; but yet empty, and with little or no appearance 

 of vascularity. Within five or six hours after death, the ccsca by decomposition 

 become confused and indeterminable. 



The first of the abdominal vertebrae next the head is very short, — reduced to a 

 mere ring ; the five last are furnished with remarkably large and strong, trigonal, 

 broad, distinct, and widely divergent aj)opJiyses beneath. 



