68 



BERYCID^E. 



wliicli tliey will be brought together at the end of the folio-wing descrip- 

 tion of T. pretiosus^ composed from the three Madeiran individuals above 

 mentioned, which were of nearly equal size, and differed only in the 

 greater depth and more oval form of body in the smaller individual, from 

 which the figure has been taken. 



The general aspect of this fish in form and colouring resembles strongly that of 

 Ber7/x ; though the sen-ate keel of the abdomen, and the internally black mouth 

 and tongue, serve instantly for its discrimination ; whilst the general tone of 

 colouring is far less brilliant, and the body of a dirtier, duller, paler red. The 

 shape, without the tail, is oval, more or less inclined to oblong ; but deep propor- 

 tionately to its length, and moderately compressed. The individual figured was so 

 much deeper, more compact, and rounded in its form of body than that represented 

 by MM. Cuvier and Valenciennes, t. 97 his, that I was inclined to doubt for 

 some time its specific identity. The second and third larger individuals exhibit, 

 however, a foi-m of body, and degree of curvature of the belly, precisely inteiTnediate 

 between the two. The back in either case is arched, high, and convex, of equal 

 curvature throughout, ascending equally and regularly from the tip of the muzzle 

 to the origin of the dorsal fin, and thence again descending in like manner, and for 

 an equal distance, to the termination of the same. The belly either offers, as in 

 the figure, a corresponding curvature, or is more straight and flattened from the 

 breast to the origin of the anal fin. The fleshy part of the tail, behind the ends 

 of the dorsal and the anal fins, is considerably produced and elongated. 



The greatest height of the body at the commencement of the dorsal fin varies 

 accordingly from the proportion of one to two and a half, to that of one to nearly 

 three, in reference to the whole length of the fish. The greatest thickness from the 

 eyes to the shoulders, is to the greatest depth as one to two and a half or three : 

 but in the smaller and more oval fish, as one to seven and a half; and in the others, 

 as one to seven, in proportion to the whole length. The length of the head, 

 which is nearly the same as its height vertically through the middle of the eye, is 

 not equal to the greatest depth of the body ; being from one to three and two- 

 thirds, to one to three and one third, in proportion to the whole length. The eye 

 is very large ; equalling or even a little exceeding* one third of the length of the 

 head. It is placed high up ; the space below it equalling once and a half its own 

 diameter, and that above it half its diameter. The space between the eyes is 

 convex, and scarcely equals their diameter. 



The muzzle is very short, abrupt, and convex, extending only about a semidia- 

 meter of the eyes before them ; it is retuse or notched in front, for the reception of 

 the tip of the lower jaw. The nostrils are two rather large, but simple, oval 

 orifices, placed close together, and separated merely by a dissepiment, just at the 

 fore-corner of the eyes. The fore-nostril is only half the size of the hinder. 

 Although the mouth seems rather small, the gape is very large and subprotractile ; 

 and is directed upwards still more steeply than in Beryx. The maxillaries reach 

 backwards, when the mouth is closed, to a line drawn vertically through the hinder 

 edges of the eyes. Their ends are broad, dilated, and triangular ; incapable of 

 passing, even partly, under the suborbitary ; and provided with a superimposed, 

 striated, and moveable plate or bone, as in Beryx, covering their upper side, and 

 leaving bare the lower corner, which is plain and even, except the raised rim or 

 border along its front edge. 



* In two examples the diameter of the eye is contained exactly three times ; in tlie third and 

 hirgest, only twice and four sevenths, in the length of the head. 



