APLURUS SIMPLEX. 125 



The second dorsal fin begins about two thirds the distance from the tip of the 

 muzzle to the root of the caudal tin, immediately behind the termination of the 

 first, with which it is quite unconnected. It is triangular and high in front, ex- 

 ceeding in elevation half the depth of the body below it at this part, but short in 

 extent, and only reaching half way from its beginning to the origin of the caudal 

 fin. Its first three or four rays are simple, the first branched ray or two being 

 also the longest. Its last ray is a little remote from the rest, elongated, and only 

 partially connected by the web to the preceding ; thus assuming somewhat of the 

 aspect of a spurious finlet. This latter character is, however, completely that of a 

 pair of rays placed further back, at one third, or nearly half the distance between 

 this last partly detached ray and the root of the caudal fin. These two are com- 

 pletely detached and remote from the rest, but connected perfectly together by a 

 web. They are twice as long as the last semi-detached ray of the second dorsal fin. 



The anal fin commences opposite the origin of, and corresponds precisely in all 

 other respects with, the second dorsal. It has the hinder two or three rays par- 

 tially detached, and succeeded at some distance by a spurious finlet composed of 

 two longer rays completely wel)bed together, opposite the spurious finlet of the 

 dorsal line. 



The front rays of both these fins are close set, obscure, and difficult to count : 

 the fins are indeed altogether somewhat thick and coriaceous, as in the Tunnies or 

 the Swordfish. 



Pectoral fins triangular or ovate, rather small, their length being only from one 

 eighth to one ninth of the whole length of the fish. The two first rays are simple. 

 All the rays are broad and rough externally in front of each, having a somewhat 

 coarse and rude appearance. The inside of the fin is altogether smooth. 



The ventral fins are subequilaterally triangular, much smaller than the pectorals, 

 their first ray placed immediately beneath the last ray of the same. They are 

 situate close together on the belly, and fold back into a slight groove or hollow, 

 running a little way back from their fore axil on each side of the body, a little 

 aljove the ventral keel. Their length is only about one fifteenth of the whole 

 length, or little more than half that of the pectoral fins. Their spine, although not 

 pungent, is very strong, and grooved or striated longitudinally like the spines in 

 Beri/x : and their last ray is connected altogether to the body by a web. Their 

 rays are rough in front on the outside of the fin, like those of the pectoral fins. 

 They are altogether smooth inside. 



The caudal fin is very large, forked, and powerful : the lobes are broad, and the 

 upper is conspicuously larger and longer than the lower. 



The structure of the skin is highly curious. To the naked eye it appears per- 

 fectly scaleless, but with a scurfy or branny look : and to the touch it is exces- 

 sively harsh, rough, rude, and echinate or prickly when the finger is drawn towards 

 the head, and has a hard stiff feel. The only smooth parts are the top of the 

 head and muzzle, except a little space or band above each eye, which is rough, 

 like the lips, the maxillaries, and the lower jaw. The tip however of both jaws, 

 the fore-corner of each eye, and the space between the fore and hind nostril are 

 smooth. Examined more closely, the whole remainder of the head and body, ex- 

 cept the fins, is found to be thickly covered with minute and inconspicuous closely 

 adherent or even partly imbedded cycloid scales, which are simple, round, oval, or 

 elliptic, entire, and finely striated concentrically like the lines at the ends of the 

 fingers : these arc very thin and soft or membranous, and appear crowded and con- 

 fusedly placed, without regular imbricated arrangement, giving a general furfura- 

 ceous aspect to the whole skin. But besides these, and at regular distinct inter- 

 vals, arranged quincuncially in rows, the whole skin is armed with series of sharp, 

 glassy, adpressed, forked, or double points or prickles, of which the structure is 



