PROMETHEUS ATLANTICUS. 143 



Thyrsites. But when a genus has been once proposed, and any tolerable 

 ground remains for its retention, and that particularly in a part of Ich- 

 thyology in which both the distinctions and the correlative value of the 

 groups are little understood, it seems, upon the whole, most prudent to 

 make everything subservient to practical convenience, which always suffers 

 by a change of names. The genus and the nomenclature, therefore, are 

 adopted here of MM. Quoy and Gaimard ; who have at all events done 

 better in forming a new genus for their fish, than if they had united it 

 with Gempylus serpens, Cuv. 



The settlement of the specific relations of the three fishes properly 

 belonging to the group Prometheus, is a point of no less difficulty than 

 this of their generic claims. I formerly considered Gempj/lus Solandri, 

 Cuv. and Val. (Scomber macrophthalmus, Sol.), to be the adult of their 

 G. Prometheus ; and the Madeiran fish to be the intermediate stage be- 

 tween the two : but both these suppositions are incapable of demonstra- 

 tion ; and the wide difference of locality renders their distinction, prima 

 facie, probable. It is better, therefore, to abstain from any such con- 

 jectural union ; and, on the other hand, to await further and fuller ob- 

 servations both on the Australian fish of Dr. Solander, and on Messrs. Quoy 

 and Gaimard's St. Helena kind, before attempting a specific character ; 

 furnishing, meantime, a full accovmt of the Madeiran species, to preclude, 

 at least, all future doubt regarding its identity and characters. 



The fishermen relate that the Coelho is a very cunning wary fish, 

 which snatches at the bait (a piece of Mackerel or other fish) and takes 

 it with a sudden snap, cutting it often from the lines with its sharp teeth, 

 and swimming off with it together with the hook : and hence, they add, 

 its name Coelho, Rabbit. It lives habitually at the bottom, and is taken 

 at most seasons in a depth of from one to three or four hundred fathoms. 

 In the summer months it is generally one of the commonest and cheapest 

 fishes in the market, where it is sold in bundles, chiefly to the Portu- 

 guese ; being held in little estimation by the English, though when fried 

 in slices, whilst quite fresh, it is rich, flaky, firm, and not unpalatable. Its 

 flesh, when boiled, is dry, soft, and insipid : and there are then few fishes 

 less deserving to be styled edible. Even to the eye these fishes have a 

 lean and hungry, famished look, and their flesh or body has a peculiarly 

 soft and flabby feel. And thus, though living at so great a depth, they 

 require to be cooked as speedily as possible after capture. 



This fish is considerably compressed throughout, slender and elongated ; yet 

 writhout that extreme development of these characters which gives so peculiar an 

 aspect to the true Gempyli or to Lepidojms : that is, it is neither serpentiform nor 

 swordblade-like ; nor is it carinated either on the back or belly. The greatest 

 depth is at about the middle of the body, from the tip of the muzzle to the base 

 of the caudal fin, and ranges from near one seventh to one sixth of the whole 



