54 



xiphiim:. 



of the body ; the next nine decrease rapidly in length, the ninth being equal to the 

 first. All the succeeding spines are very short, none of them being equal in length to 

 twice the diameter of the orbit. The rays of the second dorsal are longer than any of 

 the spines after the ninth ; the last is produced and reaches to the middle of the space 

 between the dorsal and caudal. The second anal fin is similar to the second dorsal ; the 

 first is somewhat elevated, but less so than the first dorsal. The ventrals consist of one 

 ray each, about half the length of the pectoral. The caudal lobes are contained five 

 times in the total length. 



The height of the body is contained once and five-sixths in the length of the head, 

 and six times and a half in the total length. The upper jaw is somewhat compressed, 

 broader than deep ; its length to the nostrils is about three-fifths of that of the head. 

 The produced part is rather longer than the distance from the point of the mandible to 

 the posterior margin of the orbit. The upper profile of the head is nearly straight. 



Colour uniform, without any spots or markings. 



ft. in. 



Total length 10 4 



Greatest height 18 



Length of head 3 



Length of produced part of jaw , . 11 



Length of upper jaw from angle of mouth 2 4 



Width between base of pectorals 10 



Length of pectorals Ill 



Length of ventrals 9 



Greatest height of dorsal 12 



Length of caudal lobes 2 



A single specimen of this fish was obtained by Colonel Playfair at Zanzibar as he 

 was on the point of leaving that island for a few weeks ; it was hurriedly stuffed and 

 photographed before his departure ; and it is from this photograph that the figure is 



