308 TRAcnYPTERin.T-:. 



1. Regalecus gladius. 



Spada mariua, Imperato, p. 587. 



Cepola gladius, IValh. Art. iii. p. 617. 



Gvnmetrus loiigeradiatus, Jtissa, Eur. Merkl. iii. p. 29G. 



-— gladius, Cm: ^- Val. x. p. 352. pi. 298. 



B. 6. D. 340. A. 0. C. ? P. 14. V. 1. 



The length of the head ec^uals the height of the body, which is 

 contained five times and two-thirds in the distance of the vent 

 from the snout, or one-nineteenth of the total length. The snout is 

 truncated, the cleft of the mouth vertical, and the upper jaw very 

 protractile. The eye is one-foiu'th of the length of the head, 

 and situated in the anterior and upper half of the head. Head 

 longer than high. A series of minute teeth in each of the jaws. 

 The single ventral ray is very long, terminating in a broad lobe ; 

 there is another cutaneous flap on the second thii'd of its length. 

 The anterior twelve dorsal rays are produced, the first five forming 

 a sei)arate division above the eye ; the seven following terminate 

 in cutaneous lobes. SJcin covered with small smooth tubercles ; the 

 lateral line runs along the lower third of the body. Silvery, with 

 greyish spots. 



Typical specimens eight to ten feet long. 



Nice. 



Pyloric appendages innumerable. Air-bladder none. 



Gymnetrtis capensis (Cuv. & Val. x. p. 376), from the Cape of Good 

 Hope, does not appear to be specifically distinct from R. gladius. 



(I. Head, extremity of the tail, portions of the intestines, and one of 

 the dorsal spines from the specimen captured at the Bermudas, 



rays, projecting about three-quarters of an inch beyond the margin of the fin. 

 There were no other fms ; but from the back of the head rose several rigid cir- 

 cular spines, about eighteen inches long, tlu-ee-quarters of an inch in diameter at 

 the base, tapering to a point, curving slightly backwards, hollow, and bristling 

 along their whole surface with small spines directed upwards. These long spines 

 appear to have been very brittle, as they broke ofl' sliort when the fish struck the 

 rock. The person who saw the fish run ashore described these spines as pre- 

 senting the appearance of three small masts to a boat, through the whole length 

 of tlie fish, disposed in pairs, as follows — one pair just below the back, and the 

 other pairs immediately above ; and below tlie spinal process ran six air cham- 

 bers, about a tliird of an inch in diameter, apparently intended to keep the body 

 of the fish in an upright position whilst swimming. The spine was a mere 

 cartilage, filled witli a glairy fluid ; there being no bones in the fish, except those 

 of the head, tlie dorsal spines, and the rays of the fin. 



" The general colour of the body was very light grey, inclining to lavender on 

 the back and towards the dorsal fin, at which latter point that colour became 

 nearly positive. The whole of the body was covered with very minute soft scales, 

 easily removed by friction with the liand, and of a brilliant silvery colour. Tliose 

 parts of the head which I was able to save were of a bluish-grey. The fin was 

 pinkish near the body, but the edge and the sj)inous rays were bright red. The 

 spines were gi-ey. 



•'The fish was full of spawn, the eggs perfectly round and transparent, and 

 about the size of pearl-barley. The flesh was white, firm, and is described as 

 good eating. It appears to be kuowTi to the natives, but imder what name I am 

 not aware. " W. T. L. Travers." 



