4. I'HisxiroMA. 295 



the first is small ; the second one-hall' the length of the third ; the 

 third thrce-foiu'ths of the fourth, which is the longest, half as high 

 as the body. The following decrease in length to the twelfth ; the 

 thirteenth, which must bo considered as part of the soft portion, is 

 longer than tlie two preceding spines, and equal to the tenth. The 

 soft portion has a roimded margin, the second, third and fourth rays 

 being the longest, and cijual in height to the sixth spine ; they are 

 t'\\'ice as long as the last, which is the shortest. The spinous portion, 

 as well as the soft, can be received into a scaly sheath. The caudal 

 fin is truncated, and scaly at the base only ; one of its longest rays 

 is one-fifth of the total length. The distance between the caudal and 

 anal fins e(]uals the base of the latter ; the origin and end of the 

 anal fin fall vertically behind the origin and the end of the soft dorsal. 

 The fii-st spine is one-half the length of the third, and is excavated 

 posteriorly. The second is exceedingly long, equal to the height of the 

 body above it, and broader on the left side than on the right. The third 

 is broader on the right side, two-thirds of the length of the former, 

 and shorter than the first ray. The margin of the soft portion of 

 the anal fin is very slightly emarginate. The pectoral fin Ls rather 

 pointed, and of moderate length, one-fifth of the total. The root of 

 the ventral fin i.s situated immediately behind that of the pectoral ; 

 the first ray is one-third longer than the strong adjacent spine, and 

 produced into a short filament which extends to the vent. 



The scales are of moderate size, slightly crenated, quadi'angidar, 

 rather longer than high ; one of the largest covers about one-fifth of 

 the eye. The lateral line is curved, and pai-aUel to the profile of the 

 back. 



The specimen is now uniform silveiy, with the spinous dorsal 

 black-edged ; this jjart of the fin appears to have been blackish. 



A supposition as to the origin of the specimen cannot be given \s'ith 

 any certainty, on account of its affinity to neotro])ical species, a.s 

 well as to palacotropical ; but there is more probability of its being 

 found in a part of the East Indian Seas, or of the Pacific. 



inches, lines. 



Total length 6 11 



Height of the body 2 3 



Length of the head 2 



Diameter of the eye G| 



Length of the foiu'th dorsal spine 1 2 



— — of the thirteenth dorsal spine .... 7 



of the third dor.'sal ray 1 



of the eleventh dorsal ray 6 



— of the caudal fin 1 5 



of the fii-.st anal spuic 7 



— of the second anal spine 1 7 



of the pectoral 1 5 



of the ventral I 6 



of a large scale 2^ 



Height of a large scale '* 2 



