418 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



This species appears to be limited to the waters of the Mediterranean,, 

 It was not noticed by Linuteus, or indeed by any of the binomial writers 

 before Schneider. In his posthumous edition of the writings of Bloch, 

 the latter has made reference to a figure and description in Duhamel, 

 and has given to a flsh, which he figures in plate xxi of this work, 

 the name Xiphias imperator. This name was rejected by Cuvier (Regne 

 Aaimal, 1, c), and has not been reeognized by later writers. It seems to 

 me, howev^er, tliat Schneider has, perhaps unintentionally, yet quite in- 

 telligibly, expressed the principal differential characters of Tetrapturus. 

 By "dorso scabro" he covers the question of the scales; by "carina 

 caudali nulla" he refers to the absence of the single caudal carina of 

 Xiphias, while by figure and by implication in his description he admits 

 the presence of ventral fins. His figure, though bad, is as good as most 

 of the old figures of Xiphias — that of Lacepede for example. 



T. imperator is said to attain the length of five or six feet, and the 

 weight of 150 pounds. It has been taken in the Straits of Messina 

 with the harpoon, but according to Raflnesque is very rarely seen on 

 the coasts of Sicily, and then only in autumn, when it is following the 

 dolpbin and fiying-fish, upon which it feeds. It is ordinarily seen in 

 pairs, male and female together, and they are taken often in the nets 

 together. Its flesh is white but not particularly well flavored. At 

 Messina it is called '■'■Aguglla imperiaJe^^ (Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1. c). 



2. Tetrapturus indicus, Cuvier & Valenciennes. 



Tetrapturus indicm, Cuv. & Val. Hist. Nat. Poiss. viii, 1831, p. 286 (ou figure 

 belonging to Sir Joseph Banks). 



A species founded on a figure of a specimen obtained in Sumatra 

 communicated by Sir Joseph Banks to Broussonet, who refers to it at 

 the end of his "Memoire sur le Yolier".* 



The description is worthless. It is stated by Cuvier and Valenciennes 

 that this fish had been supposed to be the male of Histiophorus gladius, 

 but that it is much more nearly- related to Tetrapturus of the jNIediter- 

 ranean, though with a longer beak. 



The notes accompanying the figure state that it attains the length of 

 nine feet and the weight of 200 pounds, and was known to the Malays 

 by the name "Joo-Zioo''. 



Giinther regards it as perhaps synonymous with T. Herschelii, Gray.t- 



3. Tetrapturus Herschelii, Gray. 



Tetrapturus Herschelii, Gray, Ann. Nat. Hist, i, 1838, p. 313, pi. x. — Lutken, 11. e. 

 Histiophorus Herschelii, Gunther, 1. c. 



This species was described from a specimen eleven feet long obtained 

 at Table Bay, Cape of Good Hope, in 1837, The description is repro- 



*Hist. de I'Acad. des Sciences, Paris, 1786, pp. 450-455. 

 t Giinther, 1. c. p. 513, sub. Hiatiophorxis Herschelii. 



