308 TKACHYPTERID.E. 



1. Regalecus gladius. 



Spada maiina, Imperato, p. 587. 



Cepola gladius, Walh. AH. iii. p. 617. 



Gjinnetrus longeradiatus, Risso, Eur. Merid. iii. p. 296. 



gladius, Cut. 8,- Val x. p. 352. pi. 298. 



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



The length of the head equals 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-fourth 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 tiap on the second third of its length. 

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

 a separate division above the eye ; the seven following terminate 

 in cutaneous lobes. Skin covered with small smooth tubercles', the 

 Interal line nius 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. 



Oymnetrus capoisis (Cuv. & Val. x. p. 376), from the Cape of Good 

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



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 fins ; but from the back of the liead rose several rigid cir- 

 cular spines, about eighteen inches long, three-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 off short 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 the fish, disposed in pairs, as follows — one pair just below the back, and the 

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

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

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

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

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



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

 the back nnd 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 fricrtion with the hand, and of a brilliant silvery colour. Those 

 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 spinous rays were bright red. The 

 spines were grey. 



"Tl'.e 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 

 "ood eating. It appears to be known to the natives, but under what name I am 

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



