310 TKArHYPTERin.K. 



The above characters have been taken, from the elaborate account; 

 given by Hancock ; he has also examined the internal parts of the 

 female-specimen which came under his observation, and foimd a very 

 remarkable form of the stomach. This organ is prolonged into an 

 exceedingly long caecal portion, which, like the air-bladder of tlic 

 LahyrintMci, O^hlocejjhalidce, and of many Carangoid fishes, extends 

 far backwards between the muscles of the tail, ending at a short 

 distance from the caudal end of the fish. 



Dr. Gray has traced the history of the British specimens, with their 

 synonjTny, to the earliest notices ; but whilst he has proved beyond 

 a doubt that the existence of a Ribbon-fish ^\-ith biradiate veutrals 

 rests only on the fimey of some artist, I should not think myself 

 justified in doubting the statements of such trustworthy authors as 

 Ascanius and Briinnich, who give the numbers of the dorsal spines as 

 so different from those of B. hanksii, that the fishes examined by 

 them are certainly not identical with the latter. 



Whether the Indian fish named by Bloch G. hawkenii is entirely 

 the production of imperfect notices and figures sent to him from 

 England, or whether a similar species (but not with biradiate ven- 

 trals) occui'S in the East Indie-i (Goa) and stiU remains to be recog- 

 nized, is a question which cannot at present be decided. 



liegalecus hanksii has been found only on the English shores, 

 although it has probably a wider range. The following specimens 

 appear to belong to this species : — 



Size. 

 Date. Locality. feet. 



a. Jan. 22, 1759 Whitby 11^ 



h*Feh. 23, 1788 Newlyn 8|-8f 



Feb. 1791 Newlyn 8| 



1796 (liiissell) . CornwaU. 



Feb. 1798 Cornwall 8| 



c. Mar. 27, 1794 Newcastle 10 



d. Mar. 18, 1796 (Banks) . Filey 13 



e. 1800 Fern Islands 18 



/. 1800 Fern Islands 14 



g. Mar. 1844 Crovie near Macduff 12 



h. ?1845 Yorkshire ? 24 



i. Mar. 26, 1849 (Hancock) Cullercoats (Northumberland) 121 



Jc. 1850 Redcar 12 



Z. Sept. 17, 1852 Cromarty. 



4. Regalecus glesne. 



The Sild-Kimg (King of the Herringsi). 



Ophidium glesne, Ascan. Nye Saml. Vid. Selsk. Skrivt. iii. p. 419. 



Regalecus glesne. Ascan. Ic. ii. tab. 11 ; Laccp. ii. pp. 214, 215. 



* Dr. Gray has shown that those (lifferent statements refer to one and tlie same 

 specimen, tlie dates having been altered in co])ying or misprinting. The ditl'er- 

 cncos in size can be easily accounted for: the tail of the specimen being nuililated, 

 several of the writers were desirous to give the length restored. 



