10. OnTnAGORTSCTJS. 319 



c. Stuffed, 2 feet long. Plymouth. I'resentcd by Lieut. H. F. 



Spence, ll.N. 



d. Stuffed, 1 1 feet long. England. Presented by W. Beatie, Esq. 



e. Stuffed, 3 feet long. Adriatic. (Ozodura orsini.) 



f. One inch loug. North Atlantic. Presented by Capt. Knocker, K.N. 

 g-i. Stuffed, 1| foot long. 



k, I. One inch long. 

 m. Skeleton, 28 inches long. 



n. Skeleton, 3 feet long. Ireland. Presented by the Earl of 

 Enniskillen. 



Prof. Steenstrup and Dr. Liitken have endeavoured to show the 

 distinctness of Mola retzii and Mola nasus. In my opinion, the 

 former is the younger state of the latter, as is proved by our series 

 of examples. Especially the presence of supplementary teeth within 

 the cutting jaws is not a constant character ; these teeth arc more 

 or less regular in examples of about 18 inches, but disappear alto- 

 gether Avhen the individual has attained to a length of about three 

 feet. The changes which the body and fins undergo with age have 

 been indicated above. 



It is now generally admitted, especially by Italian ichthyologists, 

 that Ranzani's distribution of the Sunfishcs described by his prede- 

 cessors into six genera and fifteen species is an uncritical compi- 

 lation. However, it is possible that the fish described by him under 

 the name of Orthraijoris^cus (dc.vdndrini, I. c. tab. 6, is specifically 

 distinct from 0. mola. The nape is so much elevated that the eye 

 is ahnost as far distant from the dorsal profile as from the ventral. 

 The fins are lower than is generally observed in large Sunfishes. 

 The caudal portion is unnaturally stuffed out. 



Also Orfhar/orisGus analis, Ayrcs, Proc. Calif. Acad. Nat. Sc. ii. 

 p. 31, fig. p. 54, from San Francisco, cannot be admitted at present 

 as a distinct species. The dorsal and anal fins woiild appear to bo 

 considerably lower than in 0. mola ; but it is possible that those fins 

 are mutilated in the single specimen known. 



2. Orthagoriscus lanceolatus. 

 Orthagoriscus lanceolatus, Lienca-d, Mag. Zool. 1840, p. 291. 



D. 24. A. 21. C. 19. P. 17. 



Body oblong, covered with a rather rough skin. Caudal fin as 

 long as deep, rounded behind, and spotted with grey. {Lienard.) 

 Mauritius. 



3. Ranzania. Sidn tessellated. 



3, Orthagoriscus truncatus. 



IMola, Jan. Plane. Comm. Inst. Bonon. ii. 2. 176G, p. 297, tab. 17. 

 Sun-fish from Mount's Iky, Borlase, Cornw. p. 208, pi. 20. fig. 7; 



Couch, Fish. Brit. Isl. iv. p. r.Sl, pl. 240 (bad). 

 Oblong Diodon, Peiin. Brit. Zool. iii. p. 113, pl. 19. 

 (Oblong Totrodon, Pcnn. /. r. od. 1.^12, iii. p. 170, pl. 22. 



