4. PRISTIPOMA. 295 



the first is small ; the second one-half the length of the third ; the 

 third three-fourths 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 be considered as j)art of the soft portion, is 

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

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

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

 twice 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 : .-^ne of its longest rays 

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

 anal fins equals 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 first 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 is rather 

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

 the ventral fin is 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, quadrangular, 

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

 the eye. The lateral line is curved, and parallel to the profile of the 

 back. 



The specimen is now uniform silvery, with the spinous dorsal 

 black-edged ; this part of the fin appears to have been blacldsh. 



A supposition as to the origin of the specimen cannot be given with 

 any certainty, on account of its affinity to neotropical sj)ecies,, as 

 well as to palasotropical ; but there is more pijobability of its being 

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



inches, lines. ' 



Total leng-th 6 11 



Height of the body 2 3 



Length of the head 2 



Diameter of the eye 5| 



Length of the fourth dorsal spine 1 2 



of the thirteenth dorsal spine .... 7 



of the third dorsal ray 1 



of the eleventh dorsal ray 6 



of the caudal fin 1 5 



of the first anal spine 7 



of the second anal spine I 7 



of the pectoral 1 5 



of the ventral 1 6 



of a large scale 2^ 



Height of a large scale 2 



