SYNOPSIS OF THE FISHES OF MADEIRA. 13 



1'"-D.4v.5; 2'"'D. 11; A. 17; V. 1 + 4 ; P. 15; C. ^^^. Rarior. 



In its shape and colour this is very obviously different from the common red Snipe- 

 fish (C Scolopax, L.). But I have not been able to assure myself that the above dif- 

 ferences are not sexual. They are certainly not dependent upon size. The depth ave- 

 rages from one-fifth to one-sixth and a half of the whole length, instead of one-fourth 

 of the same. In two individuals of the same length within one quarter of an inch, the 

 depth of the larger (C. Scolopax, L.) was very nearly double that of the smaller (C. gra- 

 cilis, nob.), and the 2nd spine of the 1st dorsal fin was respectively in each one-fourth 

 and one-seventh of the whole length of the fish. 



Fam. EsociD/E. 



Belone gracilis, nob. — " Catuta." 



Early in March last year (1838) a fisherman brought alive in sea-water two fishes, 

 which, in their slenderness, and the upper jaw being only half the length of the lower, 

 diflPered obviously from the common jB. vuhjaris. Measuring, however, seven or eight 

 inches only in length, it seemed questionable, in the absence of equal-sized individuals 

 of B. vulgaris for comparison, whether they might not be the young of that species. 

 My friends, however, the Rev. L. Jenyns and Mr. Yarrell, have examined these two in- 

 dividuals, and the latter warrants me in stating, on their joint authority, that these two 

 fishes are " not, in their opinion, B. vulgaris," being " much more slender for the same 

 or equal length." 



Scomberesox Saurus, Cuv. 



The Portuguese name " Delpliine" (rectius " Delfim,") is erroneously appended to 

 this fish. Another individual has been lately brought to me with the name of " Almei- 

 rao," but the species is far too rare to have obtained any permanent and genuine ap- 

 pellation in Madeira. 



Cypselurus pulchellus. 



From want of materials for comparison, I am unable to give correctly the specific 

 characters of this most elegant little Flying-fish, which is remarkably characterized by 

 two or three bright rose-coloured horse-shoe-shaped marks on each side of the belly, 

 one behind the other. The ventral fins are placed a httle behind the middle of the 

 body, not reckoning the caudal fin, and their tips reach to the base of the latter. The 

 tips of the pectoral fins reach only to the end of the base of the dorsal fin, which is 

 large, high, and produced. The anal fin is small and low, but a little produced back- 

 wards. The cirrate appendage to the lower jaw is like a leathern flap or apron, torn 

 irregularly at the bottom into strips or thongs. I willingly abandon my own MS. name 

 of Cheilopogon for this genus, distinguished from Exoc(stus by the variously-appendaged 



