XIV. Description of a New Genus of Acanthopterygian Fishes. By the Rev. R. T. 
Lowe, B.A., Corr. Memb. Z.S. (In a Letter to the Secretary.) 
Communicated August 27, 1833. 
My dear Bennett, 
T HAVE been so fortunate as to procure a second specimen, this year, of my Alepi- 
saurus. It was captured off the town in the bay on the 21st of May by some fisher- 
men, and appears, by its violence and ferocity when taken into the boat, to have well 
substantiated its title to the specific appellation I had before given it. I owe to the 
kind attention of my friend G. B. Leacock, Esq., both the acquisition of the specimen, 
and an opportunity of seeing it very shortly after death, while still perfectly fresh, and 
with the colours unchanged and vivid. Though it has suffered considerable injury 
from the blows the fishermen affirm they were obliged to inflict in self-defence,—for it 
attacked them furiously when pulled into the boat,—the dorsal fin was fortunately in 
such good condition, as to enable me to correct a little inaccuracy as to this organ in 
my former sketch of last year. When first brought on shore, yet scarce dead, this fin re- 
mained for some time erect and completely extended, presenting a very fine appearance 
from the beautiful iridescent dark steel-blue hues of the connecting membrane, This 
last is of such extreme tenuity and delicacy, that in drying it very quickly loses all its 
beauty ; and the rays are at the same time so long, and so strong in proportion, that 
it is susceptible of injury, when once out of the water, from almost the slightest touch. 
I do not feel, therefore, fully confident that the rays are really not prolonged beyond the 
membrane in the fish while living and perfectly uninjured ; though such is my impres- 
sion from an examination of the present specimen apart from other considerations. 
I am indebted to the able pencil of Miss Young for the beautiful coloured drawing 
which accompanies my letter, taken from this specimen, while fresh, in its general 
tints, and reduced to one sixth the natural size, from measurements made by myself. 
The injured parts, chiefly the anal fin and the lower jaw (in which some teeth were 
broken), are restored from a careful sketch taken last year by me from the former 
specimen now in the collection of the Zoological Society. The lobes of the tail are 
left unfinished ; for in both specimens they were too much injured to decide whether 
they are properly rounded or pointed at the tips. 
In the idea that the accompanying drawing well deserves a place in your Trans- 
actions, I subjoin the essential characters of this curious new genus, and remain, dear 
Bennett, ; 
Yours ever sincerely, 
Madera, June 23, 1833. R. T. Lowe. 
VOL. I. Ss 
