REV. R. T. LOWE’S SYNOPSIS 
In each the branchiostegous membrane was on both sides seven-rayed ; and the 
joints of the spine, which was soft and flexible, or almost merely cartilaginous, 
and when dry fragile, thin, and light almost as tissue-paper, were in number fifty. 
The viscera are singularly simple. The stomach is a vast, oblong, simple, 
black sac, filling the whole abdominal cavity (when distended with food) from 
one end to the other. The intestine is perfectly straight and simple, originating 
remarkably forward, even from the very entrance into the stomach or esophagus, 
with no trace of ceca at the pylorus. The liver is small; and there is no air- 
bladder. This remarkable simplicity of interna! organization reminds one 
strongly of the Blenny family (Gobide) ; to which there are not wanting points 
also of external resemblance, such as the general smoothness, want of scales, 
feebleness of the fin-rays, &c. (Confer Anarrhichas.) 
The stomach of these two individuals was found completely gorged with food. 
In that of the smaller I found specimens of three distinct species of Hyalea, of 
Carinaria mediterranea, a Limacina, Cranchia, Loligo ; and various pelagic Iso- 
podous Crustacea in great numbers. Of fishes, it contained two small speci- 
mens of Capros aper, Lac.; two of the young of some Shark (Squalide), too 
much decomposed to be made out; and a single specimen of the fry of its own 
species! only two inches and a half long, but perfectly formed and entire, except 
the tail-fin, which was quite decomposed. The teeth, it is highly interesting to 
observe, had attained, even in this minute specimen, their full development, 
especially in size, being even proportionately larger than in the more full-grown 
specimens. In the lower jaw there is a pair of moderately-sized ones at the 
tip; and at some distance behind these there is another pair of vastly larger 
size, locking between two corresponding pairs, one behind the other, in the 
upper jaw. In the upper jaw there is a pair, a little backward from the tip, of 
large moveable teeth, placed close together, side by side, one upon each palatine 
bone, near its anterior symphysis ; and at some distance behind these, so as to 
allow the long pair of the lower jaw to lock into the interval, a smaller pair 
further apart; each tooth of the pair being exactly opposite the other. The 
rest of the teeth are exactly as in the larger specimens. 
The stomach of the larger of the two individuals above-mentioned contained 
three specimens of Capros aper, Lac. ; two small ones of Sphyrena vulgaris, Cuv., 
four or five inches long ; a pretty large Garoupa (Serranus cabrilla, Cuv. & Val.), 
five or six inches long; the beak of a Cuttle-fish; a Hyalea; and an Idotea. 
I have had no opportunity of accurately examining the ‘‘ Sword-fish” of Ma- 
dera, which is occasionally taken, but have no reason to doubt its being the true 
Xiphias gladius, L. It is called by the Portuguese ‘‘ Peiwe Ayulha;” though 
the fish more commonly known by that name is the Gar-fish (Belone vulgaris, 
Cuv.). 
