186 
and through the spinal column, 2} to 3 inches. (These dimensions 
are in the extreme.) 
‘From the frontal extremity of the caput (excepting a slight de- 
pression at the occiput) to the position at which the above dimen- 
sions of depth and width were taken, a gradual elevation of the dorsal 
ridge took place ; and from the capital portion of this ridge arose at 
equal distances from each other a series of ten or eleven erect, quill- 
like, flexile filaments from 2 to 3 feet in extent, gradually tapering 
from base to apex, and possessing in the case of the three longest lan- 
ceolate points. From this series of lengthened filaments, all along 
the back, from head to tail, extended a series of intermittent fins so 
closely situate to each other as to present the appearance of a single 
fin, and having the spinose rays of each individual fin joined by the 
connecting membrane. Filaments and dorsal fin bright crimson. 
The ventral fins were entirely destroyed, save a portion of the right 
ventral, which is sufficient to show that it was composed of two con- 
sistent bony rays, which probably extended some distance from the 
body and must have formed a powerful engine of direction. The 
pectorals were also almost entirely destroyed, although the base of 
the right pectoral was sufficiently complete to enable me to state 
that it contained twelve spines. Anal and caudal fins absent. 
“Head truncated, compressed ; facial outline of a dark colour. 
Mouth so damaged as not to be positively determinable as regards 
form and appearance, but from the portions of jaw still remaining I 
should pronounce it malacostomous. Eyes, 14 lines in diameter, 
slightly depressed ; irides, 3} lines in width, of a bright silver, encir- 
cling pupils of a somewhat oval shape, and in colour a light trans- 
parent blue. Stomach: intestinal chamber extending from beneath 
the gills to the anal extremity, 5 feet ; unfortunately this chamber 
had been opened and its contents partially injured before I saw the 
specimen, but a large portion of milt, intestine, &c. has been pre- 
served, including the major portion of the swimming bladder, which 
for so large a fish may be considered small; its colour a bright 
scarlet ; this swimming bladder contained a large amount of oily mat- 
ter, and a piece thrown on the ruffled surface of the water imme- 
diately stilled the agitation. Gill-rays eight in number, four to a side, 
crimson, flabellate ; the anterior pairs furnished with double rows of 
flabels, having the internals white, and armed on their inner side with 
minute dart-like appendages. Gill-covers bony, radiate, not entirely 
covering the gills. Teeth, no appearance of any. 
«In concluding the above description, I must not omit to state that 
it was a male fish, and from the extremely fragile nature of its various 
parts I may yenture to express an opinion that it had by no means 
attained maturity. 
«<T may also remark that my measurements were taken twenty-two 
hours after death, during which time the specimen had remained 
exposed on the rocky shore. 
“ Remarks.—This genus of Acanthopterygious fishes is of a form 
so thin and flat in proportion to its length as to have obtained among 
the ancient ichthyologists the name of Riband Fish. Although several 
