135 



HEMIRAMPHUS. 



Abdomimal fishes, the bodj' lengthened; the upper jaw very short in 

 comparison with the lower, and formed by the intermaxillary bones. 

 Lower jaw of considerable length, with teeth only so tar as it meets 

 with the upper jaw. 



EUEOPEAN HALFBEAK, 



EUROPEAN HEMIRAMPHUS. 



Hemiramphis, Couch, in Trans. Lin. Soc, vol. xiv. 



Enropneus, Yakrell; Br. Fishes, vol. i, p. 450. 



Report for 18 17, of Nat. Hist. Society of 

 Penzance. 



Many years ago, while engaged in taking Prawns in the 

 harbour of Polperro, a small fish was observed at the surface 

 of the shallow water with such an appearance of action as seemed 

 unusual. It was easily caught, and on close examination 

 appeared to be very different from any that had been known 

 hitherto in England. The example was scarcely an inch in 

 length, and therefore might well be judged to be in an early 

 stage of existence; but as the figure was made out, it was 

 described in a communication to the Linnean Society, as above 

 quoted, as belonging to the only genus then recognised in which 

 such fishes were arranged by Linnaeus. But a doubt rested 

 on the subject, in consequence of the fact that only a single 

 example had been met with in any part of Europe, and this 

 of very small size; and it was urged that the parent fishes must 

 before this have been discovered, if such had ever come so 

 near us, as the existence of so young a one would appear to 

 imply. Several years had passed after this first discovery 



