28 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 
48. BELONE GIGANTEA. 
BELONE GIGANTEA, T. and 8. Faun. Jap., p. 245. 
PLATE VII, fig. 2. Reduced. 
Nores.—From Lew Chew. Life size, 46 inches. 
This species is not figured in the Fauna Japonica, so that the rough figure herewith published 
may prove interesting. Messrs. Temminck and Schlegel seem to feel confident that it is distinct 
from the Indian species. It is said to attain a length of twelve feet. 
49. HEMIRAMPHUS JAPONICUS. N.S. 
Nores.—F'rom Lew Chew. Total length, 15 inches. 
This very large Hemiramphus is not included in the Fauna Japonica, which contains but one 
Japanese species. In its general form and proportions it corresponds very nearly to the H. 
Commerson*? of the Histoire des Poissons, (vol. 19, p. 28,) but has not its four large lateral spots, 
nor is it of a greenish gray color. It.differs from the H. Russeli, (p. 32,) in having a more 
forked caudal, higher dorsal and anal, and in not having a red beak. Its beak is longer than 
that of the H. Quoyi, (p. 35,) but it resembles that species in having a deeply-forked caudal, 
and similar coloring, with the exception of the red beak. Bleecker, in his paper entitled 
“‘Bijdrage tot de kenniss der Snoekachtige Visschen, &c.,’’ does not describe any species 
comin nearer to it than those above mentioned. 
Its proportions, as taken from the drawing, are as follows: Tip of lower jaw to edge of 
opereles three times in the length from same point to centre of margin of caudal. Tip of upper 
jaw to edg of opercles half of last, or six times in total length. Height of head or body nine 
times, and rigin of dorsal to centre of caudal a little less than one-fifth of same. Origin of 
anal to do, one-seventh, and origin ventrals three and three-quarters in same. Lower lobe of 
caudal six and one-quarter times in same distance, and upper lobe nearly one-third shorter, and 
much narrower. Eye two anda half times in height of body. Head and beak strong and 
stout. Body of equal height as far as ventrals. Pectorals pointed, and equal to height of body 
in length. Ventrals with emarginate border, first and last rays of equal length. Dorsal with 
first rays nearly as long as height of body, with emarginate border, and last rays quite short. 
Anal commencing under middle of dorsal, and resembling it in form, but smaller. Caudal so 
deeply forked that it appears separated in two distinct lobes. Lower lobe longest and broadest, 
both pointed. The scales large, and appear to resemble those of H. Commersonii. 
Of a general bluish color, darkest on the back, and lighter below. A tinge of green on sides 
and upper lobe of caudal. A narrow stripe of green on middle of sides reaching from pectoral 
to caudal, with a broader stripe of pale silvery blue, tinged with greenish, bordering it on each 
side. Lower jaw dark indigo blue towards the tip, lighter towards the head. Fins all pale- 
bluish, caudal dark dusky blue. The scales on the back appear to have been darker on their 
margins. 
This fish may be found to come under one of the species already known, when specimens of 
it can be examined, but it appears in many respects to be a distinct species. A figure of it 
would have been given had it not at first been considered as the well known H. Commersonii. 
