124 EXCURSIONS IN MADEIRA 



Linnaeus '. Besides these I had the opportunity of determining 

 the cori/phcena novacula, mullus surmuletus, a cJmtodon *, and a zeus, 

 belonging to Cuvier's first division of that genus, but wanting the 

 long filaments behind the dorsal spine of the zeus faber ; and of 

 a brilliant red colour". A dead flying-fish was brought to me, 

 which most resembled the exocetus exiliens, but differed from it in 

 the length of the ventral fins, which, instead of reaching to the 

 caudal, only extended to the middle of the anal ; the proportionate 

 size of the air-bladder was smaller than in other species, being 

 only half the length of the fish, or seven inches by 0.3 ; the 

 pectoral fins were 8i inches long, and furnished with considerably 

 larger nerves than the ventral. The fish having been some hours 

 out of the water, it was impossible to determine whether there 

 was an orifice at the anterior termination of the air-bladder or 

 not \ All the fishes I have mentioned are very good eating, 



Its native name denotes, that it is found in deep waters. The first dorsal has eleven 

 spines ; the second ten rays ; the caudal twenty-four ; the anal twelve ; the ventral six, 

 and one spine ; and the pectoral sixteen rays. It is of a beautiful silvery colour, 

 slightly tinged with a yellowish red ; on tlie middle of the back it is of a brownish 

 violet. Its length, with the muzzle extended, is 7^ inches. 



' E-sox Sphyrcena. It is said to be eatable only in the autumn, having a coppery 

 taste at other seasons. 



' ChcBtodon Leachii, B. It has a broad row of small teeth in the upper and under 

 jaw. The dorsal fin has nine spines and fifteen or sixteen rays ; the caudal seventeen ; 

 the anal nine, and one spine ; the ventral five rays and one spine ; the pectorals six- 

 teeen rays ; but all are so fleshy that it is difficult to reckon them. The preoperculum 

 is slightly toothed at the angle, and the operculum bears a spine. It is in every 

 respect coloured like a tench, with the addition of some confused hght gray spots. 

 The scales are small, and the dorsal line is very obscure. It is called shern. 



" Zeus Childrenii, B. 



' The length of this fish, from the end of the jaws to the fork of the caudal fin, is 

 14 inches, and to the tip of the lower lobe of the same fin 21i ; the dorsal fin has 

 twelve rays, and is 2| inches long ; the caudal has ten distinct rays on each outer side 

 of the fork, and the intermediate space is filled up by a number of small fine rays ; the 

 anal (2| inches long) has nine rays ; the ventral (4.^ inches long) has six, branching 



