6 Messrs. Hancock and Embleton on a Gymnetrus 
dorsal fin and not a separate structure, though it is probable 
enough that the ends of its rays may have been for some distance 
free and even furnished with a membrane on their posterior mar- 
gin widening to the top, giving them the appearance of peacocks’ 
feathers as asserted by the fishermen. This probability is height- 
ened by the fact of the head of the Gymnetrus from the Cornish 
coast being provided with two long rays having broad membra- 
nous expansions at their ends, which would justify a casual ob- 
server in comparing them in form to the above feathers. It is 
not unlikely besides that the second, third, fourth and fifth rays, 
on account of their resemblance in delicacy to the ordinary fin- 
rays, may have terminated differently from the rest. The rays 
having been broken, we cannot say of ourselves whether they 
were uniform in size or not; but from what we have learnt by 
questioning those who saw the fish, we conclude that the middle 
rays were the longest, those in front and behind them gradually 
decreasing in length. The rays of the crest are more closely set 
generally than those of the rest of the dorsal fin, which stand 
about half an inch apart. Exclusive of the crest there are 268 
rays in the dorsal fin. They termimate in fine pomts that pro- 
ject a little beyond the margin of the very delicate connecting 
membrane. This membrane was colourless according to the 
fishermen, but was bordered by a pale red when we observed it. 
The rays of the back are highest about the middle of the fish, 
where they measure upwards of 3} in., and at the termination of 
the fin are about | in. in height. 
From the end of the fin the dorsal margin slopes rather rapidly 
downwards to within about an inch of the ventral margin, and is 
then prolonged to a rounded point at the caudal extremity. There 
is no caudal fin. The skin at this part, it is true, was broken, but 
on pressing together the broken edges they seemed to leave no 
hiatus. The fishermen persisted that the part was at first entire, 
and that there was no appendage whatever. At a distance from 
this point of about 2 inches along the ventral margin there exists 
a shallow notch. Both the margins of the fish at this part are 
very thin. On carefully inspecting the surface of the body, some- 
thing like a series of transverse marks corresponding to the 
bodies of the vertebree can be discerned, and the number of these 
has from this appearance been roughly estimated at about 110. 
The pectoral fins are placed close behind the gill-covers, and 
much nearer to the ventral margin than to the lateral line, which 
is at least half an inch above the points of the rays of the fins ; 
these fins are colourless, delicate, subtriangular, and the longest 
rays measure 2 inches. They are eleven in number and a good 
deal arched. 
The ventral fins are represented: by a pair of yery strong and 
