1 Messrs. Hancock and Embleton on a Gymnetrus 
on the anterior part of the body so characteristic of our species, 
but is furnished with longitudinal rows of minute dusky spots, and 
has moreover three broad dusky bands across the posterior part 
of the body behind the anus, and its forehead is white ; it is also 
described as having teeth ; the crest also probably differs, if the 
figure given in the ‘ Encyclopédie Méthodique’ be correct ;. the 
dorsal fin is continued round the caudal extremity for a little 
distance along the ventral line, being somewhat elongated at the 
extremity, forming a kind of caudal fin. The gill-membrane has 
only four or five rays. Thus, though there is a striking general 
resemblance, there are several important points of distinction 
between the G. Ascanii and the G. Banksii. 
The other Norwegian species named G. Grillit (Lindroth, Nou- 
velles Mémoires de Stockholm, xix. pl. 8) is noticed in Griffith’s 
‘Cuvier’ as being 18 ft. long, and having upwards of 400 rays in 
the dorsal fin, and we conclude therefore that it also is distinct 
from our species*. 
Of the so-called Indian species, one, the Russellian, described 
as a probable variety in vol. iv. pt. 2 of Shaw’s ‘ Zoology,’ is only 
2 ft. 8 in. long, and has 320 rays in the dorsal fin, and differs in 
several other respects. 
The other is the Blochian Gymnetrus of Shaw, the G. Hawkenii 
of Bloch, the figures of which are incorrect. This however in all 
probability ought not to be considered as an Indian species. The 
history of it, as far as we can gather, is as follows :— 
It appears that on the 23rd February, 1788, a species of Gym- 
netrus was drawn on shore in a net at Newlyn in Cornwall, and 
all that is really known of it is obtained from a figure with notes 
which was in the possession of the late Mr. Chirgwin of Newlyn, 
who freely granted permission to Mr. Couch of Polperro to have 
a copy taken of it. Through the kindness of Mr. Couch we have 
been favoured with a reduced copy of the above figure made by 
Mr. Thomas Q. Couch ; and in the letter accompanying the draw- 
ing Mr. Couch states that Mr. Chirgwin assured him that his 
figure was the only true original, the fish having been drawn ashore 
not far from his house; that however they might differ, all 
other figures were copied from his, and that the note written on 
his figure is the only one originally made from the specimen. 
Mr. Couch further says, that he has no doubt, from cireum- 
stantial evidence, that the figure and account of the G. Hawkenii 
were communicated to Bloch by a Mr. John Hawkins, brother 
of the late Sir Christopher Hawkins, Bart. Mr. Hawkins him- 
self, as Mr. Couch concludes from Mr. Chirgwin’s remarks, did 
* We have since been informed by Mr. J. E. Gray that G. Grillii has the 
same number of rays and the same dark cross bands on the anterior part of 
the body as the Cullercoats fish. 
