GEN. HEMIRAMPHUS. THE HALF- BEAK. 105 



spring to the height of several feet, leap over each 

 other in singular confusion, and again sink beneath. 

 Still further urged, they mount again and rush along 

 the surface, by repeated starts, for more than a 

 hundred feet, without once dipping beneath, or 

 scarcely seeming to touch the water. At last the 

 pursuer springs after them, usually across their 

 course ; and again they all disappear together. 

 Some must fall a prey to the enemy ; but as many 

 hunt in company, it must be long before the pur- 

 suit is abandoned/' (A pud Yarrell.) 



Gen. LXII. HEMIRAMPHUS. This genus is cha- 

 racterised by small teeth in both jaws, the upper one 

 being very short, the lower long, prolonged into a 

 semi-beak which is without teeth : in other respects 

 it resembles the genus Belone. It abounds in tro- 

 pical seas; but, with the exception of the young 

 fry, no specimen has been seen, according to Mr. 

 Yarrell, in the Mediterranean, the Channel, nor the 

 Northern Seas; and Dr. Richardson affirms that 

 none have been detected on the shores of North 

 America. Is the statement of Mr. Mudie, that a 

 stray individual is occasionally met with on the 

 shores of England, nothing more than an inference ? 

 (Late English edit, of Regne Animal.) 



(Sp. 120.) H. Europceus. The European Hemi- 

 ramphus or Half- beak has very properly been intro- 

 duced conditionally into our scientific catalogue by 

 Mr. Yarrell, upon the authority of Mr. Couch, 

 who met with this small fish (Linn. Transactions, 

 vol. xiv.); and upon a communication sent to 



