ii6 LEISURE-TIME STUDIES, 



somewhat elevated above the surface, this latter feature, as 

 we have observed, forming a remark of frequent occurrence 

 in sea-serpent tales. I found, on making inquiry into the 

 history of these fishes, that their serpentine form had struck 

 previous observers, but, as far as I could ascertain, their 

 merits as representatives of sea-serpents had never before 

 been so persistently advocated. 



These views and the dimensions of the specimen at 

 Newcastle, I communicated to the Scotsman and Courant 

 newspapers in June, 1876. The measurements of the 

 ribbon-fish at Newcastle are given as 12 feet 3 inches in 

 length, the greatest depth being n^ inches, and the 

 greatest thickness only 2^ inches; the small dimensions in 

 thickness, and the relatively long length and depth, giving 

 to these fishes the popular names of ribbon and tape-fishes. 

 The species was the well-known Gymnetrus or Regalecus 

 Banksii of naturalists ; and by the museum-attendant at 

 Newcastle, I was informed that a still larger specimen of the 

 same species was recently obtained off the Northumberland 

 coast, the length of this latter being 13^ feet ; the depth 

 15 inches, and the thickness 5 inches. These fishes possess 

 a greatly compressed body. The breast fins are very small, 

 and the ventral or belly fins are elongated and spine-like. 

 The first rays of the dorsal or back fin are very long, whilst 

 the fin itself extends the whole length of the back, and 

 attains an average breadth of about three inches. 



Curiously enough, the publication of these views regarding 

 the ribbon-fishes drew forth from the head of a well-known 

 firm of fish merchants in Edinburgh, a remarkable confirma- 

 tion of the idea that gigantic specimens of these fishes might 

 be occasionally developed. The gentleman in question 

 wrote to inform me that about thirty years ago he engaged 

 the smack Sovereign, of Hull, Baillie commander, to trawl in 

 the Frith of Forth for Lord Norbury, then residing at Elie 

 Lodge, Fifeshire. Whilst engaged in their trawling opera- 

 tions, the crew of the Sovereign captured a giant tape-fish, 

 which, when spread out at length on the deck, extended 



