FISHES. 269 



In the Pacific Ocean and Indian Archipelago, the 

 species occurred to us from lat. 3 to 29 N., and from 

 the Equator to 9 S. ; and no where in such great 

 abundance as in the Straits of Timor. In the Atlantic 

 we captured one individual, in lat. 24 N. 



The only species of Leptocephalus, hitherto known, 

 is L. Morrisii, found on the coast of Anglesea. The 

 description and figure given of it, leads me to think that 

 it accords very closely with the exotic species we ob- 

 tained. Size, geographical distribution, and some few 

 other peculiarities noticeable in the tropical specimens, 

 as above described, may induce us to suspect a dif- 

 ference, although it is difficult to detect sufficient specific 

 distinctions in animals of so anomalous a structure. 



It is impossible to preserve specimens of this fish in 

 any kind of spirit ; for, when thus prepared, they in- 

 variably become opaque,, swell to an unnatural size, 

 and ultimately burst and fall into a flaccid state. I 

 succeeded in bringing several examples to England, in 

 a very complete state of preservation, by putting them 

 into a saturated solution of sea-salt, alum, and nitre 

 a solution which answers well, also, for the preservation 

 of pellucid and delicate molluscs. 



HEMIRAMPHUS ARGENTEUS. 



This fish is chiefly remarkable for possessing a pro- 

 longation of the lower jaw, in the form of a slender, 



