288 ZOOLOGY. 



THE LUMINOUS SCOPELUS. 

 (Scopelus Stellatus, N. Sp.) 



This is the luminous fish noticed in the Narrative, 

 as having occurred to us so abundantly in lat. 43 

 S., Pacific Ocean. The average length of the species 

 is about three inches; the body compressed; head 

 large and blunt ; mouth capacious ; the lower jaw pro- 

 trudes beyond the upper, and both are provided 

 with teeth. There is no evident tongue, but in its 

 place, a bundle of black rigid fibres, sent off from the 

 bones that support the gills. Eyes large; iris silvery; 

 branchiostegous rays, eight; pectoral fins compara- 



tively long, slender and curved; dorsal placed near 

 the centre of the back. All these fins have numerous 

 slender branched rays, and are spotted with gray. On 

 the back, near the tail, there is a small transparent and 

 elastic appendage, which may, perhaps, be considered 

 an adipose fin. 



The scales covering the body are large, very com- 

 pactly placed, and of a metallic-white hue, Those on 

 the lateral line are larger and more prominent than the 

 others, and are arranged in the peculiar manner repre- 

 sented in the above sketch.* A row of small circular 



* The scales covering the body generally, were so easily detached by 

 handling the fish, as well as by the net in which the specimens were 

 taken, that no correct idea of their normal appearance could be conveyed 



