PISHES. 289 



depressions, resembling the marks on dice, each sil- 

 vered within and surrounded by a narrow black zone, 

 occupies the margin of the abdomen and side of the 

 tail ; and similar depressions are also more irregularly 

 scattered over other parts of the under surface of 

 the body. The head is covered with large scales, or 

 plates. These last, as well as the scales covering the 

 body, and more especially the depressions on the ab- 

 domen and tail, (and which appeared like stars,) shone 

 with a brilliant phosphorescent light while the fish 

 was alive, but lost this power immediately after death. 

 The examples we captured had their stomach distended 

 with pelagic shrimps. 



As well as for much other valuable assistance, I am 

 indebted to that erudite naturalist, Lieutenant-Colonel 

 C. H. Smith, for a knowledge of the family of fishes to 

 which this species is allied. 



by the pencil. Rays of the dorsal fin, about twenty-three ; ventral, 

 thirteen. 



VOL. II. U 



