194 Dr. A. Giinther on the Sea-devil (Lopliius piscatorius). 



to observation by the process of stuffing to which large speci- 

 mens are submitted. In consequence of this, the short-finned 

 Sea-devil has not been admitted as a species by Valenciennes, 

 Nilsson, and others, who, perhaps, never examined an individual 

 really belonging to it, always taking incomplete specimens of 

 L. piscatorius for L. budegassa. Both, however, may be readily 

 recognized, at any age, by the form of the humeral spine, which 

 has two or three tooth-like processes in the former, whilst, it is 

 smooth, simple, and lanceolate in the latter. L. budegassa does 

 not appear to grow to the same size as L. piscatorius. 



It will be evident from these remarks, to which of the two 

 species we refer the L. eurypterus. Although no mention has 

 been made of the form of the humeral spine, the number of its 

 fin-rays (D. 13, A. 11) and the absence of the true L. budegassa 

 in the northern seas prove its identity with L. piscatorius : this 

 is confirmed by my examination of the specimens in the Frank- 

 fort Museum. Dr. Riippell's figure makes a lengthened descrip- 

 tion unnecessary, and I add only the following comparative 

 notes : — 



Mature specimens. 



Head much depressed, its 

 length being nearly one-half of 

 the total. The distance of the 

 gill-opening from the base of 

 the caudal is two-fifths of the 

 total length. 



Pectorals rather stout, sub- 

 truncated, one-seventh of the 

 total length. 



Ventrals rather narrow, stout 

 and truncated, about one-ninth 

 of the total length. 



One or two of the dorsal rays 

 slightly fimbriated ; the first is 

 the longest, half as long as the 

 fish j the third shorter than the 

 second. 



Young specimens. 



Head moderately depressed, 

 its length being one-third of 

 the total. The distance of the 

 gill-opening from the base of 

 the caudal is rather more than 

 one-half of the total length. 



Pectorals very broad and 

 long, rounded, their length 

 being two-sevenths of the total ; 

 the middle rays produced into 

 long filaments. 



■ Ventrals exceedingly broad 

 and long — with the filaments 

 in which several of the rays 

 terminate as long as the fish. 



The four middle dorsal spines 

 with distinct tentacles; the 

 first is the shortest. 



The Prankfort specimens are greyish above; pectoral and 

 ventral fins black towards the margin ; filaments black. There 



