954 Bulletin 47, United States National Museum. 



depressible in a groove ; ventral fins thoracic, but behind the pectorals, 

 attached to a very long pubic bone, composed of 14 to 17 soft rays ; pec- 

 toral fins large, falcate, their bases horizontal; caudal fin moderately 

 forked, its peduncle short and slender, without keel. A pit at base of 

 caudal, above and below, as in certain sharks. Lateral line present, 

 much arched in front. Branchiostegals 6. Gill membranes free from the 

 isthmus. (Esophagus not armed with spinous teeth,. Air bladder large, 

 bifurcate behind. Pyloric appendages very numerous. Vertebrae 45. 

 Hypocoracoid very much dilated as in Brama, the entire shoulder girdle 

 very heavy ; the pubic bone much longer than in Brama. Fishes of 

 large size and gorgeous coloration, inhabiting the open seas, the flesh 

 firm and rich. A single genus with probably but one species. It resem- 

 bles the tunnies in the character of the flesh, but the form is very differ- 

 ent, and the character of the anal fins separates it widely from all the 

 mackerel-like fishes. It is not certain that it really belongs with the 

 Scombroidei. (Scombridw, genus Lampris, Giinther, Cat., n, 415, 416, 1860.) 



434. LAMPRIS, Retzius. 

 (MARIPOSA.) 



Lampris, RETZITTS, Nya Handlung, in, 91, 1799, (gtMatus). 

 Chrysolosus, LACPEDE, Hist. Nat. Poiss., iv, 586, 1802, (lima). 



Characters of the genus included above. The single species is cosmo- 

 politan, most beautifully colored, and unsurpassed as food, the flesh rich, 

 firm, and delicate. (Aa//7rp6f, radiant.) 



1354. LAMPRIS LUNA* (Gmelin). 



(MARIPOSA ; OPAH ; MOONFISTI ; SAN PEDRO FISH ; CRAVO ; JERUSALEM HADDOCK ; GLANCE 

 FISH ; GUDLAX ; POISSON LUNE.) 



Head 3ij depth If. D. 53 to 55; A. 38 to 41; V. 14 to 17; vertebra 

 23 + 22 = 45. Body short and very deep, the sides much compressed. 

 Mouth toothless. Longest dorsal ray shorter than pectorals, which are 

 nearly as long as the head. Anal very low in front, a little higher 

 behind. Color a rich brocade of silver and lilac, rosy on the belly j 

 everywhere with round silvery spots; head, opercles, and back with 

 ultramarine tints; jaws and fins vermilion ; flesh red, of varying shades. 

 Skeleton strong and firm. Length 3 to 6 feet. Open waters of the 

 Atlantic and Pacific, frequently taken off the Coasts of Europe ; not 

 rare off Madeira, occasionally taken off Newfoundland, Maine, and Cuba, 

 also at Monterey and other places in California. Our specimen is from 

 Monterey. One of the choicest of fishes, the flesh rich, firm, and of deli- 

 cate flavor, (luna, moon.) (Eu.) 



* We have before us a drawing of a specimen of Lampris lima made at Sable Island by James 

 Farquhar in 1856, and sent with an accompanying letter to Dr. J. Bernard Gilpin of Halifax. 

 Mr. Farquhar writes: " Just imagine the body a beautiful silver, interspersed with spots of a 

 lighter color about the size of a sixpence, the eyes very large and brilliant, with a golden ring 

 around them. You will then have some idea of the splendid appearance of the fish when fresh. 

 If Caligula had seen him I might have realized a fortune. 



