8838 The Zoologist — January, 1874. 



should such prove to be the case I propose to publish it as Lefroyia Ber- 

 mudeusis, iu coraplimeut to the gallant officer to whom I am indebted for 

 the specimen. 



Description. — Total length rather more than four inches and a half. 

 Greatest depth at the vertical of the pectorals three lines and a half. The 

 length of the head is slightly more than one-seventh of the total length. 

 The greatest width of the head is rather less than one-third of its length. 

 Body naked, attenuate, compressed. Facial outline rugose. Eye moderate ; 

 horizontal diameter of eye-cup one line and three-fourths ; vertical diameter 

 one line and one-fourth. Gape of mouth wide. Lower jaw shorter and 

 received within the upper. Cardiform teeth of irregular size in both jaws, 

 vomer and palatines ; those of the latter largest. Branchiostegals seven, 

 inflated, united below. Vent thoracic. Pectorals originating at the upper 

 angle of the operculum, three lines iu extent, and composed of very delicate 

 soft rays. Dorsal indistinct, commencing in a groove about the vertical of 

 the twentieth anal ray, continuous to caudal extreme, where, in conjunction 

 with the anal, it forms a small filamentous tip. Anal prominent, com- 

 mencing immediately behind the vent in advance of the vertical of the 

 upper angle of the operculum, and extending to the caudal extreme. About 

 its centre it is equal iu depth to that of the body at the same position. 

 Owing to the delicate texture of the fins, it is impossible to ascertain for a 

 certainty the number of rays, but those of the anal exceed one hundred and 

 forty. Colour wheu dried out of spirits golden yellow ; the body transparent, 

 showing the vertebrce within, a condition, according to General Lefroy, 

 equally observable in life. — J. Matthew Jones. 



Spawning of Flyiug-fish. — In some interesting notes on flying-fish in the 

 October ' Zoologist,' by Mr. Gervase F. Mathew (Zool. S. S. 3737), he asks 

 if it is known where these fish deposit their spawn ? On this point I am 

 happy to be able to supply some information, as I had an opportunity of 

 observing them some years ago when at the Chincha Islands, on the coast 

 of Peru. They made their appearance about the last week in March, and 

 the water round the rocks was alive with them, the numerous fissures and 

 crevices seeming all too few for their requirements. Looking down thi-ough 

 the clear water, we could see a moving mass struggliug for places, and 

 respecting a long narrow rift, one of our sailors remarked that it was "just 

 like the pit entrance on boxing-night." At first we used to take them with 

 the "granes" alongside the ship ; but we soon found this exertion was totally 

 unnecessary, as enough for all hands could be taken with the hand from 

 the fissures in the rocks : a few were also to be found every morning jammed 

 iu between the rudder and the post. I am well aware that it is not the 

 "correct thing" to eat fish of any kind when spawning; but sailors are not 

 fastidious, nor have those who pay fifteen shillings a couple for woodcocks 

 in March and April, when they are breeding, any right to throw stones. 



