1868.] LETTER FROM MR. E. L. LAYARD. 321 



the Society, a description, together with some sketches by my friend 

 j\Ir. D. Krynauw, of a fine Gymnetrus, which came ashore alive on 

 the beach at Pappendorp, a little below Cape Town, in Table Bay, 

 a few days ago. 



"The extreme length was 10' 2", breadth 1' 2", thickness 2|" ; 

 height of back fin 2k" ; length of ventral fins 3' 8", of filaments on 

 head 2' 1", pectoral fin 3", from vent to end of body 4' 9"; head 

 and mouth extended 11"; body just across the vent 10". Ends of 

 ventral fins broadly spatulate ; the whole fin furnished with a narrow 

 membrane on the upper side, which at about two-thirds of the 

 length rose up into a triangular-shaped peak. The filaments on the 

 head were also slightly spatulate. I take them to be modifications 

 of the dorsal fin, and as such I shall write of them. First dorsal 

 long and strongest ; second, third, fourth, and fifth thinner, and 

 joined to the first by a thin membrane of a light pink colour with dark 

 pink spots on it ; sixth longest of all ; seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, 

 eleventh, and twelfth graduated, smaller from the sixth, and only 

 united at their bases by a thin membrane. The proper dorsal ex- 

 tended from the shoulder to near the end of the body (as shown in the 

 figure, p..320), the body then sloped away to the tail, which was want- 

 ing, the end vertebra being exposed, having been apparently bitten 

 off; it was, however, very minute, and could only have supported a 

 very small tail — probably a single filament. The general colour 

 was white silvered over. There was a streak ou the back, 3^" wide, 

 of a pale blue black ; and in this were the chief markings. The first 

 third was striped with rather dark streaks, the last two-thirds with 

 blotches of bluish brown. The parts just below the edge of the 

 gill-covers black. Dorsal fin (including long filaments) rich pink 

 vermilion, changing into orange at the base of last third of the 

 length ; ventral fins also of the same colour, the spatulate ends very 

 dark. Eye white, with black centre, total diam. I|". Medial line 

 raised and strongly marked. Four rows of slighly raised small dusky 

 specks ran the whole length of the body. Scales none. Teeth none. 

 Mouth opening and shutting like the hood of a phaeton ! Gill- 

 covers hard bony plates ; sides of the mouth the same. Sex $ . 

 On opening the fish to preserve it, it was found full of spawn from 

 the head to the vent. This consisted of clear transparent globules, 

 not unlike frog-spawn, but without the black dot. The stomach about 

 1' long, and a simple bag full of some yellow matter. The day 

 after its capture the flesh was so decomposed (though not offensive) 

 that it resembled slime. Near the tail was a gash extending across 

 the body, and part of the dorsal fin had been bitten away. Skin 

 very thin and tender. 



" This specimen was seen by some boys to run ashore on the 

 beach ; they immediately informed a zealous friend of the Museum, 

 Mr. Adams of Pappendorp, who at once secured it, and laying 

 it on a long plank had it brought to me ; it was, however, dead 

 when it reached me. Its colours soon faded out, and it is now 

 nearly white. Mr. Adams says that in dying it exhibited iridescent 

 hues. 



Proc. Zool. Soc— 1868, No. XXI. 



