162 PISCES. 



particular, are but very slightly indurated, their stomach is elon- 

 gated, and their caeca are very numerous; the natatory bladder is 

 wanting, and their mucous flesh is very rapidly decomposed. 



Several species are found in the European seas which differ in the 

 number of their dorsal rays, and which when entire, that is when 

 young, frequently present a most singular appearance from the pro- 

 longation of their fins. 



The most brilliant of the Mediterranean species has but from 

 one hundred and forty to a hundred and fifty dorsal rays: it has 

 only been seen small, or of a moderate size. Another has from 

 a hundred and seventy to a hundred and seventy-five, specimens 

 of which are found in cabinets, from four to five feet in length. 

 A third has more than two hundred of these rays, and is more 

 than seven feet in length. 



The Arctic ocean produces two species, called in Norway the 

 King of the Herrings;(l) one of which is said by some to have 

 one hundred and twenty rays, and by others one hundred and 

 sixty, and to attain the length of ten feet; the other has more 

 than four hundred rays, and is eighteen feet in length. (2) The 

 ventrals consist of a long filament dilated near the extremity. 

 They are also found in India.(3) 



CHTPTERUS, and which has become the Cepola trachyptera, Gmel., only differs from 

 the Tsenia altera of Rondel., 327, and even from his Taenia prima, which is the 

 Cepola tscnia, L., and from the Spada maxima, Imperati, 517, or Cepola gladius of 

 Walbaum, and from the Taenia falcata, Aldrov., or Cepola iris of Walbaum, in the 

 various degrees of individual mutilation. It is the same with respect to the Vogmar 

 of the Icelanders of Olafsen and Powelsen, Isl., tr. fr., pi. li, or Gymnogaster arcti' 

 cus of Brunnich, Soc. Scient. Copenh., Ill, pi. xiii, which is the genus Bogmarus, 

 Bl., Schn.; with respect to the Gymnetre cepedien, Risso. Ed. I, pi. v, f. 17; to the 

 Argyctius quadrimaculatus, Rafin. Caratt., I, f. 3, to his Scarcina quadrimaculata 

 and imperialis; to the Gymnetrus mediterraneus of Otto; to tlie Epidesmus macula- 

 ius of Ranzani, Opusc. Scientif. Fascic, "VIII, and to the Regalecus maculatus of 

 Narde, Phys. Journ., Pavia, VIII, pi. i, f 1 . All these fishes hardly differ in spe- 

 cies and not in the least as to genus. BonneUi's specimen was the least mutilated: 

 he calls it Trachypterus cristatus, Acad. Turin, XXIV, pi. ix. 



(1) It is the Regalecus glesne, Ascanius, Ic, Fasc. II, pi. xi, which he afterwai-ds 

 named Ophidium glesne, Mem. Soc. Scient. Copenh., Ill, p. 419, or the Regalicus 

 remipes, Brunnich, lb. pi. B, f 4 and 5. Bloch., Syst, pi. 88, copies and alters the 

 figure of Ascanius. A better copy is, Encycl. Method-!, f. 358. 



(2) Gymnetrus Grillii, Lindroth, New Stockh. Mem., XIX, pi. vili. 



(3) Gymnetrus Russelii, Shaw, IV, part. II, page 195, pi. 28. 



Add the Gymnetrus Hawkenii, if the figure be correct; but the Regaleclanciole, 

 or Ophidic chinoise, Lacep., I, xxii, 3, or the Gymnetrus cepedianus, Shaw, does 

 not belong to this genus. 



