

68 Miscellaneous. 



muzzle equal to about three and a half times the length of the cepha- 

 lic portion. This suspensorium, so far as we can ascertain, is com- 

 posed of only two pieces — a basal piece, the analogue of the tem- 

 poral, and an external piece, no doubt representing a tympano-jugal. 

 A long slender style constitutes the upper jaw, the situation of 

 which must make us regard it as the intermaxillary, the maxillary 

 being absent, unless we suppose that the two bones are amalga- 

 mated. On both jaws one can feel faint dentary granulations ; at 

 the extremity of 'the mandible there are two hooked teeth, 0'002 

 metre long. 



The buccal aperture, in consequence of this arrangement, is 

 enormous, and it leads into a cavity the dimensions of which are 

 still more astonishing. In fact the upper jaw is united to the sides 

 of the head and of the anterior portions of the body by an extensible 

 cutaneous fold, which allows of a considerable separation; further, 

 between the rami of the mandible is stretched an analogous cuta- 

 neous membrane, but much more extensible, and which histological 

 examination shows to contain a great quantity of elastic fibres in 

 bundles : it cannot be compared to any thing better than to the 

 well-known pouch of the pelican. In consequence of this separation 

 of the jaws and the extensibility of the membranes, the mouth, 

 with the pharynx, forms in the fresh animal avast funnel, of which 

 the body of the fish seems to be the narrow continuation. It is 

 presumable that the food collects in this pouch, and is perhaps 

 partly digested there, a fact comparable to what has been indicated 

 in Chiasmodus niger, Johnson. 



The respiratory apparatus presents a constitution which is at 

 present unique in osseous fishes. We find six pairs of interior bran- 

 chial clefts, and consequently five branchiae. Each of the latter is 

 formed by a double series of free lamella*. The escape of the water 

 takes place on each sido through a very small orifice, forming a 

 simple rounded cutaneous perforation situated towards the level of 

 the termination of the bucco -pharyngeal funnel. We find neither 

 hyoidean apparatus nor opercular pieces. 



Without entering into the description of the organs contained in 

 the abdominal cavity, it is important to indicate the complete ab- 

 sence of the swimming-bladder. 



I propose to designate this fish by the name of Eurypharyms 

 pelecanoides. What place is it to occupy in the ichthyological 

 series ? This is a very difficult point to settle in the absence of 

 more complete information as to its anatomy, and especially as to 

 the skeleton, which it is impossible to examine in all its details upon 

 a unique individual. 



We may say that the fish presents relations with the Anacanthini, 

 with certain Physostomi, such as the Scopelidae and Stomiatida), and 

 also with the Apodes. While it resembles these last in the want of 

 ventral fins and the imperfection of the opercular apparatus, it dif- 

 fers from them too much in its well-developed and absolutely tree 

 intermaxillaries to allow it to be placed in the same group. As re- 

 gards the Scopelidae and Stomiatida), all the known genera in those 



