1863.] MARINE FISHES OBTAINED AT MADEIRA. 405 



rather shorter than the dorsal fin ; their terminations are in the same 

 vertical. The rays seem to be of the same structure, with spinous 

 edges, but it seems not to have been higher in front. The pectoral fin 

 is rather long (about one-third of the total length), rounded at the tip, 

 and inserted belove the middle of the height on a level with the bot- 

 tom of the opercle. The first ray is less than one-third of the second ; 

 the fourth ray is slightly the longest ; the rays begin to shorten 

 rapidly with the seventh. All except the first two are branched, and 

 these are denticulate on their anterior edges. Several of the others 

 are also denticulate at the sides. The thoracic ventral fins are placed 

 slightly behind the root of the pectoral fins. They reach back at 

 least as far as the commencement of the anal fin, but are apparently 

 not elongate. Some of the rays have denticulate edges. At the 

 upper base of each fin there is a free white ovate appendage of bone, 

 nearly seven times as long as wide, resembling in shape the wings 

 of some insects. The surface is obliquely striate, and the sharp 

 edge of the anterior margin is set with a few distant minute teeth. 

 At its base there is a small process directed backwards. The vent 

 is in front of the middle of the total length, and the anal fin begins 

 immediately behind it. The tail is compressed, and a little longer 

 than high. The caudal fin is forked. 



There is no lateral line. A series of about sixty scales may be 

 counted between the opercle and the caudal fin, and about fifty in 

 the height. 



The individual was obtained in the month of January. The ver- 

 tical fins appeared to have suffered damage, and nothing can be 

 positively asserted in regard to certain points which it is desirable 

 to know, such as the height and outline, and the structure of the 

 rays. Neither could it be ascertained whether they had been covered 

 with scales ; but it may perhaps be inferred from the spinous sides 

 of the rays that this had not been the case. The rays of the ventral 

 fins seemed to be ten ; but whether these were really only five rays 

 split to their bases I could not make out with any degree of certainty. 

 No connecting membrane was to be seen between the first five spines 

 of the dorsal fin, but it may have been removed by accident. The 

 fish had fed on animal food. 



The following table shows the dimensions of the principal parts 

 of the specimen which has been sent to the British Museum : — 



inches. 

 Total length (caudal fin somewhat mutilated) .... Sy^^ 



Length to commencement of tail 2^*'^ 



Height 2j3j^ 



Thickness at shoulder ^a 



Head, length ly^ 



Mouth-cleft, depth ^ 



, width, nearly j^ 



Premaxillary, length yjs 



Maxillary, width of lower end -j^^- 



Eye, diameter i% 



Opercle, height 1 



