1886.] ON THE CHARACTERS OF RHINOCEROS SIMUS. 143 



Affinities. — Linophryne lucifer belongs to the family Ceratiidee, 

 and resembles Melanoeetus johnsonii, Glinth. (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1864, 

 p. 301) in several particulars, viz. that only one single spine in the 

 first dorsal is developed (the nasal tentacle), in the enormous mouth, 

 the almost square head, as well as in its small size, its black and 

 smooth skin, and pendent abdominal cavity, besides in its having 

 2\ pairs of gills and unarmed branchial arches; but it differs from this 

 species by the formation of its teeth, the oblique mouth, its 

 rudimentary gill-openings, its short and thick nasal tentacle, in 

 the number of its fin-rays, the spiny armature of its head, and its 

 comparatively well-developed eye. 



It differs from all the OeratiidcB in its having a long guttural 

 tentacle, also in the low number of rays in its second dorsal and 

 anal fins. 



Locality. — A single specimen, with a total length of 49 millim., 

 was caught by Capt. P. Andresen in May 1877 floating in the sea 

 (about 36° north latitude, 20° west longitude) 3° N.W. of Madeira, 

 and was presented to the Museum of the Christiania University. 

 During several years it remained unnoticed in the private house of 

 the late Director of the Museum, Prof. Esmark, but after his death 

 it was returned to the Museum (December 1885). 



Mr. Andresen, who is now residing in Christiania, reports to me 

 that on the day mentioned he was on a voyage to the West Indies. 

 He was capturing turtle in his boat ; there was a heavy swell, but 

 the water was smooth. After a time he caught sight of this little 

 black fish, which lay on the surface quite alive, but almost motion- 

 less, which was not surprising when it was discovered that it had 

 just swallowed a fish longer than itself. It did not lie on its side, 

 but was apparently unable to swim away. By getting the bailer 

 under it, he lifted it out with ease, and in order to keep it fresh he 

 gave up his search for turtle and rowed back to the ship, where it 

 was placed in spirit for preservation. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE XV. 



Fig. 1. Full view of Linophryne lucifer, f . 



2. Fi-ont view of head, showing open mouth. 



3. Guttural tentacle, f . 



2. Note on the External Characters of Rhinoceros simus. 

 By P. L. ScLATER, M.A., F.R.S., Secretary to the 

 Society. 



[Eeceived February 24, 1886.] 



(Plate XVI.) 



The heads of the two African Rhinoceroses exhibited by Mr. E. 

 Gerrard, Jun., at the last meeting of the Society, and again placed 

 on the table this night by Mr. Gerrard's kind permission, have 



