366 Zoological N. Y, Zoological Society. [1;19 



a collection of rare things for show in Asakusa Park, Tokyo, 

 bought the fish and brought its skin to Tokyo to be stuffed, not- 

 withstanding many difficulties accompanying its enormous size 

 and ponderous weight. The external part is complete, except 

 the portion between the anal fin and the caudal. 



"The general appearance of the fish is very ugly, with the flat 

 and blunt head, straight, terminal mouth and the small eyes. 

 The skin is fine-grained, except five longitudinal smooth bands, 

 one dorsal median and two pairs lateral. The ventral lateral 

 band seems to be continuous to the keel on each side of the tail 

 (Fig. 118). 



"The eye is very small, situated at the sides of the head near 

 the margin of the colored portion of the head. The nictitating 

 membrane wanting. The spiracles are nearly the same in size 

 and are on the same level with the eyes. The nostrils are at 

 the anterior extremity of the head. They open at the labial 

 boundary of the mouth. 



"The mouth is nearly straight and opens at the anterior ex- 

 tremity of the head, too. A labial fold from the nostril to the 

 corner of the mouth on the upper jaw and a shorter one from 

 the corner of the mouth on the lower jaw. (Fig. 119.) 



"The gill openings are five in number and are very wide. The 

 second pair is widest and measures 86 cm. The last pair is 

 most narrow, it opens above the base of the pectoral fins, where 

 the body is very broad and high. The pectoral fins are large 

 and long. The first dorsal fin is inserted a little behind the 

 middle of the body. The second dorsal fin is very small. The 

 ventral fins are inserted below the first dorsal. The clasper is 

 simple, with a dorsal groove. The anal fin is very small. It is 

 just below the second dorsal. The caudal fin is large and lunate. 

 Its ventral lobe is well developed. 



"The color is greyish-brown, with white round spots and 

 transverse bands, but the ventral side is colorless. The white 

 round spots are small and crowded near the anterior end of the 

 body, but become gradually larger and fewer backwards. The 

 caudal fin, the second dorsal, the ventrals and the anal, are 

 destitute of white markings. 



"The stuffed animal now measures 800 cm. in length and 365 

 cm. in circumference, behind the pectorals. Mr. Oseko tells me 



