172 MR. J. Y. JOHNSON ON NEW GENERA AND SPECIES [June 10, 



half the length of the first ray of the first dorsal ; it falls about the 

 middle, and then rises again, its termination being prolonged and 

 pointed. The specimen has been wounded in the back during its 

 life, and, though the wound has healed, a few (but probably not 

 more than two or three) of the rays have been carried away. The 

 remaining rays are forty-eight in number. None of the dorsal or 

 anal fins are fleshy, neither are there any scales upon them. The 

 pectoral fins are inserted a little in front of the first dorsal, and 

 rather above the middle of the height ; their apices are pointed, and 

 they are of moderate length, reaching back beyond the commence- 

 ment of the anal fin. The jugular ventral fins are forked, the longer 

 division becoming filiform and reaching back considerably beyond 

 the commencement of the anal fin, and a little beyond the tips of 

 the pectoral fins. These fins are longer than the head, and, compared 

 with the total length of the fish, they are as 1 to 3|. The difference 

 between the lengths of the two divisions of the ray is to the length 

 of the longer as 1 to 4^. The vent is surrounded by a black ring, 

 and is placed under the fourth ray of the second dorsal fin. The 

 anal fin commences under the seventh or eighth ray of the second 

 dorsal fin. It is highest in front ; at the middle it falls in, and then 

 ends a short distance in front of the second dorsal with an acute 

 prolongation. The caudal fin is truncate, and rather n;ore than a 

 ninth of the total length. The tail is much compressed and atte- 

 nuate. The lateral line is a groove that forks above the opercle. 

 After the junction of the divisions it rises a little, and then falls gra- 

 dually ; but under the anterior portion of the second dorsal fin there 

 is a rapid descent, after which it is straight along the tail. 



The single example on which this species has been founded was 

 taken near Madeira, in the month of March, and is now in the 

 British Museum. Its dimensions, expressed in inches, are given in 

 the following table : — 



Total length 14| 



Height under first dorsal 3^ 



Thickness near base of pectorals 2 



Head H 



Eye, diameter o 



Mouth, width from side to side 1-| 



Barbel, length |^ 



First dorsal fin, distance from snout S^-^j 



, length of first ray 2^ 



, length of second ray l-,^^ 



— , length of last ray 



_7 

 I 



, base of fin yV 



Second dorsal, distance from first dorsal A 



, length of base 8^ 



, height in front 1 Y% 



Pectorals, distance from snout 4 



, length 2 J^- 



-, width of base yli 



Ventrals, distance from tip of mandible, mouth open 2j\ 

 , length . 4 



