12 Messrs. Hancock and Embleton on a Gymnetrus 



on the anterior part of the body so characteristic of our species, 

 but is furnished with longitudinal rows of minute dusky spots, and 

 has moreover three broad dusky bands across the posterior part 

 of the body behind the anus, and its forehead is white j it is also 

 described as having teeth ; the crest also probably differs, if the 

 figure given in the ' Encyclopedic Methodique ' be correct ; the 

 dorsal fin is continued round the caudal extremity for a little 

 distance along the ventral line, being somewhat elongated at the 

 extremity, forming a kind of caudal fin. The gill-membrane has 

 only four or five rays. Thus, though there is a striking general 

 resemblance, there are several important points of distinction 

 between the G. Ascanii and the G. Banksii. 



The other Norwegian species named G. Grillii (Lindroth, Nou- 

 velles Memoires de Stockholm, xix. pi. 8) is noticed in Griffith's 

 ' Cuvier \ as being 18 ft. long, and having upwards of 400 rays in 

 the dorsal fin, and we conclude therefore that it also is distinct 

 from our species*. 



Of the so-called Indian species, one, the Russellian, described 

 as a probable variety in vol. iv. pt. 2 of Shaw's ' Zoology/ is only 

 2 ft. 8 in. long, and has 320 rays in the dorsal fin, and differs in 

 several other respects. 



The other is the Blochian Gymnetrus of Shaw, the G. Hawkenii 

 of Bloch, the figures of which are incorrect. This however in all 

 probability ought not to be considered as an Indian species. The 

 history of it, as far as we can gather, is as follows : — 



It appears that on the 23rd February, 1788, a species of Gym- 

 netrus was drawn on shore in a net at Newlyn in Cornwall, and 

 all that is really known of it is obtained from a figure with notes 

 which was in the possession of the late Mr. Chirgwin of Newlyn, 

 who freely granted permission to Mr. Couch of Polperro to have 

 a copy taken of it. Through the kindness of Mr. Couch we have 

 been favoured with a reduced copy of the above figure made by 

 Mr. Thomas Q. Couch ; and in the letter accompanying the draw- 

 ing Mr. Couch states that Mr. Chirgwin assured him that his 

 figure was the only true original, the fish having been drawn ashore 

 not far from his house ; that however they might differ, all 

 other figures were copied from his, and that the note written on 

 his figure is the only one originally made from the specimen. 

 Mr. Couch further says, that he has no doubt, from circum- 

 stantial evidence, that the figure and account of the G. Hawkenii 

 were communicated to Bloch by a Mr. John Hawkins, brother 

 of the late Sir Christopher Hawkins, Bart. Mr. Hawkins him- 

 self, as Mr. Couch concludes from Mr. Chirgwin's remarks, did 



* We have since been informed by Mr. J. E. Gray that G. Grillii has the 

 same number of rays and the same dark cross bands on the anterior part of 

 the body as the Cullercoats fish. 



