280 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



48. BELONE GIGANTEA. 



Belone gigantea, T. and S. Faun. Jap., p. 245. 



PLATE V:I. fig. 2. Reduced. 



Notes. — From Leiv Chew. Life size, 46 inches. 



This species is not figured in the Fauna Japonica, so that the rough figure herewith published 

 may prove interesting. Messrs. Temminckand Schlegel seem to feel confident that it is distinct 

 from the Indian species. It is said to attain a length of twelve feet. 



49. HEMIRAMPEUS JAPONICUS. N. S. 



Notes. — From Lew Chew. Total length, 15 inches. 



This very large Hemiramphus is not included in the Fauna Japonica, which contains but one 

 Japanese species. In its general form aid proportions it corresponds very nearly to the H. 

 Comrnersonii of the Histoire des Poissons, (vcl. 19, p. 28,) but has not its four large lateral spots, 

 nor is it of a greenish gray color. It differs from the H. Busseli, (p. 32,) in having a more 

 forked caudal, higher dorsal and anal, and ii not having a red beak. Its beak is longer than 

 that of the H. Quoyi, (p. 35,) but it resenMes that species in having a deeply-forked caudal, 

 and similar coloring, with the exception <f the red beak. Bleecker, in his paper entitled 

 " Bijdrage tot de kenniss der Snoekachtige Visschen, &c," does not describe any species 

 coming nearer to ii than those above mentioned. 



Its proportions, as taken from the drawing, are as follows : Tip of lower jaw to edge of 

 opercles three times in the length from same point to centre of margin of caudal. Tip of upper 

 iaw to ed^e of opercles half of last, or six tiims in total length. Height of head or body nine 

 times and origin of dorsal to centre of caudal a little less than one-fifth of same. Origin of 

 anal to do. one-seventh, and origin ventrals thiee and three-quarters in same. Lower lobe of 

 caudal six and one-quarter times in same distance, and upper lobe nearly one-third shorter, and 

 much narrower. Eye two and a half times in height of body. Head and beak strong and 

 stout. Body of equal height as far as ventrals. Pectorals pointed, and equal to height of body 

 in length. Ventrals with emarginate border, first and last rays of equal length. Dorsal with 

 first rays nearly as long as height of body, with emarginate border, and last rays quite short. 

 Anal commencing under middle of dorsal, and resembling it in form, but smaller. Caudal so 

 deeply forked that it appears separated in two distinct lobes. Lower lobe longest and broadest, 

 both pointed. The scales large, and appear to resemble those of H. Comrnersonii. 



Of a general bluish color, darkest on the back, and lighter below. A tinge of green on sides 

 and upper lobe of caudal. A narrow stripe of green on middle of sides reaching from pectoral 

 to caudal, with a broader stripe of pale silvery blue, ringed with greenish, bordering it on each 

 side. Lower jaw dark indigo blue towards the tip, lighter towards the head. Fins all pale- 

 bluish, caudal dark dusky blue. The scales on the back appear to have been darker on their 

 margins. 



This fish may be found to come under one of the species already known, when specimens of 

 it can be examined, put it appears in many respects to be a distinct species. A figure of it 

 would have been given had it not at first been considered as the well known H. Comrnersonii. 



