302 ACCOUNT OF A RIBBON FISH 
times longer than it is deep. This has 268 rays in the dorsal 
fin ; that 120. 
Again, the G@. Ascanii is devoid of the transverse dusky streaks 
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 ; it 
is also described as having teeth ; the crest also probably differs, 
if the figure given in the ‘Encyclopédie Méthodique’ be correct ; 
the dorsal fin is continued round the caudal extremity fora 
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 distinc- 
tion between the G. Ascanw and the G. Banksit. 
The other Norwegian species named G. Grillii (Lindroth, Nou- 
velles Mémoires de Stockholm, xix. pl. 8) is noticed in Griffith’s 
‘Cuvier, as being 18ft. 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 2ft. Sin. 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. Haw- 
kenit of Bloch, the figures of which are incorrect. This, how- 
ever, in all probability ought not to be considered as an Indian 
species. The history of it, so far as we can gather, is as fol- 
lows :-— 
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 New- 
lyn, who freely granted permission to Mr. Couch, of Polperro, to 
* 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. 
