244 .Transactions. — Zoology. 



allied fisli (the angler), wliicli is supplied with a far less complicated attach- 

 ment, have been closely studied and proved it to be "a fish which angles for 

 fish," with a natural rod, line, and bait, and with certainly as deadly a 

 " creel" as any human disciple of Isaac Walton might have to which to 

 relegate its ca^Dtives. 



I take this opportunity, too, of acknowledging with thanks the kindness 

 of Mr. Appel, V.S., of this town, to whom this last fish was sent by its 

 collector, and who has kindly allowed me to figure and describe it. 



ARGYROPELSCUS INTERMEBIUB, sp. nov. 



D. 1-7; P. 7 ; V. 6, single; A. 7; C. 24. 

 The height of the body equals length, and is less than the distance 

 between gill-covers and root of caudal ; the length of head is contained 

 three times in distance from end of chin to root of caudal '; tail very slender ; 

 abrupt termination of body midway between tip of snout and end of caudal 

 fin (expanded) ; osseous dorsal plate with one double and four (last very 

 minute) spinous processes imbedded in its substance ; pectoral fin barely 

 reaches to ventral ; orbit of eye oblong, pupil on summit ; eyes approach 

 very close together on top of head ; posterior margin of prreoiDerculum 

 almost borders hind part of orbit, descends in straight line and terminates 

 in a double spine, the superior curving upwards, inferior continuing in 

 direction followed by margin ; prominent spine at posterior corner of 

 mandibles ; s^nne on chin, pointing directly forwards ; spine over temporals ; 

 spine on throat, before commencement of serrature ; serrature terminates 

 in double pubic sjoine, the inferior portion of which is curved and barbed, 

 presenting a very formidable armature though on so small a scale ; no 

 appearance of adipose fin ; commencement of soft dorsal fin midway 

 between snout and gnd of tail ; pectoral and caudal fins well developed ; one 

 ventral fin only, placed in median line of body above pubic spine ; four 

 luminous spots on lower side of tail before commencement of caudal fin ; 

 six over and partly behind anal fin, and three immediately in front of same, 

 all surrounded with black skin; long luminous streak on lower abrupt 

 termination of body above pubic spine ; along lower sides of body a superior 

 row of sx^ots, ten in number, to base of pectoral fin, and an inferior series, 

 thirteen in number, terminating in vertical with posterior limb of praeoper- 

 culum, each spot in the above two rows being in intervals between ribs, which 

 are very prominent, giving a striate appearance to body ; under margin of gill- 

 covers, and on throat before pectorals, a series of four spots ; single series 

 of recurved conical teeth, minute at angles of gape on upper jaw, large 

 towards centre of upper and lower jaws ; tongue thick and fleshy ; sides of 

 body, cheeks and throat covered with silvery pigment ; back, top of head, 

 and tail bare ; back dark-purplish brown ; tail flesh-coloured with dark 



