58 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN. 



ings of the plates that formed the cuticle ; thus evidencing that no physi- 

 cal changes in the fish could have been accessory to the creation of these 

 markings that in the recent state were as vivid and as beautiful as the 

 drawing actually delineates. This internal tissue from the pectoral fins 

 to the tail became extremely thick and tough, necessarily so where the 

 more powerful display of muscles and action existed. Thick layers of flesh 

 surrounded the spinal column, the spine being prolonged into a series 

 of vertebrae, terminating in simple coccygeal vertebrae. The dorsal and 

 anal fins were supported by a series of bones, which pass into the spi- 

 nous process; the bones of the anal fin were particularly strong, requir- 

 ing some exertion to sever ; the cartilaginous caudal fin rays were sup- 

 ported by semi-osseous interspinous processes ; these three fins exhi- 

 biting a powerful development of muscles for their action. The rays 

 of the caudal fin bifurcate in a beautiful and regular manner into finer 

 filaments, to the margin or extremity of the fin. Beneath the spinal 

 column no air bladder could be detected. The opercula and branchial 

 rays, and a great portion of the liver, which appeared to have been 

 large, were in such a state of decomposition that no further investiga- 

 tion could be proceeded with. 



My friend, Dr. Bellingham, has been the first to detect and to remark 

 in the mola the movable proboscis which projected beyond the upper 

 lip. In the oblongus the snout appeared formed of a cartilaginous pro- 

 cess, the upper lip having a fold, and apparently possessing mobility 

 and great sensitiveness, being largely supplied with nerves. In the 

 Lophidce, the Anglers or Frog-fish, the several long tentacula from the 

 top of the head are organs of great sensibilit5 r ; the same are seen most 

 remarkable in the Siluridce, or Cat-fish family ; these cirri being analo- 

 gous to the tentacula in the Acaleplice, and to the antennas in certain 

 insects. I have observed as to the prominent form of the eye in the 0. 

 oblongus. In the projecting or very convex cornea it would seem that 

 it was afforded a kind of periscopic vision, and which is a necessary 

 power to animals whose movements must be decidedly slow. Fish which 

 remain constantly at any great depth at the bottom have generally very 

 prominent or large eyes. In the 0. mola, Dr. Bellingham has noticed 

 a membrane covering the cornea, similar to the membrana nictitans. 



The late Rev. Lansdowne Guilding, who held the office of Colonial 

 Chaplain at St. Vincent's, and for whom as an accomplished naturalist 

 the highest respect must be entertained, has described a new genus of 

 the Sunfish tribe, of gigantic size, inhabiting the seas of the West Indies, 

 which has been named Pedalion gigas. Guilding first observed the re- 

 markable characters in the eye of the Sunfish, its construction being 

 conical and versatile, enabling the fish to look different ways at one time, 

 or to have an exceedingly wide range of field. He has observed this spe- 

 cies to exhibit during the night a splendid phosphorescent appearance. 

 The same is mentioned as having been noticed in the 0. mola, and in 

 the oblongus. 



In the characters thus drawn of this rare species we necessarily look 

 to the analogies or connecting links with the families or groups in the 



