670 PEOF. E. COLLETT ON A NEW AGONOID FISH. [Nov. 20, 



companion. I have, however, been disappointed. Recalling to 

 mind a former and very similar case, in which the decomposing 

 body of the snake swallowed caused the death of its destroyer, I 

 had much doubt about the digestive powers of this animal. But in 

 the present instance the snake has not only digested its companion, 

 but has regained its appetite as well as its normal size. On Friday, 

 Nov. 2nd, the keeper, finding the creature moving about as 

 if in search of food, placed a pigeon in its den, which was 

 seized and swallowed immediately. 



I have had this voracious serpent measured, and find it to be 

 11 feet in length. The one which it swallowed was about 9 feet 

 in length. It will be seen by this that a serpent of 11 feet in 

 length can not only swallow and digest another serpent only about 

 two feet shorter, but is ready to feed again twenty-eight days 

 afterwards. 



4. On a new Agonoid Fish (Ayonus gilberti) from 

 Kamtschatka. By R. Collett. 



[Eeceived October 29, 1894.] 



(Plate XLV.) 



I propose to call this new Fish 



Agontjs gilbeeti, sp. nov. (Plate XLV.) 



Diagx. — Body very elongate and compressed, the tail everywhere 

 higher than broad. Head 3|-4 times in total length (caudal in- 

 cluded) ; height of body 8 times. Snout very long, 3 times longer 

 than the interorbital space. Barbels on lower side of snout and on 

 the jaws. Teeth in villiform bands on the jaws ; none on vomer or 

 palatines. Spines on head and plates on body much- as in A. acipen- 

 serinus, the spines very high and pointed ; plates on breast about 10. 

 First dorsal begins at the end of 4th scale ; 3 scales beiiveen the 

 dorsals. Ventrals received in a longitudinal groove. Greyish brown 

 with darker spots ; head ivith shortish bands. 



1 D. 8. 2 D. 8-9. A. 10-11. P. 15-17. Lin. lat. 38. 



Habitat. Kamtschatka (type specimens in the Christiania 

 Museum). 



Description. — The body is very elongated and compressed, 

 rather high in front, and tapering to the tail. Its height (from 

 ventrals to first dorsal scale) equals the length of the snout, and is 

 contained in the total length about 8 times. 



The tail is compressed, long and slender ; its height everywhere 

 greater than its breadth. 



The head. — Its length is contained in full-grown specimens 4 

 times, in younger ones about 3J times in the total length (caudal 

 included). 



