4 Ribband Fishes of the Genus Gymnetrus. 



from not having well understood the information afforded by 

 his Cornish friend. A claim has been made for two other ex- 

 amples of this fish as having also been taken in Cornwall — one 

 in the year 1791, and the other in 1796 ; but after close inquiry 

 I have found no ground for altering the belief that such was not 

 the fact in either case ; and in the last named instance it seems 

 probable that the capture of Banks's oarfish at Filey Bay in 

 Yorkshire, at that date, has led to the mistake ; an opinion also 

 countenanced by Dr. J. E. Gray of the British Museum, who 

 communicated a satisfactory paper on this subject to the 

 Zoological Society. As the published account of this last- 

 named specimen gives a particular description of its appearance, 

 we extract it more at large. It was thirteen feet and a half in 

 length, rather more than a foot in depth, and not more than 

 three inches in thickness. The skin was smooth and of a silver 

 hue, it had no tail, and its fins were the colour of those of the 

 roach or perch. The following notes are added from a private 

 hand : — "The head seven inches long; eye, one inch and three- 

 eighths in diameter ; no scales, but very small protuberances, 

 silvered over like the surface of a herring. These run the whole 

 length in stripes, alternate with others that are bare and of a 

 light colour. The dorsal fin runs the whole way from the head 

 to the other end, and is red like that of a roach or perch : 

 branchial rays six ; dorsal fin with two hundred and ninety, 

 and thirteen rays; pectoral fin with twelve, ventral one; no 

 anal ; no teeth, a soft tongue ; the face and inside of the mouth 

 black ; anus, four feet nine inches from the head ; iris a silver 

 white." 



Another example of this fish, which attracted much atten- 

 tion, was caught by some fishermen at Cullercoats in Yorkshire 

 on the 26th of March, 1849, and fortunately came into the 

 hands of Mr. Hancock and Dr. Bmbleton, who published a 

 particular account of it in the Annals and Magazine of Natural 

 History for July in that year. The fish was first seen at about 

 six miles from land in water of the depth of from twenty to 

 thirty fathoms. When first seen it was lying on its side on the 

 surface, but as the fishermen approached it it became erect and 

 came towards them with a gentle lateral undulating motion, 

 with its crest and a small portion of its head above water. 

 When struck with a staff it made off with a vigorous and ver- 

 tical undulating motion, and quickly disappeared. In a short 

 time it again came within reach, lying on its side, but when 

 laid hold of with a hook it tore itself away, but was lifted into 

 the boat at last by two young men placing their arms round it. 

 It lived for some time after being taken on board, but there 

 cannot be a doubt that when discovered it was in dying 

 circumstances; and in every instance yet known it is clear 



