Fishes. 



1979 



single ; posterior, opposite, the latter beginning close behind the vent, 

 and both reaching nearly to the tail, their membrane at first broader, 

 but narrowing in its progress ; pectoral fins and tail round. The 

 colours of different specimens varied greatly ; some being dark, with 

 a tint of green ; others cream-coloured, but sprinkled with specks, 

 -&c." The ventral fin small and very obscure, to be seen only in the 

 larger specimens. Those specimens I saw myself were of a yellowish 

 sap-green colour.* 



a. Hemiramphus ? obtusus (magnified) viewed laterally, b. The same viewed dorsally. 

 same. d. Hemiramphus Europseus. e. Head of the same. /. Head of Belone vulgaris. 



c. Head of the 



The relative shortness of the upper jaw varied in the different speci- 

 mens, and generally speaking, the smaller the specimen the shorter the 

 jaw. At the time I examined them, it occurred to me that they were the 

 younger stage of the H. Europaeus. I have seen the young of the 

 Belone vulgaris about six or seven inches long, and though both jaws 

 were not equal, yet they were sufficiently so to prevent any appear- 

 ance of deformity, which is so characteristic of the present'species. If 

 the young of so common a species as B. vulgaris, why are they not 

 more abundant ? and if they belong to a distinct fish, how is it that it 

 has never yet been discovered ? These queries I shall endeavour to 

 answer during the next summer. 



* In a letter to me, dated December 13th, 1847, Mr. Jonathan Couch expresses 

 a doubt whether this little fish can properly be classed with the Hemiramphus. — 

 B.N. 



