4 Sigurd Johnsen. 
perialis Rat. was caught on Sept. 13th 1918 in West Vinnæs Bay 
at Huftergen, south of Bergen. This fish was caught by Mr. 
Anders Teisnes, a lad of fifteen; he sent it to the Bergen 
Museum. 
Mr. Teisnæs has given me the following particulars of the 
catch: — “The fish was swimming near the surface, when I came 
along in my rowboat; it was so lively that I hardly knew if I dared 
venture to clutch it with the clip I had with me; however, I made 
up my mind to lay on my oars and try, and I succeeded in getting 
it well into my boat, but then it showed itself so strong and slashed 
away at the boat, so that | had to kill it by cutting its throat.” 
From this account, it is evident that the fish was in pretty 
good condition; it had, however, not reached far beyond the coast 
line before it was caught. The Vinnæs Bay is a short arm of the 
Bækkervik Sound, which runs between Møgsterfjord and the Sel- 
bjornfjord; the latter being both wide and open, the fish has in all 
probability swum in by this way, which is the most natural con- 
nection with the sea beyond. 
Luvarus imperialis was originally described by Rafinesque 
from a specimen, which was found stranded at Sicily 1808. Since 
then only about a dozen individuals have been preserved; .all 
have been found stranded in more or less good condition. This 
fish not only belongs to the most rare species, but is also with 
regard to system, a most peculiar type. As my specimen was in 
splendid condition, when it reached me, I will give a thorough 
description of it, more especially as the description given by Day 
(1880) is not altogether satisfactory; his illustration of the fish 
appears to some extent to be made up, therefore I give some illustra- 
tions of my specimert (PI. I, figs. 1 & 2); for these a plaster cast, 
which was made shortly hen the fish was brought to the museum, 
and the fish itself were used"). 
Proportions: Greatest height in proportion to length of 
body 1 : 2,7; the least height in proportion to the greatest 1 : 13,6; 
the greatest breadth (thickness) in proportion to the greatest height 
1:2; the length of the head in proportion to length of body 1 : 4,1; 
the diameter of the eye in proportion to length of head 1 : 6,9. 
The body is high and greatly compressed (Text-fig. 1); the 
greatest thickness is nearer the dorsal than the ventral contour; the 
1) A photograph of the painted plaster cast is reproduced in “Aarsberet- 
ning, Bergens Museum 1918—1919”, p. 32. 
