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THE  REV.  R.  T.  LOWE'S  DESCRIPTION  OF 
Ordo.  ACANTHOPTERYGII,  Cuv. 
Fam.  VIII.  T^NioiDES,  Cuv. 
Genus.  Alepisaurus. 
Rostrum  productum,  cum  capite  compressum :  rictus  magnus,  pone  oculos  long^ 
diductus :  maxillae  dentibus  uniseriatis,  validis,  subrecurvis,  quibusdctm  praelongis, 
armatse. 
Corpus  elongatum,  attenuatum,  cum  capite  omnino  nudum. 
Pinna  dorsales  duse ;  prima  alta,  a  nucha  longe  per  dorsum  producta ;  secunda 
parva,  trigona,  adiposa :  ventrales  parvse,  abdominales :  analis  parva,  antice  alta : 
caudalis  magna,  furcata. 
Membrana  branchiostega  sex-  vel  septem-radiata. 
Alepisaurus  ferox. 
Hab.  in  Mari  Atlantico,  Maderam  alluente,  rarissimus. 
This  new  and  very  singular  genus  appears,  notwithstanding  some  anomalies,  to  be- 
long to  Cuvier's  eighth  family  of  Acanthopterygian  Fishes,  the  Poissons  en  ruban  ou 
Tanioides.  In  habit,  shape  of  body,  smoothness  of  skin,  compressed  head  and  muzzle, 
wide  gape,  and  long  formidable  teeth, — which  are  both  pointed  and  have  their  edges 
sharp  and  keen  almost  as  lancets, — it  approaches  so  near  to  Lepidopus,  Gouan,  or 
Trichiurus,  Linn.,  that  the  propriety  of  its  collocation  in  the  same  group  seems  un- 
questionable. Its  relation  of  affinity  thus  estabUshed,  a  very  remarkable  one  of  analogy 
remains  to  be  indicated ;  namely,  its  relation  to  the  Salmonida  in  general  by  the  small 
adipose  second  dorsal  fin.  A  curious  link  of  analogy  hitherto  unnoticed  is  thus  sup- 
pUed  between  an  Acanthopterygian  and  a  Malacopterygian  group,  in  other  respects  so 
widely  separated. 
In  respect  to  its  relations  of  affinity,  Lepidopus  and  Trichiurus  are  the  only  two 
genera  from  which  any  particular  discrimination  can  be  necessary.  From  the  former 
it  differs  chiefly  in  the  regularly  well-formed  and  perfect,  though  rather  smaU,  ventral 
fins  (which  are  placed  far  behind  the  pectorals,  close  before  the  anus),  and  in  the  smaller 
number  of  rays  in  the  branchial  membrane: — from  Trichiurus,  (with  which  it  agrees 
in  the  number  of  branchial  rays,)  it  differs  by  the  presence  of  ventral  fins,  a  regular 
and  well-formed  anal,  and  a  large  forked  caudal  fin.  From  both  it  is  remarkably 
distinct  in  the  large  high  first,  and  small  fatty  second  dorsal  fin. 
It  is  a  fierce,  voracious  fish,  of  very  rare  occurrence. 
[The  entire  fish  is  destitute  of  scales,  much  elongated,  thin,  slender,  and  tapering 
from  the  gills  both  backwards  and  forwards.    The  head  and  face  are  produced,  and 
