FISHES. 
51 
the space circumscribed by the nostrils, eyes, upper part of the pectoral, and anterior 
part of the dorsal fins. Its under surface is white. It is marked across the back by 
broad brown stripes, (‘ the anterior directed towards the head, some forked, ending in 
a blot, the last in front of the dorsal fin passing to the base of the caudal’ — L.,) the 
two posterior bent and continued laterally to the tail: there is one black macula under 
the extremity of the pectoral fin as it lies quiescent by the side. The iris is silvery, 
with a reddish gold line above and below, at its junction with the sclerotic coat. The 
lips and head are beautifully vascular, and the numerous anastomoses are distinctly seen. 
(‘ The dorsal and caudal fins are also tinged with blood’ — L.) There is a loose and 
flabby bridge across each nostril, (‘ the nasal apertures are contiguous, and form an 
obtuse angle with the eye and the corner of the mouth.’ — L.) A straw-green tinge 
exists on the posterior part of the back. It was caught in the seine in the Typa, on a 
muddy bottom.” The following anatomical remarks were made: — “ A strong circular 
muscle lies at the posterior part of the fauces, and its centre opens immediately behind 
into the large air cavity which is filled when the fish blows itself up. At the posterior 
part of this cavity is situated the entrance to the oesophagus ; above it (the fish being 
regarded as resting on its belly) is placed the heart, immediately behind the circular 
muscle or sphincter ; superior and posterior to it are the abdominal viscera. The mem- 
brane which forms the cavity and contains the air is very fine. The gills are close to 
the anterior part of the sphincter, and the air expelled from the abdominal cavity and 
issuing out at the gills, occasions the peculiar sound which these fishes are often heard 
to emit. On the air contained in the air-bladder, lime-water had no action ; phosphorus 
absorbed 0.0625 ; and the remainder was not in the least inflamed on bringing a lighted 
taper to its surface, nor did it support combustion : 10,000 parts consequently contained 
625 of oxygen, and 9,375 of nitrogen.” — C. 
In the same locality were obtained two fishes, apparently of the Scisenoid family. 
“ The air-bladder was conical, pearly, the pearly substance placed between the mem- 
brane forming the peritoneum and that forming the air-bladder. Its sides were fringed 
with beautiful pearly branching processes, which lie upon the parietes, and are raised 
attached to the lining peritoneum when it is separated from the muscles at that part.” 
The fish, the air-bladder of which is thus described, was probably the Umbrina Russelii, 
Cuv. ; its “snout was obtuse; the upper intermaxillary extensile and pendent; a soli- 
tary fleshy cirrus hung down from the chin; its caeca were pretty numerous:” the 
dorsal fin, it is true, is said to have been single, but that organ is in reality not so 
deeply divided as to form distinctly two fins. The other species, the air-bladder of 
which resembled precisely that just described, had “a single dorsal fin; a rounded 
caudal ; a strong spine in front of the anal ; the upper maxillary less extensile ; and 
was marked by a line of light brown spots at the root of the dorsal fin.” — C. There 
were also obtained two species of Pleuronectida ; one a Plagusia, Cuv., “ dark clay- 
coloured, with tuberculated lines on the head” — C., “and three lateral lines” — L. : the 
second was perhaps the Rhombus maculosus, Cuv. 
During the stay of the Blossom among the Loo-Choo Islands, about twenty species of 
