to white below. There are no scales ; hut the body is covered 
with a brilliant silver skin, so fine that it had almost disap- 
peared by when the fish was stuffed. 
“ When fresh it is quite smooth on the back, but rou- 
ghening below the line, and showing distinct papilla espe- 
cially near the vent. (I see Dr Gunther especially mentions 
that the Trichiuridoe “ have no prominent papilla near the 
vent.”) As the fish dries these papilla develop all over the 
body except near the tail, and show a curious double rose 
very distinct, at the base of every dorsal ray. 
“ The whole length of the lateral line can be easily traced 
by a row of slightly spring knobs under the skin till about a 
foot from the tail where begins a series of 9 smooth knobs 
visible at intervals on each side to within an inch of the point, 
“ This fish proved to be a female with a large membra- 
neous sac full of spawn, 31 inches in length. The ova when exa- 
mined resembled a mass of perfect, crystal weagons set to- 
gether like a honey comb. 
The stomach was very small and quite empty, the gale 
and liver large, the latter very white. 
“ The vertebrae are very fragile, and the delicate filiforme 
rits snapt with a touch. 
“ The gill openings are very wide, and there is a curious 
spring process on the gills. I count G branchia but they are 
so torn, I may be wrong. 
“ The large eyes measure 3 inches in diameter, and there 
are 3 inches in front between them. The head is very round 
in front of the eyes but has a depression just below the rise 
of the dorsal. 
“ The snout enn be extended nearly 3 inches, and below 
