INTELLIGENCE INTERESTING TO TRAVELLERS. 
44 
ing : ft question might be raised, of its being 
really destined to the purposes I have attri- 
buted to it, and more particularly since Cu- 
vier and Lacep6de, who have given descrip- 
tions of this fish, have passed it over without 
notice ; but I hope to prove by the position, 
simplicity and firmness of its parts, thatii is 
equally qualified to fulfil the offices of a fin, 
and those above mentioned, which I have 
assigned to it. 
The fin consists of three spines, connec- 
ted by an elastic membrane, extending only 
to half the length of the first, covering the 
second and third, and attached to the inner 
border of the groove on the ridge of the back, 
in which the rays are contained when at rest. 
The accompanying sketch will serve to repre- 
sent a section of the cavity and accessory 
pieces of the machinery. 
'J'he first spine curved and studded in 
front, with sharp serrse, presents posteriorly 
a groove, which is narrowed as it descends ; 
from thence alignment passes backwards to 
the ‘2nd spine — at the base are two small 
tubercles, looking inwards : it forms with 
capsular ligaments, and the inner margin of 
the trough, a ginglymoid articulation. 
The 2ud spine may be divided into the bo- 
dy, sharpened before its lateral edges, being 
slightly furrowed, for the reception of the 
groove of the 1st spine, and smoothed inferi- 
orly, where it plays over a fixed axis. An 
ascending process, and two descending pro- 
cesses, (one of which only is seen,) articulat- 
ed with the centre of the circle, of which the 
axis is a segment. 
The 3rd spine is connected to the 2nd by a 
ligament, and with a nodule of bone on the 
floor of the cavity forms another hinge joint. 
When erection is required, four small mus- 
cles, inserted on ihe sides of the 1st and 2nd 
spines, raise the fin, which from the mecha- 
nism described is fixed so firmly as to resist 
the strongest attempts at withdrawing it • 
the latter object is effected by a small muscle 
on the posterior surface of the 3rd spine, 
which contracting acts througii the ligaments 
on the whole chain of bones; releasing the 
body of the 2nd from the groove and tuber- 
cles of the 1st, it returns the instrument to 
its proper sheath. 
An engraving of the fish may be found in 
the 2nd volume of the Plates of the Diction- 
ary of Natural History, by the Professors 
of the Jardin des Plantes; but singularly 
enough they have omitted the membrane and 
ligaments, without which the fin would be 
rendered imperfect.” 
METEOKOLOGICAL HEGISTEK. KEPT ON BOARD THE EXPERlMENTSTEUvr 
FLAT. DURING A VOYAGE FROM CALCUTTA TO ALLAHABAD BY J W 
KNIGHT, LSQ. ’ 
Dates. 
< 
d 
o 
o 
2 P. M. 
Sunrise, j 
1 
Winds, Morning and 
Evening. 
Remarks on the Weather. 
April 22nd, 
23rd, 
760 
840 
830 
90 
76 
s. w. 
N. E. by E. — E. by s. 
Violent north-wester at night 
Cloudy morning, smart shower 
24 th, 
77 
84 
94 
84 
N. E. ^ E. — E. by s. 
m the afternoon. 
Fine, clear. 
25 th, 
78 
88 
88 
88 
s. by E. — N. w. by w. 
Ditto, ditto. 
26th, 
77 
85 
86 
74 
N. E. ^ N.— S. W. |S. 
Smart partial showers about 
27th, 
75 
78 
80 
80 
E. by s.— s. E. ^ s. 
3 P. M. 
Heavy fall of rain from 6 till 
28th, 
74 
81 
85 
86 
s. w. by s. 
noon. 
Cloudy. 
29 th. 
72 
82 
84 
85 
boxing the Compass, e. 
Violent storm before day-break • 
fine day. ’ 
Fine, clear. 
30th, 
74 
85 
88 
88 
\ 
s. by w. 
May 1st, 
74 
83 
87 
86 
N. E. — s. by w. 
Strong breeze ; fine day. 
2nd, 
78 
88 
88 
88 
round the Com- 1 , 
3rd, 
74 
83 
85 
86 
pass. j.v. byE. 
Variable, n. by e. 
Fine, clear. 
Ditto, ditto. 
4 th, 
75 
87 
89 
78 
N. E. 
Most furious hurricane from the 
5th, 
74 
84 
85 
88 
N. E. 
N. w. at§ pasts p, M. 
(Temperature of hot well, Seeta- 
6th, 
75 
88 
93 
92 
E. N. E, — N. N. E. 
coond, 1330; fine clear.) 
From 3 to 5, the J bermometer 
7 th, 
76 
88 
91 
91 
N. E.— N. N. E. 
was at 980 and lOO®. 
Fine, clear. 
8th, 
78 
86 
88 
87 
S. E. 
Strong breeze ; cirro-stratus. 
9th, 
76 
87 
89 
85 
E. S. E. 
' Uittvy, ditto. 
loth, 
76 
87 
87 
87 
S. E. 
jThermometer at 10 p. m. 94 o ; 
nth. 
79 
88 
90 
90 
N. B.— N. N. E, 
fine, clear day. ’ 
Fine, clear. 
12th, 
83 
83 
84 
92 
S. S. W.~N. N. E. 
Fine, clear, strong breeze at 
night. 
Fine, clear weather. 
l3th. 
85 
93 
95 
94 
N. E. — N. N. E. 
l4th, 
860 anchored in the Jumna, off the Fort of Allahabad, at i past 7 a.m. 
