252 
ItANKS’s OARFISH. 
until additional light was thrown on it from the examination 
of other examples. There was one remarkable circumstance, 
however, which was noticed of this specimen, that has stamped 
an influence on the history of this fish as a singularity in 
itself, as well as that it offers an explanation of the reason 
why some of the published figures and descriptions are so 
exceedingly unsatisfactory. When handled this fish broke into 
pieces, as has been the case also more or less with the body 
or fins in every instance to the latest date, thus shewing the 
remarkable brittleness of its substance. 
In the order of events the next example we have to notice 
is one which was left by the tide on the beach at the little 
town of Newlyn, near Penzance, on the 23rd. of February, 
1788, and of which various figures have be»n given, with a 
difference of dates; although from inquiry I have not been 
able to satisfy myself that more than a single example has ever 
been met with in Cornwall. It is said by Shaw, indeed, in 
the remarks on the fish called Hawkins’ Gymnetrus, which 
he has borrowed from Bloch, that he has seen a printed 
account in which a fish was described that he believed to be 
of the same species as the Gymnetrus of Hawkins, and which 
Avas also throAvn on shore on the coast of Cornwall in February, 
1798. This example was said to have been six feet and a 
half long, and six inches and a half in depth; in thickness 
tAvo inches and three fourths. The body was silvery and the 
fins red. Our remarks from Bloch are as extracted from an 
edition of his work in 18mo, kindly lent to me by the late 
Lieutenant-Colonel C. Hamilton Smith, R.A., of Plymouth, the 
well-knoAvn eminent naturalist; where it is said that this fish 
was distinguished by a fin which is immediately over the front 
of the head, and furnished Avith several distinct processes that 
were formed on one extended membrane. It Avas also particu- 
larly marked by the fin of the tail, Avhich in the figure is 
shaped as being forked. The body was sAvord-shaped; the 
opening of the gills large; the rays soft. This fish, says he, 
was sent to me by Mr. Hawken, (Avhom in another place he 
calls Hawkins,) from whom also I received the figure; and in 
his communication that gentleman informed him that the fish 
had been taken near Goa, in the Indian Sea, on the 23rd. of 
July, in the year 1788, a date which M. Valenciennes corrects 
