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taiiiily, Avliicli All*. Alurray has named Geratias urano-
seopns (Fig*. 20). The specimen is 90 mm. in length
from the snout to the end of the t a i l ; compressed
laterally and of a uniform hlack colour. The anterior
spine of the first dorsal fin is produced into a lo n g
filament, emling in a pear-shaped bulb, terminating
in a A'cry distinct semi-transparent whitish spot. This
spine has its origin on the posterior portion of the
head, and when laid back it reaches nearly to the
tip of the tail. The second p art of the first dorsal
is pilaced far hack on the body, and consists of two
short fleshy tubercles which lie in a depression in
front of the second dorsal fin. The second dorsal has
three rays ; the anal is ojiposite the second dorsal
and has four rays ; the caudal has eight rays, the
four central rays being much larger th an the others
and bifid. The pectorals are small, and have ten very
delicate rays. The gill-opening is a slit situated
heloAv the pectoral fin. The upper jaw is formed hy
the intermaxillaries, and is armed, together Avith the
loAver jaAv, Avith a series of teeth of moderate size
Avhich can be depressed inwards as in LopMus. The
skin is thickly covered Avith minute imbedded conical
spines. The eyes are very small, and are placed
high np on the middle of the head. The presence
of a fish of this group at so great a depth is of
special interest. From its structure and from the
analogy of its nearest allies there seems to he no
reasonable doubt th a t it lives on the bottom. It is
the liahit of many of the family to lie hidden in the
mud Avith the long dorsal filament and its terminal
soft expansion exposed. I t lias been imagined that
tlio expansion is used as a bait to allure its prey, hut
it seems more likely th a t it is a sense-organ intended
to give notice of their approach.
On the tAvo folloAving days Ave Avent on our course
toAvards San Vicente, sounding and taking serial
temperatures daily. The AA^eather was very fine with
a light north-easterly breeze. The Avater Avhich had
previously been of a deep blue colour changed on
the 23rd to a dull g re e n ; on the 25th it resumed its
heautiful shade of cobalt. On the 26th Ave trawled
in 1,975 fathoms with small result, and on the 27th
Ave anchored off Porto Grande.
AVe remained a week at San Vicente. The island
is most u n interesting; hare ridges of reddish volcanic
lavas and tuffs—some of them certainly Avith
a rugged and picturesque o u tlin e ; and Avide valleys
and valley plains,—wildernesses of fragments of the
rock wdiich look and almost feel as if they were at a
loAv red-heat. I t was now about the hottest season,
and everything Avas dried up and p a rch ed ; the Avater-
courses Avere dry and all the vegetation had disappeared,
except the Aveird-looking succulent Aveeds of
the desert, Avhich Avith th eir uncouth Avrinkled forms
and venomous spines looked like vegetable demons
th a t could defy the heat and live anyAvhere. Here
and there outside the toAvn, Avhere the carcase of a
dead bullock or a horse had been flung out on the
shingle or only half buried in it, polluting the air far
and near, there Avere half a dozen of the Egyptian
vulture {Neophron perenopteiHis) perched lazily upon
the bones, and Avhen disturbed flying off sloAAdy and
alighting again at a distance of a fcAV yards. A
curious incident gave us a ghastly interest in the
movements of these foul birds. A a^ci'a^ excellent
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