Linnaeus \ Besides these I had the opportunity of determining
the coryphasna novacula, mullus mrmuletus, a cheetodon \ and a sew*,
belonging to Cuvier’s first division of that genus, but wanting the
long filaments behind the dorsal spine of the z$m faber; and of
a brilliant red colour“. A dead flying-fish was brought to me,
which most resembled the exocetus exiliens, but differed from it in
the length of the ventral fins, which, instead of reaching to the
caudal, only extended to the middle of the anal; the proportionate
size of the air-bladder was smaller than in other species, being
only half the length of the fish, or seven inches by 0.3; the
pectoral fins were 8± inches long, and furnished with considerably
larger nerves than the ventral. The fish having been some hours
out of the water, it was impossible to determine whether there
was an orifice at the anterior termination of the air-bladder or
not1. All the fishes I have mentioned are very good eating,
Its native name denotes, that it is found in deep waters. The first dorsal has eleven
spines; the second ten rays; the caudal twenty-four; the anal twelve; the ventral six,
and one spine; and the pectoral sixteen rays. It is of a beautiful silvery colour,
slightly tinged with a yellowish red; on the middle of the back it is of a brownish
violet. Its length, with the muzzle extended, is 7^ inches. '
* Esox Sphyrcena. It is said to be eatable only in the autumn, having a coppery
taste at other seasons.
1 Cheetodon Leachii, B. It has a broad row of small teeth in the upper and under
jaw. The dorsal fin has nine spines and fifteen or sixteen rays; the caudal seventeen •
the anal nine, and one spine; the ventral five rays and one spine; the pectorals six-
teeen rays; but all are so fleshy that it is difficult to reckon them. The preoperculum
is slightly toothed at the angle, and the operculum bears a spine. It is in every
respect coloured like a tench, with the addition of some confused light gray spots.
The scales are small, and the dorsal line is very obscure. It is called shem.
u Zeus Childrenii, B.
x The length of this fish, from the end of the jaws to the fork of the caudal fin, is
14 inches, and to the tip of the lower lobe of the same fin 211 ; the dorsal fin has
twelve rays, and is 2£ inches long; the caudal has ten distinct rays on each outer side
of the fork, and the intermediate space is filled up by a number of small fine rays; the
anal (2| inches long) has nine rays; the ventral (4£ inches long) has six, branching
except the diodon. The tunny (scomber thynnus) is also caught
in abundance, and has been known to weigh 3001bs. The common
eel is found in the torrents, or rivers as they are called; and
the murcena helena, sometimes nearly three feet long, is caught in
the embouchures, but the latter, so much prized by the ancients,
who reared them for the table in ponds, is only eaten by the
poorest class.—To this list may be added soles and sardinhas.
The sepia octopodia and s. triangulata were brought to me by
the fishermen, as great curiosities. The caracca, fig. 6, a b, is
apparently a new genus of cirrhopoda, and seems to me to be the
link between balanus and coronula; the mantle of the animal is
the same as that of the balanus, but it has ten pair of cirri, with
branchiae appending; its shell approaches it to b. tintinnabvlum.
I should propose naming it halosydna balanoideay. I also saw a
beautiful new pagurus', and the testuda caouana, which makes
excellent soupa.
at the top ; the pectorals (8} inches long) have fifteen rays each, also branching at
the top ; its colour is a silvery gray.
y Odyss: S 404. The shells are sessile in groups, and open at the upper extremity
only, where they adhere to each other; the longitudinal ribs are strong, and the
space between them is finely-striated across; the opening, closed with a four-valved
operculum, is irregularly triangular; and the growth of the shell is visible within, as
are also the cells; the testaceous plate lining the inside, only reaches half way down.
The colour is generally of a purplish white.
sPaimrus Maculatus. It is of a reddish colour; the two first, or short articulations
of the long antennae (which measure 24| inches) are prickly; the rings of the
tail (which is not orbicular) bear white spots or streaks, which on the last ring form
a cross, terminated by a ball; the cuirass measures 5J inches, and the tail 7 inches.
* Cuvier writes “ la chair est mauvaise,” but the epicures who visit Madeira, pronounce
the soup made from it to be excellent. The natives do not extract a lamp oil
from it, as in the Mediterranean ; the one I measured was 18 inches long and 12 broad.
Perhaps it is a small variety of the caouana.* the first, second, and fifth scales of the
middle row have the heel much stronger than the others ; the fore feet are’longer, but
scarcely narrower than those behind, and it bears a strong nail on the thumb and
fore-finger of each foot. The fresh water tortoise (emyss. Brong.) of Madeira, is the
testudo scabra of Schcepfer.