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Show 1868.] LETTER FROM MR. E. L. LAYARD. 321 the Society, a description, together with some sketches by my friend Mr. D. Krynauw, of a fine Gymnetrus, which came ashore alive on the beach at Pappendorp, a little below Cape Town, in Table Bay, a few days ago. "The extreme length was 10' 2", breadth 1' 2", thickness 2|"; height of back fin 2|" ; length of ventral fins 3' 8", of filaments on head 2' 1", pectoral fin 3", from vent to end of body 4' 9"; head and mouth extended 11"; body just across the vent 10". Ends of ventral fins broadly spatulate ; the whole fin furnished with a narrow membrane on the upper side, which at about two-thirds of the length rose up into a triangular-shaped peak. The filaments on the head were also slightly spatulate. I take them to be modifications of the dorsal fin, and as such I shall write of them. First dorsal long and strongest; second, third, fourth, and fifth thinner, and joined to the first by a thin membrane of a light pink colour with dark pink spots on it; sixth longest of all; seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth graduated, smaller from the sixth, and only united at their bases by a thin membrane. The proper dorsal extended from the shoulder to near the end of the body (as shown in the figure, p..320), the body then sloped away to the tail, which was wanting, the end vertebra being exposed, having been apparently bitten off; it was, however, very minute, and could only have supported a very small tail-probably a single filament. The general colour was white silvered over. There was a streak on the back, 3|" wide, of a pale blue black ; and in this were the chief markings. The first third was striped with rather dark streaks, the last two-thirds with blotches of bluish brown. The parts just below the edge of the gill-covers black. Dorsal fin (including long filaments) rich pink vermilion, changing into orange at the base of last third of the length ; ventral fins also of the same colour, the spatulate ends very dark. Eye white, with black centre, total diam. 1|". Medial line raised and strongly marked. Four rows of slighly raised small dusky specks ran the whole length of the body. Scales none. Teeth none. Mouth opening and shutting like the hood of a phaeton! Gill-covers hard bony plates; sides of the mouth the same. Sex $ . On opening the fish to preserve it, it was found full of spawn from the head to the vent. This consisted of clear transparent globules, not unlike frog-spawn, but without the black dot. The stomach about 1' long, aud a simple bag full of some yellow matter. The day after its capture the flesh was so decomposed (though not offensive) that it resembled slime. Near the tail was a gash extending across the body, and part of the dorsal fin had been bitten away. Skin very thin and tender. " This specimen was seen by some boys to run ashore on the beach ; they immediately informed a zealous friend of the Museum, Mr. Adams of Pappendorp, who at once secured it, and laying it on a long plank had it brought to m e ; it was, however, dead when it reached me. Its colours soon faded out, and it is now nearly white. Mr. Adams says that in dying it exhibited iridescent hues. PROC ZOOL. Soc-1868, No. XXL |
