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Show 670 PROF. R. COLLETT ON A NEW AGONOID EISH. [Nov. 20, companion. I have, however, been disappointed. Becalling to mind a former and very similar case, in which the decomposing body of the snake swallowed- caused the death of its destroyer, I had much doubt about the digestive powers of this animal. But in the present instance the snake has not only digested its companion, but has regained its appetite as well as its normal size. O n Friday, Nov. 2nd, the keeper, finding the creature moving about as if in search of food, placed a pigeon in its den, which was seized and swallowed immediately. I have had this voracious serpent measured, and find it to be 11 feet in length. The one which it swallowed was about 9 feet in length. It will be seen by this that a serpent of 11 feet in length can not only swallow and digest another serpent only about two feet shorter, but is ready to feed again twenty-eight days afterwards. 4. On a new Agonoid Fish (Agonus gilberti) from Kamtschatka. By B . C O L L E T T . [Received October 29, 1894.] (Plate XLV.) I propose to call this neAv Fish AGONUS GILBERTI, sp. nov. (Plate XLV.) D I A G N . - Body very elongate and compressed, the tail everywhere higher than broad. Head 3|-4 times in total length (caudal included); height of body 8 times. Snout very long, 3 times longer than the interorbital space. Barbels on lower side of snout and on the jaws. Teeth in villiform bands on the jaws ; none on vomer or palatines. Spines on head and plates on body much as in A. acipen-serinus, the spines very high and pointed,; plates on breast about 10. First dorsal begins at the end of 4th scale; 3 scales between the dorsals. Ventrals received in a longitudinal groove. Greyish brown with darker spots ; head with shortish bands. 1 D. 8. 2 D. 8-9. A. 10-11. P. 15-17. Lin. lat. 38. Habitat. Kamtschatka (type specimens in the Christiania Museum). DESCRIPTION.-The body is very elongated and compressed, rather high in front, and tapering to the tail. Its height (from ventrals to first dorsal scale) equals the length of the snout, and is contained in the total length about 8 times. The tail is compressed, long and slender ; its height everywhere greater than its breadth. The head.-Its length is contained in full-grown specimens 4 times, in younger ones about 3 | times in the total length (caudal included). |
