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Show 38 DR. A. CARTE ON THE GENUS CHIASMODON. [Jan. 23, natives have names for both of them, so that neither of them can be considered rare." It may be expected, before concluding these notes, that some theory or explanation should be offered on the interesting problem of how the larger fish (S. macrolepidotus 1) became enclosed in the interior of the smaller (C. nigerl); but I am disposed to think it more judicious, until further information on the habits and anatomy of the latter is obtained, to leave this an open question. I believe that prior to this there have been but two other, and much smaller, specimens obtained, by Mr. Johnson and the Rev. R. T. Lowe at Madeira; and they are described as taken at a depth of from 200 to 300 fathoms, whereas it will be seen by Sir L. McClintock's letter that he does not consider the present specimen a deep-water fish, nor does he consider it to be so rare, at least near the island of Dominica, as Mr. Johnson found his specimens to be at Madeira. I trust that further specimens, which I expect to receive through the aid of Sir Leopold McClintock, will satisfactorily determine both these problems. Dr. Gunther added the following remarks to this paper :- 1. The fish described is undoubtedly identical with Chiasmodus niger, Johnson, as I had supposed at once when the figure was shown to me. 2. The fish swallowed is most probably Scopelus macrolepidotus, Johnson; but as it is still enveloped in the membranes of the stomach of the swallower and doubled up, some doubt as regards its identification may be entertained. 3. The specimen examined by Mr. Johnson was obtained under similar circumstances as that received from Dominica ; it had in its stomach another, pelagic fish, nearly twice its own length. 4. The specimen obtained by the Rev. R. T. Lowe was taken at a depth of 312 fathoms, which is sufficient proof that the species is a deep-sea fish. 5. All deep-sea fishes may accidentally be carried upwards to the surface of the water ; the efforts of one of their struggling victims to escape from their jaws may cause them to ascend with it beyond the horizontal zone which they usually inhabit; and when once beyond it, and under a greatly diminished pressure, they become as helpless as a man who ascends to a great height in a balloon, and therefore are easily picked up. This explains the fact that all the specimens known of Saccopharynx and Melanocetus-deep-sea fishes with the same extensible stomach as Chiasmodus-were found with large fishes in their stomachs. The specimens swallowed were found in each case to be in a very early state of digestion; and one was so well preserved that it was recognized and described as the type of a new genus. 6. The circumstance that the fishermen of Dominica have names for the two fishes does not prove their common occurrence. All our rarest British fish, like the " King of the Herrings," & c , have names. However, fiom what Sir L. McClintock says, both these extraordi- |