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Show 1886.] ON THE CHARACTERS OF RHINOCEROS SIMTJS. 143 Affinities.-Linophryne lucifer belongs to the family Ceratiidce, and resembles Melanocetus johnsonii, Giinth. (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1864, p. 301) in several particulars, viz. that only one single spine in the first dorsal is developed (the nasal tentacle), in the enormous mouth, the almost square head, as well as in its small size, its black and smooth skin, and pendent abdominal cavity, besides in its having 1\ pairs of gills and unarmed branchial arches; but it differs from this species by the formation of its teeth, the oblique mouth, its rudimentary gill-openings, its short and thick nasal tentacle, in the number of its fin-rays, the spiny armature of its head, and its comparatively well-developed eye. It differs from all the Ceratiidce in its having a long guttural tentacle, also in the low number of rays in its second dorsal and anal fins. Locality.-A single specimen, with a total length of 49 millim., was caught by Capt. P. Andresen in M a y 1877 floating in the sea (about 36° north latitude, 20° west longitude) 3° N.W. of Madeira, and was presented to the Museum of the Christiania University. During several years it remained unnoticed in the private house of the late Director of the Museum, Prof. Esmark, but after his death it was returned to the Museum (December 1885). Mr. Andresen, who is now residing in Christiania, reports to me that on the day mentioned he was on a voyage to the West Indies. He was capturing turtle in his boat; there was a heavy swell, but the water was smooth. After a time he caught sight of this little black fish, which lay on the surface quite alive, but almost motionless, which was not surprising when it was discovered that it had just swallowed a fish longer than itself. It did not lie on its side, but was apparently unable to swim away. By getting the bailer under it, he lifted it out with ease, and in order to keep it fresh he gave up his search for turtle and rowed back to the ship, where it was placed in spirit for preservation. EXPLANATION OF PLATE XV. Fig. 1. Full view of Linophryne lucifer, \. 2. Front view of head, showing open mouth. 3. Guttural tentacle, f. 2. Note on the External Characters of Rhinoceros simus. B y P. L. S C L A T E R , M.A., F.R.S., Secretary to the Society. [Received February 24, 1886.] (Plate XVI.) The heads of the two African Rhinoceroses exhibited by Mr. E. Gerrard, Jun., at the last meeting of the Society, and again placed on the table this night by Mr. Gerrard's kind permission, have |