ciliated; the concealed portion with eight or nine deeper and more distinct striæ, not meeting
in the centre to form a fan, and with the basal margin crenated. The scales on the cheeks and
opercle are smaller than those on the body, and almost smooth.
The dorsal fln commences in a line with the posterior margin of the opercle, and extends
nearly the whole length of the back, rising from a groove as in the Sparidoe ; its height on the
whole tolerably uniform throughout : spinous portion occupying more than h alf the «n ,' the
anterior spines gradually increasing in length to the fourth,» which equals rather more than
one-third of the depth ; the succeeding ones nearly even, very gradually decreasing to the last,
which is about two-thirds the length of the fourth ; all the spines moderately stout : soft portion
o f the f il l even, and rather higher than the last spine. Anal commencing in a line with the
third soft ray of the dorsal, and terminating opposite to that fin ; the first spine short, but
strong ; second and third spines equal in length, being about two-tliirds the length of tlie soft
rays, but the second much stouter than the third ; the second spine is also distinguished from
the others by having its surface longitudinally striated : soft rays nearly even, and resembling
those of the dorsal. C audal forked, with the upper lobe a trifle longer than the lower ; the
basal h alf covered with minute scales. Pectorals narrow and pointed, about two-thirds the
length of the head, with a small fold of loose skin in their axillæ. Ventrals placed a little
further back than the pectorals, and somewhat shorter ; a long pointed scale in their axillie,
nearly one-third their length.
C o lo u r.—“ Bluish silvery.”— D.—The colour, as it appears in spirit, is nearly uniform bluish
gray, and very similar to that of the Cantharus griseus. The gill-cover has a dusky edging
posteriorly.
Hecond syjecinicn.— Smaller than the above, and not quite so deep in the body ; the greatest depth
contained a trifle more than four times in the entire length ; the nape in consequence less
elevated, and the profile less oblique. Eyes relatively a little larger, their diameter rather more
than one-fifth the length of the head. Preopercle with the posterior margin not so rectilineal,
approaching to concave ; the angle at bottom projecting in consequence a little backwards ; the
denticulations not quite so distinct and regular. One ray more in the soft dorsal.
D. 12/16; A. 3/12; C. 17, &c. ; P. 19; V. 1/5.
L o n g . u n c . 9. lin . 2.
CoLOua.— " Silvery ; above, shaded with brown and iridescent with blue ; fins and iris sometimes
edged with blackish brown. Flap of the gill-cover edged with black.”— B.
Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago.
This species, which is undoubtedly new, may be known from most of those
described by Cuvier and Valenciennes by its greater number of soft rays in the
anal fin. The only ones which equal it in this respect are the P.Conceptionis and
* T he third spine is broken, and m ay have been as long as the fourth.
the P.fasciatum ; from the former of which it may he distinguished by its greater
depth and nearly even dorsal, from the latter by its plain colour free from all
conspicuous hands and markings. The dorsal notch is scarcely observable, the
eleventh and twelfth spines being nearly equal, and but little shorter than the
first soft ray. Its analogy to the genus Cantharus among the Sparidre, which it
resembles as well in colour as in general form, is very striking. There are two
specimens in the collection ; the one described first above having been taken at
Chatham Island, the other at Charles Island, in the Galapagos Archipelago.
1. L a t il u s j u g u l a r is . Val.
L a t i l u s j u g u l a r i s , Cur. a Vol. H i s t , d e s P o i s s . t o m . i x . p . 3 G 9 . p i . 2 7 9 .
P o e m .— Elongated, with the dorsal line slightly curved, the ventral nearly straight. G reatest depth
contained five times and one-third in the entire length. H ead, which much exceeds the depth,
four times in the same. Profile very convex above the eyes, whence it falls obliquely to the
lips Snout thick and rounded, resembling th a t of the R e d M ullet: m outh protractile,
horizontal, placed a t the bottom of the snout, the commissure ju st reaching to a vertical from
the anterior part of the orbit. Jaw s equal or very nearly so; the lower one perhaps a very
little the longest. Maxillary not widening at its posterior extremity. A band of velutine teeth
in each jaw , narrowing at the sides as it extends backw ards; with an outer row of longer and
stronger ones : in the lower jaw , the velutine band does not extend beyond the middle of the
sides,°the oardiiig teeth being all that are visible. Tongue and palate smooth. Eyes high in
the d ie e k s; large, and of an oval form ; their vertical diameter three-fourths of their
loiigltudiiia/; this last equalling one-fourth the length of the head. Nostrils consisting of two
round apertures, the posterior one largest, the anterior covered by a membranous flap. P reopercle
with the denticles far apart, and not very obvious, unless the skin be dissected oif; the
ascending margin rectilineal and vertical; the angle rounded. Bony part of the opercle
terminating in a flat point, above which are two other smaller points not so well developed ; all
the points concealed in the membrane, and scarcely visible from without : beneath the principal
point, the membrane is prolonged backwards in the form of a broad flattened bristly point
three lines in length. Crown, gill-covers and cheeks, scaly, but not the jaw s ; snout scaly,
except very near the lips. Gill-opciiiiig large.
Lateral line al first a t one-third of the depth, but falling gradually to one-half. Scales
rather small ; one taken from immediately above the lateral line of an oblong form, the length
being twice the breadth, with its free margin finely ciliated, crenated behind with a fan o f nine
strim ; on scales taken from other parts the num ber of striæ in the fan arc more numerous.
One long dorsal fin of nearly uniform height throughout, equalling about h alf the depth ;
only four slender spines, gradually increasing in length from the first which is very sliort; the
fourth about three-fourths the length of the first soft ray ; soft rays increasing likewise very gradually
to the fourth, which with the next five or six are highest ; the membrane of the fin very