fins, and all its other characters, it is exactly similar. The fin-ray formula is a little
different;
D. 13/20 ; A. 23 ; &c.—
The colours, also, as they appear in spirits, are rather different. The general ground of
the body is olivaceous grey, but paler than in the male specimen, and inclining to yellowish,
with faint indications of vertical bands, and also a few dark spots towards the tail end.
D orsal and anal spotted, the former more so than the latter. M r. Darwin’s notes, taken from
the recent fish, merely state,—“ with dull red transverse lines.”
The S. quadricornis is stated by Cuvier and Valenciennes to be very common
at the Mauritius, wdience it may not improbably range as far eastward as the
Keeling Islands.
3 . S a l a r ia s v o m e r in u s . C u v . e t V a l. ?
Salarias vomerinus? Cuv. et Val. Hist, des Poiss. tom. xi. p. 258.
P l a t e X V II. Fig. 3.
F o r m .—Elongated and compressed, the thickest p art being in the region of the gills. Greatest
depth contained about six and a-half times in the entire len g th : thickness at the pectorals
about two-thirds of the depth, or rather more. Length of the head rather exceeding the depth
of the body, and exceeding its own depth by about one-fourth. Snout obtuse; broad and
rounded when viewed from above. Lips crenated at the sides of the mouth, b u t not in the
m iddle. Teeth in the jaw s moveable, extremely fine and num erous: two long canines a t the
bottom of the lower jaw , curving backwards, and fitting into two corresponding holes in the
p ala te : also a transverse row of minute teeth on the front of the vomer. Profile nearly vertical;
the eyes placed ju st within the angle formed by it with the line of the crown. Two
broad palm ated superciliary filaments, not equal in length to the diameter of the eyes : two
similar ones a t the nostrils, each consisting of six or eight bristles: also two short simple
filaments, one on each side o f the nape.
The dorsal, which commences a little behind the nuchal filaments, is so deeply notched
behind the twelfth ray as almost to appear like two fins. The height of the anterior or spinous
portion is about two-fifths of the depth : the posterior is more elevated, equalling three-fourths
o f the depth : this portion is connected by its membrane with the upper p art of the tail, but
does not reach to the caudal, leaving an interval ju st equal to half the depth of the tail at this
point. The anal commences opposite the eleventh ray of the dorsal, and does not reach so far
as th a t fin, leaving three times the space between it and the caud al: the first two rays short
and soft, the first scarcely connected by membrane with those th a t follow ; the membrane
deeply notched between all the rays, excepting the last three, where it is continuous. Caudal
slightly rounded a t the extremity. Pectorals broad, but a little pointed when the rays are not
spread o ut; longer than the head, the fifth and sixth rays from the bottom being longest. Ventrals
short, only h alf the length of the pectorals, or one-tenth of the entire length, consisting
(which is unusual in this genus) of four distinct rays, two shorter and slender ones, besides the
two ordinary thick ones.
The lateral line is faintly indicated by a fine line which sweeps over the pectorals, and then
i off straight along the middle. As far as the pectorals reach, the line is continuous:
beyond, it is interrupted, or only marked out by slightly elevated tubal pores at intervals; and
it disappears altogether considerably before reaching the caudal.
D. 12/15; A. 18; C. 13, &c. ; P . 14; V. 4.
Length 3 inches 2 lines.
C o l o u r .— (Jn spirits) The ground appears to have been pale yellowish-brown : sides marked with
numerous approximating dark transverse fasciæ, twelve or fourteen in num ber : these fasciæ are
continued on to the caudal, where there are five, narrower than those on the body. ^ Head
marked with black dots and undulating lines; especially two undulating lines commencing on
the cheeks behind the eyes, and passing upwards to the nape : upper lip and sides of the throat
marked with several fine lines. A row of black dots a little below the base of the anterior part
of the dorsal. The fasciæ on the sides extend on to the dorsal, where they tak e an oblique
direction backwards. Anal pale at the base, but with the tips of the rays dusky. Pectorals and
ventrals uniformly plain dusky.
H abitat, Porto Praya, Cape Verde Islands.
Cuvier and Valenciennes state that they have received but one species of
Salarias from the Atlantic Ocean north of the line, the V. Atlanticus already
noticed. The present is a second found within that range, obtained by Mr.
Darwin at Porto Praya. Perliaps it may be a new one ; but it is so very nearly
allied to the S. vomerinns of the above authors, that I consider it hazardous to
describe it as distinct. It agrees especially with that species in having vomerine
teeth, and four rays in the ventrals, as well as in the general dispositLon of the
markings ; hut no mention is made in the “ Histoire des Poissons” of the nuchal
filaments, which, however, may have been overlooked, as they are small and
simple, aiid not very obvious. If it be identical with that species, its range in the
Atlantic m usthe considerable, as the S. vomerinus is found on the coast of S. America,
near Bahia. Generally speaking the same species are not observed on both sides
of that ocean ; and perhaps this is an argument for its being distinct : but if so, it
is difficult, without the opportunity of a more close comparison, to point out any
essential differences by which it may be characterized.
This species appears also to have many points of agreement with the
S. iextilis brought by MM. Quoy and Gaimard from the Island of Ascension ; but
the colours do not exactly correspond, neither is there any mention made in the
description of this last, of the vomerine teeth and four ventral rays, wliich so
peculiarly characterize the one above noticed.
As 1 feel some doubts with respect to this species being new or not, I have
tliouglit it advisable to have it figured, more especially as there is no figure, either
of the S. vomerinus or V. textilis, to both which it is so nearly allied.