i.l
teeth, which are found in Climts, this genus has a narrow line of very minute
teeth running longitudinally down the middle of the tongue, communicating a
sensible roughness to the touch. Thirdly, the ventrals are more backward, their
point of insertion being only a very little in advance of that of the pectorals.
Lastly, it is remarkably characterized by having three, or one might almost
say four, distinct lateral lines. The uppermost of these lines commences
at the posterior angle of the opercle, whence it turns abruptly upwards
and runs immediately beneath the base of the dorsal : the second runs
along the median line of the body, but does not commence till a little beyond
the base of the pectoral: the third commences a little above the insertion of the
ventrals, and answers to the upper one, taking its course a little above the
a n a l: there is also part of a fourth, which originates between the ventrals, and
joins the third at the commencement of the anal. All these lines are marked by
larger and differently formed scales from those on the body, (which last are very
minute,) with an elevated tube on each, the tubal pore, however, being most
distinct on the middle or second line. In its general form, and in the large
number of dorsal spines, this genus resembles Climis: the form of the head and
mouth are for the most part sim ilar; also all the parts of the gill-cover; as well as
the branchial membrane, which is six-rayed and free all round. The tags at the
tips of the dorsal and anal spines are very conspicuous, and give those fins somewhat
of a labriform appearance.
It is not improbable that the Clinus littoreus of Cuvier and Valenciennes, which
they have characterized from a drawing and description in the Banksian Library,
and which is said to possess twenty-five spines in the anal fin, may belong to this
new genus. It is observed by those authors, in reference to its peculiarity in this
respect, that such a circumstance, if correct, would be unexampled, and would
tend to separate it from the genus in which they have placed it. It is also worth
remarking that the C. littoreus comes from New Zealand, the same country as
that whence Mr. Darwin obtained the above.
In the circumstance of having three lateral lines, this new genus seems to
have some affinity with Chirus of Steller ; but the scales are not ciliated as they
are said to be in this last, neither are the ventrals five-rayed.
A c a n t h o c l in u s f u s c u s . Jen.
P l a t e X V III. Fig. 2.
F orm.— B ody elongated and compressed ; the depth, which varies but little, one-sixth of the entire
length ; thickness in the region of the pectorals rather more than half the depth. Head contained
very little more than four times in the length. Profile sloping but very little. Snout
rather sh o rt: mouth protractile, and rather w ide: lips somewhat fleshy and reflexed. Gape
reaching to beneath the anterior part of the orbit, but the maxillary, which is dilated a t its
posterior extremity, and cut nearly square, reaching to beyond the middle. Lower jaw a little
the longest, and ascending to meet the upper. Several rows of sharp velutine teeth in each
jaw , with some here and there stronger and more hooked than the others, those below almost
fine card : a band on the vomer and on each palatine. Tongue of a triangular form, free and
pointed a t the tip, with a ridge of asperities down the median line. Eyes high, but hardly interrupting
the line of the profile ; their diameter one-fifth the length of the h ea d ; distant one
diameter from the end of the snont. No filamentous appendages of any kind on any part of the
head ; but an irregular circle of pores nearly surrounding the o rb it; also a few very distinct pores
beneath the lower jaw . Preopercle rounded, with distant pores along the margin. Opercle
terminating posteriorly in a sharp salient angle with the basal margin ascending; beneath which
the subopercle and interoperele are both very distinct. Branchial membrane free and open all
round, not adhering to the isthmus underneath, but deeply notched in the middle.
Tlie dorsal commences in a line witli the posterior point of the gill-cover. and is very
similar to that of Climis. Spinous portion long, and, excepting the first two rays, of nearly
uniform height, equalling nearly half the depth ; the membrane deeply notched between the
spines, the tips of which are invested with filamentous tags. Soft portion of the dorsal more
elevated than the spinous, and with only four rays. Between the end of this fin and the caudal
is a small space equalling nearly two-thirds of the depth beneath. The anal commences under
the twelfth dorsal spine, and exactly corresponds to the posterior half of that fln, reaching also
to the same point. The spines in both fins are sharp and moderately stron g ; the soft rays
articulated and branched, and terminating rather in a point behind. C audal rounded, with fourteen
branched rays, and a few shorter simpler ones. Pectorals one-seventh of the entire length,
rounded when spread open, with all the rays except the last branched. V entrals narrow and
pointed, about the same length as the pectorals, and inserted but very little in advance of those
fins; the spine well developed, and half the length of the soft ray s; first soft ray long, and
deeply divided so as to appear like tw o; the second ray slender and shorter.
Body covered with very minute scales; but none on the head or on any of the fins. Three
very distinct lateral lines, with a portion of a fourth, as already stated above.
B. 6 ; D . 20,4 ; A. 9/4 ; C. 1(1, &c. ; P. 17 ; V. 1/2.
Length 3 inc. 8 lin.
C o lo u r.— N ot noticed in the recent state. I n spirits it appears of a nearly uniform bister brown,
with the fins aud some portion of the head darker than the rest, especially a blackish spot on
the opercle.
H abitat, Bay of Islands, New Zealand.
There are four specimens of this new fish in the collection, ail similar except
in size. The above is the largest. Tlie others measure in length from one inch
and three quarters, to not quite three inches. The two largest are from the Bay
of Islands, New Zealand. The other two have lost their labels : I only presume
therefore that they are from the same locality.