NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 117 



dorsal, and close to the ventrals, from which it is separated by the anal aper- 

 ture alone. The ventrals themselves are of moderate development, overlapping 

 the vent and projecting beyond the insertion of the anal ; the second ray is 

 much longer than the rest. The pectorals are elongated, their tips extending 

 beyond the insertion of the ventrals and the origin of the anal without reaching 

 as far as the tip of the ventrals. The rays are : D 14 ; A 7 ; C 5, 1, 9, 8, 1, 

 5; V 6; P 12. 



The largest specimens of the female sex which have come under our observa- 

 tion, measure but an inch and a half. The general aspect of the body is the 

 same as in the male sex; the head, however, is somewhat larger, being con- 

 tained about four times and a half in the total length. The dorsal fin is much 

 smaller than in the male, and convex upon its upper margin. The anal fin is 

 rather small and inserted opposite the middle region of the dorsal. The ven- 

 trals overlap the vent, but tueir extremities do not quite reach the anterior 

 margin of the anal. The tip of the pectorals extends beyond the origin of the 

 ventrals, but not as far as the anal fin. The anal fin has nine rays. The sec- 

 ond ray of the ventrals is even with the rest. The scales are large, much deeper 

 than long, anteriorly subtruncated, and rounded off upon the rest of the peri- 

 phery. Radiating furrows may be observed upon their anterior section only. 



The ground color is reddish brown, lighter beneath than above, with longi- 

 tudinal series of d^rk spots corresponding to the series of scales, and more con- 

 spicuous along the dorsal region than elsewhere. The dorsal flu is transvers- 

 ally barred with series of blackish spots, as well as the upper lobe of the cau- 

 dai. The other fins being unicolor. 



The above species we propose to designate under the name of Limia matamo- 

 rensis. 



XLVIII. A new genus to which we give the name of Actinia, has the general 

 physiognomy of Limia, but differs from it, as well as from Pcecilia, by the struc- 

 ture of its mouth. The latter is protractile, rather cleft, dearly horizontal when 

 retracted, and slightly directed downwards when protracted ; the jaws being 

 equal, the snout subcorneal, instead of being truncated as in Limia and Pctcilia. 

 The lower jaw is also better developed than in the genera just alluded to, and 

 the upper one is convex instead of being depressed. The male sex differs but 

 little from the female; the dorsal and anal fins holding the same relative po- 

 sition in either of them, being simply larger in the male than in the female. 

 The posterior margin of the caudal fin is subtruncated. 



Specimens of the typical species of this genus, and, as yet, the only one known, 

 were collected at Galveston, Texas, by Dr. C. B. Kennerly, under Capt. A. W. 

 Whipple, at St. Joseph's Island, Tex., by Gustavus Wurdemann, and at Indi- 

 anola, Tex., by John H. Clark, under Col. J. D. Graham. The largest ones 

 observed measure less than an inch and a half in total length, in which the 

 head enters about three times and a half. The head is, therefore, well devel- 

 oped, wedge-shaped, the profile being quite declivous from the origin of the 

 dorsal fin to the apex of the snout. The greatest depth of the body corresponds 

 to the anterior margin of the dorsal, and diminishes rapidly backwards. The 

 eye is la r ge and circular, its diameter entering three times and a half in the 

 length of the side of the head: once in advance of its anterior rim. The dor- 

 sal fin is higher than long, and quite elevated in the male sex ; its anterior mar- 

 gin is nearly equidistant between the apex of the snout and the posterior edge 

 of the caudal fin. The anal fin is deeper than long, and deeper in the male than 

 iu the female ; its anterior margin corresponding to the middle of the base of 

 the dorsal, and extends more backwards than the latter fin. Its exterior mar- 

 gin is rounded off, or convex. The ventrals are rather broad and overlap the 

 vent, whilst the pectorals are elongated and extend beyond the origin of the 

 ventrals. The second ray of the latter fins does not project beyond the others, 

 as is the case with the species of Limia. The rays are: D 9 ; All; C 4,1, 



1859.] 



