144 PROCEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OP 



195. Peristera afra, (Linnaeus). 



Columba afra, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 284, (1766). 



Riipp. Syst. Uebers., pi. 38, Buff. PL Enl. 160. 



Apparently an abundant species on the Camma and Ogobai, and formerly 

 received in Mr. Duchaillu's collections, from the Moonda and. Muni. This 

 seems to be the species figured by Riippell, as above and described by that 

 author and others, as C. chalrospilos. 



196. Peristera chalcospilos, (Wagler). 



Columba chalcospilos, Wagler, Syst. Av. sp. 83, (1827). 

 Le Vaill Ois. d'Afr. vii., pi. 271. 



Two species very nearly allied have been received in Mr. Duchaillu's collec- 

 tion from the Camma. The present bird has the spots on the quills constantly 

 lustrous metallic green, not purple, as in the preceding. It appears to be the 

 species indicated by the Prince Bonaparte, under the name here adopted in 

 Conspectus Avium ii. p. 68, though not agreeing with his description in all 

 particulars. 



[To be continued.] 



Notes on a Collection of Japanese Fishes, made by Dr. J. Morrow. 



BY THEO. GILL. 



The collection of Japanese fishes, which it is now proposed to notice, has 

 been submitted to us by Prof. Baird, of the Smithsonian Institution, and was 

 formed during the expedition to Japan, under the command of Commodore 

 Perry. It contains specimens of eighteen species, six of which are believed to 

 be new. All the remaining, with exception of two species, (Gasterotokeut 

 biaculeatus of Meckel and Amphiprion frenatus, Brevoort,) have been previously 

 described as inhabitants of Japan, by Temminck and Schlegel, in the Ichthyo- 

 logical portion of the Fauna Japonica. 



Acanthopterygii Cuv. 

 Scorp^enoid^e Sw., Girard. 



APISTIN.E Gill. 



1. Gymnapistes rubripinnis. 



Apistus rubripinnis Tem. and Schl. Fauna Japonica, Pisces, p. 49, pi. xxii. fig. 2. 



Apistus rubripinnis Brevoort, Notes on figures of Japanese Fish, p. 10, ib. in 

 Narrative Expedition to Japan, vol. 2, p. 262, pi. vi. fig. 5. 



This fish belongs to Svvainson's genus Gymnapistes, established for those 

 species of the Ap i s t u s of Cuvier which are destitute of scales, and all of 

 whose pectoral rays on each side are connected by the membrane and form a 

 single entire fin. 



Swainson has entirely perverted the name of Apistus, or Apistes as it is 

 spelled by him, by applying it to Cuvier's genus M i n o u s , which latter name 

 he has probably abolished on account of its barbarous origin. As the barbarity 

 of a name is not sufficient to authorize such an act, M i n o u s must be restored 

 to the genus for which it was first used, and Apistus may be retained for 

 the first Cuvieran section of the group embraced under that name. 



MONOCENTROID/E Gill. 



The peculiar and cavernous nature of the bones of the head and the large 

 osseous shields of the body appear to detach the genus Monocentris from 

 the other families of the Cataphracti. 



[April, 



