NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 57 



cleft ; the pectorals and ventrals, and the fins generally, assume a position and 

 an aspect, not departing from the normal rule in that family. In the charac- 

 ters thus far enumerated, there is nothing to attract very particularly the at- 

 tention, except, perhaps, the'broad exit to the respiratory stream ; and, as far 

 as the dentition is concerned, we have already stated its type by referring the 

 species to the genus Neoclinus. But now imagine a fish with all these charac- 

 ters, provided with a mouth very wide and deeply cleft, with the maxillar bones 

 in their usual position, developed beyond all proportions ; so much so that their 

 posterior extremity, which is considerably dilated, extends beyond the bran- 

 chiostegal apparatus. Between the cheeks and the inner edge of the maxillar 

 bones there is a connecting membrane, which measures about an inch and 

 a half along its posterior edge, and gives the mouth an enormous amplitude 

 when viewed in front ; both maxillars stretched. The same membrane extends 

 from the angle of the mouth, along the lower jaw to near its apex or sym- 

 physis, towards which it tapers. That abnormal development of the maxillar 

 bones reminds us of a similar peculiarity of structure in Opistognathus sonnerati, 

 upon which species the genus Opistognathus was founded. Another species of 

 the same genus Opistognathus, however, 0. ruvieri, does not possess the same 

 feature, and the generic characters of Opistognathus are now derived from other 

 structural traits. In treating of Neoclinus it will be recollected, we alluded to 

 the natural affinities between these two genera. They differ chiefly by the 

 dentition and the structure of the ventral fins : Neoclinus having conspicuous 

 palatine teeth and three articulated rays only to the ventrals ; whilst Opistog- 

 nathus has the palate toothless, or nearly so, and is provided with five articu- 

 lated rays to its ventral fins. The pectorals, dorsal, anal and caudal fins 

 present the same general appearance in both genera. Even the scales are 

 similar : they being small, imbricated and cycloid in their structure. The air 

 bladder, which is wanting in Neoclinus, is extant in Opistognathus. 



It is more than probable that had we been acquainted with this second 

 species of Neoclinus first, we would have been misled as to its real generical 

 characters, and framed a name in allusion to the condition of the upper jaw, 

 such as Pterognathus for example, which would have been most characteristic, 

 for that upper jaw is as truly winged as the anterior members of the flying 

 squirrels. We cannot help thinking that Cuvier himself would not have coined 

 the name of Opistognathus had he had before him the species which bears his 

 name, instead of that which he dedicated to Sonnerat. 



These two genera (Opistognathus and Neoclinus,) will furnish one of the best 

 themes to ichthyological studies, as they exemplify the fact that specific char- 

 acters may be developed to exaggeration, and become more conspicuous than 

 the generic characters themselves. 



Returning now to the principal object of this paragraph, which is to record 

 a second species in the genus Neoclinus, and to which we give the name of N. 

 satiricus, the chief difference between the latter and N. blanchafdi resides in 

 development of the maxillar bones, above alluded to. The cephalic membra- 

 nous flaps or tentacles, which we noticed in the species formerly described. 

 do not appear to exist in the present one ; so that their expression will have 

 to be stricken out from the generical diagnosis. The formula of the rays : Br. 

 vi : vi ; D 42 ; A 29 ; C 3, 1, 5, 4, 1, 4 ; V 1, 3 ; P 14, bears a great resemblance 

 to that of N. blanchardi ; we have not been able to ascertain how many of the 

 rays of the dorsal fin are simple and unarticulated. The insertion of the ven- 

 trals takes place somewhat more in advance of the pectorals than in the species 

 just alluded to. 



The color is uniform olivaceous brown, with a bluish black tint prevailing 

 over the sides of the head and the fins. The maxillar membrane is posteriorly 

 white edged, as in N. blanchardi. 



The only specimen of this species that has come to our knowledge, was 

 caught at a depth of thirty fathoms, in the Bay of Monterey, r Cala., and sent to 

 the museum of the Smithsonian Institution by A. S. Taylor, Esq., to whom 



1859.] 



