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PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



lower, there is an external one of smaller teeth, and at the symphysis still 

 smaller ones are mixed between the two rows. 



Anterior dorsal fin sustained by nine spines ; the posterior of normal size, 

 and generally provided with less than thirty rays. Anal fin of the usual size ; 

 its second spine short. Caudal subtruncated. Ventral fins inserted behind 

 the bases of the pectorals. 



Lateral line parallel with the back, simply tubular and perforated in scales, 

 similar to those of the rest of the body. 



The armature of the pharyngeal bones and arches resembles mostly that of 

 Cynoscion, but the plates are not compressed, but rather developed as project- 

 ing ridges, and the supernumerary plates are very few or obsolete. 



Type. Scisena aquila Cuv. 



Genus Anomiolepis Gill. 



Body compressed, scarcely elongated and subclavate, with the caudal pedun- 

 cle of moderate length. 



Head short, with the muzzle short and convex, and with the lower jaw also 

 ascending upwards with a slight curve. 



Preoperculum with its margin moderately oblique and apparently dentated. 



Eyes mostly anterior. Mouth oblique. Suprarnaxillary bones well exposed, 

 and extending to or beyond the posterior borders of the pupils. Lower jaw 

 received within the external row of teeth of the upper. 



Teeth uniserial ; those of the upper jaw distant, and the anterior much 

 larger ; those of the lower jaw increasing in size backwards. 



Anterior dorsal fin furnished with about ten spines ; second elongated. 

 Anal fin with its first spine short and its second moderate. Caudal fin pro- 

 bably rounded or lanceolate. 



Lateral line running through a row of subcircular cycloid scales, whose pos- 

 terior margin have each a subcircular incision. 



The. pharyngeal bones and arches are furnished nearly in the same manner 

 as in Scicena. 



This genus is represented by a new species, of which two specimens were 

 found at Hong Kong, China, by Dr. Stimpson. Only a single specimen is at 

 present accessible, and on it we cannot find a band of villiform teeth behind 

 the external row of large ones, even with the aid of a good lens, and are con- 

 sequently compelled to believe that there is none. The species appears to be 

 related to the Corvina tridentifer -of Richardson, which has a band of villiform 

 teeth behind the external ones ; but besides this character, which is of generic 

 importance, it differs in others. Like the fish of Richardson, the present spe- 

 cies has four large teeth in front in the upper jaw. 



The name which has been bestowed on this genus is intended to draw at- 

 tention to the peculiar structure of the scales of the lateral line, which remind 

 the observer of the perforate valve of a shell of the genus Anomia. 



Genus Plagioscion Gill. 



Body elongated, well curved from the dorsal to the snout, and almost straight 

 under the second dorsal ; abdominal outline nearly straight. Caudal pedun- 

 cle short and slender. 



Head moderate, compressed and subcorneal, slightly depressed over the 

 eyes, and with the muzzle rather short, high, subtruncated, and protuberant. 

 The external fissures alone are slightly developed. Mental pores obsolete. 

 Preoperculum with its crest and margin oblique, nearly parallel, and with its 

 margin dentated most at its angle. Eyes anterior. Mouth oblique. Supra- 

 maxillary bones mostly concealed, extending below the posterior borders of 

 the orbits. Lower jaw received within the upper. Lips fleshy. 



Teeth ir. the upper jaw in a villiform band surrounded by a row of stronger 

 ones ; larger ones nearly uniserial, mixed with smaller in the lower jaw. 



[April, 



