NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 85 



short, cylindro-conic and very blunt. The setse are normal. The dentiferous 

 plates of the arches developed as thick compressed ridges. 



The scales of the head are mostly cycloid. 

 Type. Corvina nigra Cuv. 



Genus Rhinoscion Gill. 



Amblodon sp. Girard, Explorations and Surveys for a Railroad Route, &c, 

 vol. x. Fishes, p. 98. 



Body oblong, with the ante-dorsal region convex, and the occipito-nasal pro- 

 file nearly straight. 



Head oblong, with the snout slender and protuberant, and the profile nearly 

 straight. Eyes anterior and subcircular. Preoperculum scarcely dentated. 

 Mental pores developed. Mouth inferior. Supramaxillary bones only par- 

 tially concealed, not reaching to the posterior borders of the eyes. 



Teeth in a band in each jaw, preceded in the upper especially by a row of 

 larger ones. 



Anterior dorsal fin with ten spines ; second anal spine robust. 



The variable teeth of the lower pharyngeal bones are cylindro-conic ; those 

 of the median upper ones acutely conic and curved. The sets of the first 

 ceratohyals are normal. The dentiferous plates of the arches very thick and 

 not compressed. 



The scales of the cheeks are ctenoid like those of the body. 



Type. Rhinoscion saturnus Gill. 

 Syn. Amblodon saturnus Girard. 



Genus Johnius Bloch. 



Johnius Bloch, Ichthologie ou Hist. Nat. Generate et Particular des Poissons, 



vol. x., p. 107. 

 Corvina sp. auct. 



Body elongated, with the dorsal outline arched, gradually descending from 

 the dorsal to the snout, and slowly declining with a gentle curve from the 

 commencement to the end of the dorsal fins. Abdominal outline scarcely or 

 slightly convex. 



Head oblong, with the profile oblique, the muzzle convex and protuberant, 

 and the lower jaw scarcely ascending. Eyes of moderate size, anterior to a 

 vertical line dividing the side of the head into two halves. Preoperculum 

 with its vertical and horizontal margins finely denticulated. Two lateral pores 

 evident, and often one or rarely two symphyseal ones present. Mouth slightly 

 oblique and subterminal. Supramaxillary bones moderately hiding under the 

 suborbital, extending to about the vertical of the posterior borders of the 

 orbits. 



Teeth cardiform, in a band on each jaw, and in the upper one preceded by 

 a row of stronger curved ones. 



Anterior dorsal fin provided with nine or ten spines. Anal fin with its 

 second spine about half as long as the succeeding soft ray. Caudal fin gene- 

 rally entire or with its submedian rays extended. 



The variable teeth of the lower and median upper pharyngeal bones are 

 cylindro-conic. The setse of the first pair of ceratohyals are normal ; the den- 

 tiferous plates of the branchial arches are thick ridges. 



The assumed North American representative of this genus may possibly not 

 be congeneric with its type, but as no specimens are accessible, and as the 

 figure of Bloch and the description of Cuvier and Valenciennes are not 

 sufficiently exact and detailed to enable us to decide, it is for the present re- 

 tained here. 



Type Johnius carutta Bloch. 



1861.] 



