NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 99 



generically distinct, and a true Serranus Cuv. Two specimens were obtained at 

 Newport, Rhode Island, by Messrs. N. andE. Smith. Both specimens are young, 

 the length being less than two inches. 



The second species noticed belonged to the genus Sarothrodus,* and was per- 

 haps most nearly related to a species of the West Indies recently described by 

 Dr. Giiuther, under the name of Chaetodon gracilis. The new species was named 



Sarothrodus maculo-cinctus. 



The dorso-nasal profile was less steep than that of the Sarothrodus gra- 

 cilis. The course of the lateral line presented also a characteristic difference ; it 

 suddenly advances with a very slight curve to near the base of about the 

 fifth articulated ray of the dorsal fin, and is then deflected, and runs under 

 the base of the dorsal nearly to the end of that fin. 



The fins are nearly similar in form to Sarothrodus gracilis and its allies. The 

 third anal spine is not longer, or is even shorter than the second. The number 

 of rays is expressed by the following formula : 



D. XII. IS. A. III. 16. P. 15. V. I. 6. 



The color of the body is yellowish, or whitish minutely dotted with black, 

 ornamented with an anterior and posterior blackish brown band. The an- 

 terior separates in front of the dorsal, from its fellow of the opposite side at 

 an acute angle, passes over the eye, and extends to the inferior margin of the 

 interoperculum ; it is narrower than the orbit. The posterior is as wide as the 

 anterior, convex behind, and expands into a large darker spot on the basal 

 half of the dorsal fin between the second and twelfth articulated rays, and into 

 a similar one at the base of the anal between its first and tenth articulated 

 rays. The peduncle of the tail behind the fins is of the same color as the rest 

 of the body. The fins are dotted like the body ; the ventrals very densely. The 

 dorsal and anal fins have not a dark marginal or submarginal line. 



This species is most nearly allied to the Sarothrodus gracilis,f but is readily 

 distinguished by the number of rays and color. In that species, the posterior 

 band passes over the caudal peduncle, covers the hinder part of the anal and 

 dorsal fins, and is continued more faintly on the basal half of the entire articu- 

 lated portion of the latter. The articulated portions of the dorsal and anal fins 

 have a very narrow, light border, and on the former there is also a narrow sub- 

 marginal blackish line. 



A single young specimen, little more than an inch long, is in the Museum of 

 the Academy, aud was presented by Mrs. E. P. Mason. 



The thanks of the Academy were tendered to Mr. Horatio C. Wood, 

 Jr., for the valuable donation received from him at this meeting. 



May Wth. 



Mr. Lea, President, in the Chair. 

 Twenty-eight members present. 



The number of the Proceedings of the Academy for April was laid 

 on the table. 



* This name is proposed for the typical species of Chaetodon, or such as Chaetodon 

 capistratus of Linnaeus. The name of Chaetodon cannot be retained for the present 

 genus, as Artedi, who first characterized it in his " Genera Piscium" referred to it only 

 four species, none of which belong to this genus. The first and fourth are Pomacanthi. 

 The name of Chaetodon may consequently be substituted for Pomacanthus. 



t Chaetodon gracilis Giinlher Catalogue of the Acanthopterygian Fishes, vol. ii.. p. 20. 



Chaetodon sedentarius Poey Memorias sobre la Histona Natural de la Isla de Cuba, 

 torn. ii. p. 203. 



A specimen from St. Croix obtained by Dr. Griffith is in the Museum of the Academy. 



1861.] 



