108 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



The first spine of the anal fin is shaped like a compressed pen. 



The body is of a buff or fawn color, inclining to silvery beneath, and with 

 golden lines running along the median line of the scales ; those of the dorsal re- 

 gion run obliquely backwards and upwards. There are two vertical bands, 

 one of which is oblique, and passes from the nape to the angle of the mouth, 

 but interrupted by the eye ; the second is vertical, and extends from the com- 

 mencement of the dorsal fin to the base of the pectoral. There are also be- 

 hind on each side seven longitudinal and nearly parallel silver simple narrow 

 bands bordered on each edge with purplish ; the first is immediately under the 

 spinous part of the dorsal from the first to the tenth spinous rays ; the second 

 commences on the fifth row of scales from the back, and ends under the fifth 

 branched ray ; the third on the eighth, and extends nearly to the end of the 

 dorsal ; the fourth at the horizon of the superior border of the orbit, and 

 terminates at the base of the caudal, between the lateral line and upper surface of caudal 

 peduncle ; the fifth runs from above the axilla of pectoral to the base of caudal, 

 and near its end immediately under the lateral line ; the sixth from the inferior 

 axilla of pectoral to the end of anal ; the seventh is very indistinct or obsolete. 

 The fins are yellowish ; the ventral tinged with purplish. 



The species above described is very nearly allied to the Anisotremus virgini- 

 cus. It inhabits the western coast of tropical America, and has been noticed 

 under the name of Pristipoma rodo,. in the Proceedings of the Academy of 

 Natural Sciences, as being one of the few marine animals that are found on 

 both sides of the continent. Although certainly very nearly allied to the 

 species of the eastern waters it appears to be quite distinct. As will be seen 

 by the comparative descriptions of the two species here offered, the color 

 nniply distinguishes them. In the species of the Caribbean Sea and neigh- 

 boring waters, there are in front from ten to fourteen longitudinal yellow 

 bands, most of which unite by pairs at a greater or less distance behind, and 

 are reduced to seven. In the Anisotremus iceniatus, there are only seven nar- 

 row silvery bands bordered with purplish. The bands of the respective spe- 

 cies are also quite differently situated. In the Anisotremus virginicus, there are 

 only indistinct oblique purplish lines running along the centres of each row of 

 scales. In the Anisotremus tceniatus the lines are of a golden color, and are 

 present on the sides as well as the dorsal region. 



One specimen of this species is preserved in the Museum of the Academy of 

 Natural Sciences. It was obtained by Dr. Ruschenberger at Panama. 



Note. In the advance sheets of a " Conspectus Piscium Cubensium," recently pub- 

 lished by my learned Iriend and correspondent, M. Poey, the Professor of Comparative 

 Anatomy and Zoology in the Royal University of Havana, the species formerly 

 described by that gentleman, as Pristipoma spleniatum and P. trilineatum, are referred 

 to this genus, and called Anisotremus spleniatum and A. trilineatum. The former 

 species is very closely allied to the Pi isiipoma bilineatvm of Cuvier. I have some 

 doubt whether those species are really congeneric with the A. virginicus, and having 

 never seen them, did not dare to posiiively refer them to it; they are at least very 

 closely related to them, and may possibly be generically allied. 



Synopsis of the TJRANOSCOPOIDS. 

 BY THEODORE GILL. 



There lives in the Mediterranean Sea a fish which has been long known and 

 celebrated for its peculiar form. Its head is cubical ; its eyes situated on the' 

 superior surface, so to only enable it to look above, its ptipil being equally so 

 directed and not towards the sides, as are those of the Rays*. This fish has 



' Cuv. et Val Hist. Nat. des Poissons, tome iii. p. 288. 



[May, 



