1854.] 123 



preceding species : back with a sharp ridge, anterior to the dorsal; curve of the 

 belly slight till it comes to the base of the anal, at which point it takes an an- 

 gular turn of about 00, so as to throw the anal rays in a horizontal direction. 

 Tail turned upwards from a horizontal position, but as the fish advances in age 

 this curvature is nearly obliterated. Lateral line nearly concurrent. Eyes 

 medium size, lower edge of the orbit in a line with the upper lip. hides silver 

 white and brown. 



Back dark, with metallic tints. Head dark brown or transparent gray. An 

 ultramarine blue band nearly surrounds the orbits, passing forward under the 

 nostrils, where it curves downwards to the angle of the mouth and upper lip. 

 Same color round the edges of the opercle and preopercle. About 24 longitudinal 

 stripes, similar in color to the preceding, but more of a rose tint along the sides. 

 A reddish-brown band extends along the dorsal and ana] ? the tail mottled with 

 the same color; blue and orange color bands across the ventrals ; 11 or 12 indis- 

 tinct transverse red bands across the body. Caudal fin furcate, tail wider at the 

 base of the fin. 



Extreme length, 11 inches; width, 4 inches; weight, 1 lb. 



D. 35 ; P. 22 ; V. 6 ; A. 36 ; C. 20. 



H. fuliginosus, Gibbons. Head yellowish brown, transparent gray or nearly 

 black; dark brown or black along the upper jaw on each side. Eyes rather 

 large ; irides silver white, yellow and purple brown. Lips quite fleshy, lemon 

 color, the yellow extending under the jaw ; parallel stripes, about 24, somewhat 

 obscure. Scales alons; the base of the fins and in the space anterior to the ven- 

 trals and pectorals smaller. The free surface of the scales on the back dark 

 brown ; the angles formed by the edges filled in with blue, both colors growing 

 lighter as they pass down the sides. Posterior extremity of the dorsal and anal 

 rounded, dark band across the caudal and along the anal and ventral ; anal 

 banded blue and brown. Entire length, 13 to 15 inches ; width, including 

 dorsal, 5.T) ; weight, 2 to 3 lbs. 



D. 30; P. 21 ; V. 6 ; A. 29; C. 20. 



Cymatogaster,, Gibbons. 

 Head of medium size ; snout protractile ; lips thickened ; cheeks and opercula 

 covered with scales ; soft membrane around the edges ; body oblong, ovate sub- 

 compressed, regularly arched, the curve of the dorsum and belly corresponding. 

 Teeth small, conical, three row 7 s in the upper, one in the lower jaw ; those in the 

 latter extending to the angle of the mouth ; branchiostegal rays 5; pectorals 

 anterior to dorsal; lateral line concurrent; scales of medium size. Nostrils 

 double, anterior closed with a valve. 



C. Larkinsii, Gibbons. Inferior edge of orbit on a line with the upper lip; 

 eyes of medium size ; lower jaw a little the longer; dorsal with nine spinous 

 rays; 1st short, 2d, 3d, and 4th, double the length of its preceding one ; 5th, 

 the longest, about 1.25 in. above the scales, from which the fin diminishes regu- 

 larly in height to its termination. Pectorals long and pointed, 1st short and 

 spinous; anal with the three first short and spinous; posterior half of the fin in 

 a groove similar to the dorsal. Scales back of head, and along the base of the 

 fins smaller ; those at the base of the anterior portion of anal very small ; space 

 free of scales from the base of ventrals to that of the caudal. 



Head white, gray or mottled with brown ; back, brown and gray ; sides and 

 belly, silver white ; from 6 to 8 imperfectly defined yellowish transverse 

 bands across the body. Dark color along the dorsal. 



Extreme length, 15 inches; width 5.5; weight 3 to 4 lbs. 



D. 36 ; P. 22 ; V. 6 ; A. 32 ; C. 22. 



C. pulchelltjs, Gibbons. Line of the upper lip passing through the centre 

 of the eyes ; lips thin ; two large scales anterior to the orbits ; dorsal commences 

 posterior to the pectorals, and opposite the ventrals; 1st three spines of dorsal 

 short; 2d and 3d double the length of its preceding one; 4th three times as 

 long as the third; 5th the longest, being one inch and seven-eighths, measuring 



