ACANTHOPTERYGII. 159 



the back, composed of rays almost equally flexible, although there 

 is no articulation to the anterior ones; seven rays in the branchiae. 



CoRYPHiENA, CuV. 



The head much elevated; its profile curved into an arc which de- 

 scends very suddenly; eyes very far down; teeth in the palate as well 

 as in the jaws. Large and beautiful fishes, celebrated for the rapi- 

 dity of their motions, and the eternal war they wage against the 

 Flying-fish. 



C. hippurus, L. Sixty dorsal rays; a silvery-blue above, with 

 deep blue spots; a lemon-yellow with light blue spots beneath. 

 From the Mediterranean. Several neighbouring species are 

 found in the ocean, hitherto confounded with it.(l) . 



Caranxomous, Lacep. 



The head oblong and but slightly elevated, the eye in a mediate 

 position, thus difi'ering in both these respects from the true Cory- 

 phaenae.(2) In the 



Centrolophus, Lacep. 



The palatine teeth are wanting; there is an interval without rays 

 between the occiput and the commencement of the dorsal.(3) A 

 species of each of these two last subgenera inhabits the Mediterra- 

 nean, and occasionally strays into the ocean. 



AsTRODERMUs, BonncUi. 



The elevated and trenchant head and long dorsal of the Cory- 

 phaenae; but the mouth is slightly cleft; there are but four rays in the 

 branchiae, and their ventrals are very small and placed on the throat; 

 the scattering scales of the body assume the radiated form of small 

 stars. 



Astrod. guttatus, Bonn.; Diana semilunata^ Risso, Ed. II, pi. 

 vii, f. 14. Silvery, spotted with black; red fins, and a very 

 high dorsal. From the Mediterranean, and the only species 

 known. (4) 



(1) We will describe 'several of them in our Icthyology, and endeavour to 

 settle their synonymes. 



(2) Scomber pelagicus, L., Mus. Ad. Fred., xxx, f. 3, or Cychla pelagica, Bl , 

 Schn.; Cor. fasciolata. Pall., Spic, Zool., Fasc, "VIII, pi. iii, f. 2. 



(3) Coryphyhaena pompilus, L., Rondel. 250; the Centrolophe negre,Lzcep. IV, 

 441, tlie same as the Perca nigra, Gmel., Borlasse, Hist, of Cornw., pi. xxvi, f. 8, 

 or Holocentre noir, Lacep. ; the Merle, Duham., Sect. IV, pi. vi, f. 2. 



(4) Astrodermus guttatus, Bonnelli, or Diana semilunata, Riss. 2d ed-, VII, f. 14. 



