NATUKAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 109 



ognomy being apparently similar, one cannot be disposed to regard such a 

 character in this case as generic. 



The Cirrhitus aureus of Temminck and Schlegel is probably the type of a dis- 

 tinct genus. We have provisionally proposed for it the designation of Cirrhi- 

 topsis, but having seen none of the species of Bleeker's Cirrhitichthys, hesitate 

 to rank it as a genus. 



The Cirrhitus maculatus of Lacepede has been referred to Cirrhitichthys by Dr. 

 Giinther, as well as Dr. Bleeker, on account of the presence of " a very small 

 patch of teeth anteriorly on each palatine bone." In other respects, that spe- 

 cies perfectly agrees with most of the species retained under the name of 

 Cirrhitus by those gentlemen. Its physiognomy is entirely similar to theirs, 

 and quite different from that of a typical Cirrhitichthys. We therefore retain 

 that species in the genus Cirrhitus, not regarding the extension of a few of the 

 teeth on the palatine bones as entitling it to generic distinction, and certainly 

 not to be grouped with Cirrhitichthys. The name Cirrhitichthys could in no case 

 be accepted for the Cirrhitus maculatus, as it is the type and only species placed 

 by Commerson and Lacepede in their genus ; it must therefore always retain 

 that name, and if isolated from others, they must receive a new generic appella- 

 tion, and not it. 



Subgenus Cirrhitichthys. 



1. Cirrhitichthys graphidopterus Bleeker. 



Cirrhitichthysgraphidopterus Blocker, NatuurkundigTijdschrift voorNeder- 

 landsch Indie, 1853, p. 106. 

 Habitat. Amboyna, 



2. Cirrhitichthys oxyrhynchcs Bleeker. 



Cirrhitichthys oxyrhynchus Bleeker, Natuurkundig Tijdschrift voor Neder- 

 landsch Indie, deel xv., 1858, p. 205. 

 Habita. Goram. 



3. Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus Bleeker. 



Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus Bleeker, Natuurkundig Tijdschrift voor Neder- 

 landsch Indie, deel viii., 1855, p. 408. 

 Habitat. Amboyna. 



Subgenus Cirrhitopsis. 



4. Cirrhitopsis aureus Gill. 



Cirrhites aureus Temm. et Schlegel, Fauna Japonica, Pisces,]}. 15, pi. 7. fig. 2. 

 Cirrhitichthys aureus Bleeker. 

 Habitat. Japan and China. 



OXYCIRRHITES Bleeker. 



Synonymy. 



Oxycirrhites Bleeker, Achtste Bijdrage tot de kennis der Vischfauna von Am- 

 Jboina, p. 39; in Acta Societatis Indo-Nederlandicje, vol. ii., 1856 7. 



Bostrum aculissimum, procluclum. Dentes canini nulli. 



Body elongated, compressed and about five times as long as high. Scales 

 large. Head very acute, nearly twice as long as high, with the nape convex ; 

 concave between the occiput and snout. Cheeks and opercular bones scaly. 

 Preoperculum dentated, and with its angle obtusely rounded. Operculum 

 armed with aflat'spine. Anterior nostrils each famished with a divided cirrhus. 

 Mouth almost prolonged into a tube. Jaws equal; the upper produced more 

 than an eye's diameter beyond the snout, dentated on their ascending and de- 

 cending branches. Teeth pluriserial on each jaw, preceded by a row of larger 

 ones, but no canines. Front of the vomer with a semilunar band of small ones ; 

 palatine none. Branchiostegal rays 6 6. Dorsal fin with ten spines, the third, 

 fourth and fifth of which are longest, and the first and penultimate shortest ; 



1862.] 



