NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 121 



rays, the posterior of which rapidly diminish in length, so that the rayed 

 margin is subvertical. Pectoral fins with the simply articulated inferior rays 

 moderate, and moderately elongated. 



Type. Goniistius zonatus Gill. 



This genus is proposed for species of Oriental and Australian fishes that 

 have been referred by previous naturalists to the genus Chilodactylus, from 

 which they appear to differ sufficiently to authorize their separation. They 

 are readily distinguished from all the other Chilodactijii of Cuvier by the struc- 

 ture and outline of the dorsal fir., the size and form of the head, and the en- 

 tire physiognomy. They agree with the Chirodactyli in the form of the anal 

 fin. 



Three species have been described, one of which has been long known and 

 is now taken as the type of the genus. The most distinctive characters of the 

 respective species are exhibited in the following analytical table : 



Body with 7 to 10 oblique bands. 



9 



Head not banded, unicolor. Scales 60 G. zonatus. 



16 

 Head with a nearly vertical band below the eye. Scales 

 9 

 54 G. quadricornis. 



17 

 Body with a blackish longitudinal band on the back ascend- 

 ing to the apex of the spinous dorsal ; bands on and 

 behind the head. Scales 63 G. gibbosus. 



1. Goniistius zonatus Gill. 



Cheilodactylus zonatus Cuv. et Vol., Hist. Nat. des Poissons. tome v. p 363, 



pi. 129. 

 Chilodactylus zonatus Giinther, Catalogue of the Acanthopterygian Fishes, 



&c. vol. ii. p. 82. 

 Hab. Japanese and Chinese seas. 



2. Goniistius gibbosus Gill. 



Cheilodactylus gibbosus Richardson, Proc. of the Zoological Society of Lon- 

 don 1850, p. 65, pi. 2, figs. 3, 4. 

 Hab. Coast of West Australia. 



3. Goniistius quadricornis Gill. 



Chilodactylus quadricornis Giinther, Catalogue of the Acanthopterygian 



Fishes, vol. ii. p. 83. 

 Hab. Sea of Japan. 



Group NEMATODACTYLI Gill. 

 Latridin;e radiis branchiostegalibus tribus ; caput plerumque nudum. 

 Branchiostegal rays three. Head mostly or entirely naked. 



NEMATODACTYLUS (Richardson.) 



Synonymy. 

 Nemadactylus Richardson, Proceedings Zoological Society, 1839, p. 98 ; lb. 

 Transactions of the Zoological Society, vol. iii. p. 116. 

 Dentes maxillis uniseriati, parvi. 



Body robust, fusiform, highest behind the ventral fins. Scales thin and of 

 moderate size. Head rather small, with the outlines above and below slightly 

 curved to the snout. Eyes mostly anterior, on or scarcely above the rostro- 

 opercular line. Crown and forehead only scaly; cheeks and opercula naked. 

 Opercular bones unarmed. Preoperculum nearly vertical behind. Teeth 



1862.] 



