242 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



The recent discoveries by Prof. Poey have much increased the number of 

 representative species. The Haliperca of the West Indies are represented by 

 one Japanese species, (H. hirundinaceus). The other Serraninse have been 

 already enumerated by Dr. Giinther. The Elastoma oculatum of the Carib- 

 bean Sea is represented by a form so closely allied that the distinguished 

 authors of the Fauna Japonica were unable, after a critical comparison, to 

 discover any difference. Verilus of Poey is allied to Elastoma and Etelis, and 

 is perhaps also represented by Caprodon (T, & S.) in Japan. The species of 

 the genus Scombrops, T. & S. has only two species, one of which is Japanese 

 and the other Cuban ; the nearest relation of the genus is also a West Indian, 

 the Sphyrcenops Bairdianus (Poey.) Emmelichthys has equally Japanese and 

 West Indian species. The peculiar Priacanthus niphonius (Cuv. et Val.) and 

 Myriopristis Japonicus (Cuv. et Val.) are most nearly allied to West Indian 

 and North American fishes the Priacanthus alt us (Gill) and Myriopristis tra- 

 cht/poma (Giinther). Finally, the species recently described as Hoilardia 

 Hollardi by M. Poey, is closely related to a Japanese fish, the Triacanthodes 

 anomalus, Blkr. The forms enumerated are very peculiar and distinct ones, 

 and have no near allies in other seas. Many other genera of more universal 

 distribution or with less characteristic species, which are represented by 

 allied forms in the two seas might be added. Sufficient has been said to 

 indicate that the law which has been enunciated by botanists relating to 

 the similarity of the plants of Eastern Asia and Eastern America, may be 

 extended within more restricted limits, to the inhabitants of the sea as well 

 as to those of the land ; for the invertebrated animals, the crustaceans, the 

 mollusks and the radiates, to a greater or less extent, are subject to the 

 same rule as the fishes. 



Catalogue of the FISHES of Lower California, in the Smithsonian Institution 



collected by Mr. J. Xantus. 



PART II. 



BY THEODORE GILL. 



In this paper are continued the descriptions of the fishes collected at Cape 

 St. Lucas, by Mr. John Xantus. The sequence of the families is not entire- 

 ly in accordance with their natural affinities. 



Family TE UTHYD OIDJE (Cuv.) 



Genus Pkionurus C. et V. 



PEIONURUS PUNCTATt'S Gill. 



The greatest height equals twQ-fifths of the total length (-40.) the head 

 forms more than afourth ("27.) The length of the snout much exceeds half 

 of the head's length ("15,) and is a half greater than the diameter of the orbit 

 (10;) it is produced and its upper profile very obliquely incurved. There 

 are on each side of the upper jaw eight teeth, and in the lower jaw six. The 

 tail has three median laminse, the anterior of which are conic, and the last 

 bifid, and one smaller one above and below at the base of the caudal. 



D. VIII. 26. A. III. 22. (V. I. 5.) 



The color is whitish gray, spotted with black on the head, body, dorsal, and 

 anal fins ; the caudal peduncle and fin, pectoral and ventral fins are im- 

 maculate. 



Many specimens of this species were obtained at Cape St. Lucas. It widely 

 differs from the previously known species by its spotted body ; in other 



[April. 



