280 PROCEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OP 



A single adult specimen was sent to the Institution by Mr. Hubbard, and a 

 smaller one is in the collection formed by the Northwestern Boundary Com- 

 mission. 



Family BATRACHOIDJE. 



Porichthys pokosissimus Girard. 



After an autoptical examination of adult specimens, Dr. Giinther was un- 

 able to distinguish between the Pacific and Atlantic representatives of Porich- 

 thys. I am therefore compelled to follow him. The only specimens of the 

 Atlantic fish that I have seen were young. 



Family ATHERINOID^. 

 Chirostoma californiense Gill. 

 Atherinopsis californiensis Girard, Ayres. 



Two fine specimens in the collection. 



I fully concur with Messrs. Giinther and Ayres in uniting Atherinopsis, 

 Basilichthys and Heterognathus of Girard in one genus, but am compelled to 

 retain for that genus the name of Chirostoma given by Swainson, he having 

 first truly limited it. The A. affinis and A. tenuis of Ayres must consequently 

 be named Chirostoma affine and C. tenue. 



The Atherina migrans of Richardson is scarcely a species of Chirostoma, but 

 apparently the type of another genus, which may be named Melanotaenia, 

 distinguished by a more robust body, black lateral band, &c. 



Family GADOIDS. 



Subfamily GADINiE. 



Gadus proximus Girard. 



Six fine specimens are in the collection. 



This species is a true Gadus. The Gadus eeglifinus L. and G. minutus Yar- 

 rell, of our Eastern America and Northern Europe, belong to different genera. 

 The former distinguished by its black lateral line, pointed first dorsal and 

 emarginated caudal, may be called Melanogrammus (sglijinus and the Gadus 

 minutus, with its abbreviated head, short abdomen, emarginated caudal, &c, 

 is the type of a genus which may be called Brachygadus. 



Subfamily BROSMOPHYCINiE. 



BROSMOPHYCIS MARGINAT0S Gill. 



A fine specimen in the collection. 



The name of Brosmophycis was published a short time before Ayres' name 

 of Halias. The latter name has been also preoccupied. 



Family PLEURONECTOID^. 



Subfamily PLEURONECTINiE. 



Platichthys stellatus Girard. 



I have not been happy enough to distinguish any differences between the 

 Platichthi/s rugosus of Girard and Pleuronectes stellatus Pallas. Girard has ac- 

 knowledged that " the latter species is closely allied to P. rugosus, from which 

 it may even not differ. An actual comparison between the specimens is, how- 

 ever, demanded, before a settlement of the question can be arrived at." As 

 Richardson's elaborate description and figure are entirely applicable to the 

 Californian species, it appears to be much more appropriate to consider the two 

 identical until " an actual comparison" shall enable us to ascertain any dif- 

 ferences, which is quite improbable. 



[June, 



