448 PROCEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OP 



Ventral fins beneath the pectoral, acutely angulated and with small pointed 

 axillar scales. 



This genus is decidedly more nearly allied to Platyinius* than to Ocyurus,f 

 though the form of the body is perhaps more like that of the latter. It agrees 

 with Platyinius in the general form of the head, in dentition, and in the arma- 

 ture of the opercular bones, but is distinguished from it by the slender form, 

 the larger scales, the rapid decrease backwards of the dorsal spines, and in a 

 minute degree by the rather larger eyes and mouth as well as the scaly 

 supramaxillars. 



Having demonstrated that there is no generic difference between Etelis car- 

 bunculus and Serranus oculatus, it follows that any name subsequently framed 

 for the latter under the belief that it was the representative of a peculiar 

 species must be suppressed. 



Eleven years after the two species were firat made known, William Swain- 

 son published the Natural History of Fishes, Amphibians and Reptiles or Mo- 

 nocardian animals," for the arrangement of which, a series of fantastic ideas 

 was taken as the guiding principles of classification. Among the numerous 

 genera or " subgenera" proposed by this author were one named Elastoma, 

 based on the Serranus oculatus, and another called Uriphseton for which the 

 Serranus placton of Cuvier and Valenciennes was taken as the type. Swainson 

 in the " Synopsis of the natural arrangement of Fishes," regarded Etelis as 

 one of the genera forming the cabalistic number of the second subfamily 

 (Serraninae) of Percoids, and by a happy accident approximated Elastoma 

 and Etelis to which Uriphseton was added as a third subgenus. But he who 

 might be seldom right, did not retain this fortunate juxtaposition of the first 

 two types, but in the "general arrangement" interposed Uriphaston between 

 Elastoma and Etelis, comparing the latter with Uriphseton and denying any 

 palatal teeth to this representative of a family chiefly distinguished by the 

 presence of teeth on the " vomer and palate." Swainson did not find this 

 negation in the only work from which he could have derived his knowledge 

 of this genus, and as in so many other cases, ihis error was the result of 

 simple carelessness. 



Some time afterwards, Mr. Lowe, an author as fortunate in his combinations 

 as Mr. Swainson was unfortunate, proposed for the Serranus oculatus the new 

 generic name Hesperanthias. 



Still more recently, the elder Dumeril, in his compilation of Ichthyology 

 added still another synonym, giving to the same genus the name of Macrops. 



Finally Dr. Giinther, although acquainted with both the Etelis carbunculus 

 and Serranus oculatus, did not perceive their affinity and preserved the respec- 

 tive places assigned to them by their early describers. 



Etelis carbunculus Cuv. et Val. 



Etelis carbunculus Cuv. et Val., Histoire Naturelle des Poissons,tome ii. p. 127, 

 pi. 18. 



* Some time after the above article was completed, I had the pleasure to find that M 

 Poey, by independent observations, had also perceived the close affinity of Elastoma, 

 (Etelis) and Platyinius. In a letter which probably reached me at about the same time or 

 little after one announcing my own results, was received by Poey, that gentleman 

 writes as follows: "En mettant de l'ordre mes squelettes des poissons,je me suis apper- 

 cu quele crane de mes vorax (gen, Platyiniu9,G\\\),'e^t identique avec celui de V Elastoma 

 oculatum ; tout-a-fait plat entre les deux yeux, et le bord orbitaire superieur fortement 

 strie en travers, &c." The other features shared in common, have also been noticed 

 "les memes dents (canines petites, &c.,) prepercule dentele, quoique plus fortement 

 dans le vorax, une epine plate a l'opercule, corps elance (moins dans le vorax) lobe supe 

 ricure caudal plus allonge (moins dans Je vorax). D. X. II. A, III. 8, dernier rayon,- 

 des nageoires verticales medianes prolonge, couleur generale rouge, l'oeil grand, &c." 



Platyinius Gill, Proc. Acad. N. S., Philad. Type Mesopnon vorax Poey. 



t Ocyurus GUI, Proc. Acad. N. S. Philad. Type Mesoprion chrysurus C. V. 



[Sept. 



