Zoological Society. 51 



oi r^ j, and in the back warder position of the third dark side- 

 spot. The ventral fins are short, only equalling one-twelfth of the 

 body without the caudal fin, and the four first produced rays of the 

 first dorsal are equal in length to the ventral fins. The lateral line 

 ends as in MM. Cuvier and Valenciennes' figure (t. 297) of T. iris, 

 but is quite unarmed. The ventral line is serrulate, and the whole 

 surface, particularly towards the ventral line, is finely shagreened or 

 granulate ; the granulations becoming stronger towards the ventral 

 line, as in the same figure. 



In shape and proportions it agrees better with T. falx, but differs 

 in several important particulars from MM. Cuvier and Valenciennes' 

 description of that fish. 



The only individual examined of this beautiful and extraordinary 

 fish occurred in June 1845, and has been added by me to the collec- 

 tion of the Cambridge Philosophical Society. It was scarcely quite 

 dead when I first saw it, and was in the most perfect state of preserva- 

 tion. Another Trachypterus had occurred in June 1844, and was 

 probably the same species ; but the example was unfortunately thrown 

 away by the person to whom it had been mis-sent without my seeing 

 it. It was said to have been about three feet long. 



The whole body is pure bright silver, appearing as if frosted from 

 the fine granulations of the surface. The fins are of a delicate scar- 

 let or vermilion, the lower point or angle of the caudal being tipped, 

 and the hinder end of the dorsal edged with black. On the sides are 

 three blackish oval or elliptic spots. This example was twenty-five 

 inches long, exclusive of the caudal fin, which resembles a bat's or 

 grifiin's wing, and is erected in a fan-like manner ; the lower lobe or 

 portion being suppressed or undeveloped, and only indicated by the 

 presence of five short spinules or abortive rays. 



Fam. LABRiDiE. 



8. Labrus larvatus. Flavus, capite humerisque griseo-nigres- 

 cente larvatis ; pinna dorsali antice caudaqiie utrinque infra 

 lineam lateralem rectiusculam unimaculatis ; corpore oblongo 

 elongato ; dentibus validis crebris, antice biseriatis ; pinnae 

 caudalis apicibus analisque ventraliumque margine coeruleo- 

 nigris. 



D. 17+13; A.3 + 11; P. 16; V.l-h5; ^'^^~^^^ > B.M.5; 

 Squamse lin. lat. 42 — 45. 



In general appearance, shape, and the peculiar straightness of the 

 lateral line, this fine species much resembles CossyphusDarwini, Jen. ; 

 but it is a true Labrus, with the dorsal and anal fins naked, and the 

 preopercle quite entire. Its nearest allies are therefore i. mixtusandi 

 L. Scrofa ; from which however, besides other characters, the nume- 

 rous strong teeth distinguish it. A single example only has occurred, 

 measuring seventeen inches and a quarter in length. 



4* 



