Botanical Periodicals. 



163 



spinous. Caudal {cauda, the tail) (^), twelve. " Although Linnaeus, in 

 naming, as well as in his descriptions of this animal, would make it 

 appear to be possessed of the power of flying, the membranes of the 

 pectoral fins are not, to appearance, sufficiently united or proportioned 

 to the body to admit of volitation j and, indeed, the native fishers confirm 

 this position." 



2, Acanthurus {akantha, thorn, owra, tail; appearance) vittatus (wiY^fl, a 

 band," stripes). A splendid fish, covered with dark and light blue and yel- 

 low stripes. 



5. Gomphosus fuscus. Singular. 



4. Holocentrus {holos, all, kentron, a spur ; appearance) ruber. " For 

 splendour and beauty this fish is considered, by many, to surpass the gold 

 fish of China." 



5. Chae'todon {chaite^ a bristle, odous, tooth ; form) vespertilio {vespertilioy 

 the bat ; resemblance). 



Essential specific Character. — Dorsal spines {fig. 65. a) five. Dorsal and 

 anal fins {b c) broad. Caudal fin (d) 

 with a brown band {e). 



Description. Branchiostegous rays 

 (/) four. Dorsal (6), forty-two, five 

 spinous (a). Pectoral (g), fifteen. Ven- 

 tral (A), six, one (i) spinous. Anal (c), 

 thirteen, three (Jc) spinous. Caudal (rf), 

 sixteen. Head without scales, iris (/), 

 golden ; mouth small, lips thick, lateral 

 line arched. 



'* This species of Chse'todon is scarce 

 on the southern coast of Ceylon ; and 

 being considered by the native fishers 

 unwholesome, from a sort of food to 

 which it is partial, as well as to the cop- 

 per of ships, is never made use of. It 

 attains a very large size, and is called 

 Kola Handah, Leaf Moon, by the natives, 

 from the resemblance it bears in the 

 dorsal fin to the leaf of a marine plant ; 

 and, in the shape of the body, to that of 

 a moon.'* To those who are curious in fishes, this work must afford a rich 

 treat ; it is executed in the very best manner, and not high priced, consider- 

 ing the splendour of the engravings. 



Botanical Periodicals. 



The Botanical Magazine, for May, 

 contains Zygopetalon {zygos, a pair, 

 etalon, a petal) rostratum. (fig. 64.) 

 An orchideous epiphyte, of which only 

 one other species has been figured ; 

 and both by Dr. Hooker, the founder 

 of the genus. " The credit of intro- 

 ducing this fine plant, from Demerara 

 to the Liverpool botanic garden, is 

 due to C. S. Parker, Esq." — Cactus 

 alata (fig. 65.) is a curious species sent 

 from the Organ Mountains, near Rio 

 Janeiro, by William Harrison, Esq., of 

 Rio, to the rich collection of his sister, 

 Mrs. Arnold Harrison, of Aigburgh, 

 near Liverpool. The entire plant 

 grows from 1 ft. to 2 ft. high, in a pro- 

 M 2 



