The Rev. R. T. Lowe on the Fishes of Madeira. 417 



AcANTHOLABRUS iMBRicATUs. A. pinna dorsali analique basi squa- 

 mosis; squamis subquoternis, bractearum modo imbricatis, inter 

 spinas assurgenttbus : dorsalis parte spinosa postice unimaculato : 

 Cauda utrinque bimaculata : squamis magnis. 



D. 20 + 9 ; A. 5 + 8 ; P. 15 ; V. 1 + 5 ; C. |^ + III ; M. B. 5. 



Fam. FisTULARiD^. 



Centriscus GRACILIS. C. corpovc gracili, angusto, elliptico-oblongo, 

 snpra fusco, lateribus argenteis : rostro producto, elongato : 

 pinncE prima dorsalis, inter oculos pinnamque caudalem medite, 

 spina secunda medio cri, breviore, pinnam caudalem nequaquam at- 

 tingente. 



l"** D. 4 V. 5 ; 2da D. 11 ; A. 17 ; V. 1 + 4 ; P. 15 ; C. f^^. 

 Rarior. 



In its shape and colour this is very obviously different from the 

 common red Snipefish (C. Scolopax, L.). But I have not been able 

 to assure myself that the above differences are not sexual. They are 

 not certainly dependent upon size. The depth averages from one- 

 fifth to one-sixth and a half of the whole length, instead of one- 

 fourth of the same. In two individuals of the same length within 

 one quarter of an inch, the depth of the larger (C. Scolopax, L.) was 

 very nearly double that of the smaller (C. gracilis, nob.) and the 2nd 

 spine of the 1st dorsal fin was respectively in each one-fourth and 

 one- seventh of the whole length of the fish. 



Fam. EsociD^. 



Belone gracilis, nob. — " Catuta.'* 



Early in March last year (1838) a fisherman brought alive in sea- 

 water two fishes, which, in their slenderness, and the upper jaw being 

 only half the length of the lower, differed obviously from the com- 

 mon B. vulgaris. Measuring, however, seven or eight inches only 

 in length, it seemed questionable, in the absence of equal-sized in- 

 dividuals of B. vulgaris for comparison, whether they might not be 

 the young of that species. My friends, however, the Rev. L. Jenyns 

 and Mr. Yarrell, have examined these two individuals, and the latter 

 warrants me in stating, on their joint authority, that these two fishes 

 are " not, in their opinion, B. vulgaris," being " much more slender 

 for the same or equal length." 



Scomberesox Saurus, Cuv. 



The Portuguese name *' Delphine" (rectius " Deljim",) is errone- 

 ously appended to this fish. Another individual has been lately 

 brought to me with the name of " Almeirao," but the species is far 



