284 Ayres' Enumeration of the 



And if fasciatus is a synonym for jpecManus, viridescens 

 must also be referred to the same, for it seems impossible to 

 point out any differences in the two descriptions given by Dr. 

 Dekay. Of his viridescens he says, " in recent specimens, it 

 is hexangular before the vent or anal fin ; but in cabinet spe- 

 cimens, a slight carina is observed in the middle of the belly." 

 Now this character is at the most of very slight value, for it is 

 far from being constant. In some instances the two series of 

 plates along the abdomen meet so as to form a strongly 

 marked angle, and of course the body is heptangular ; while 

 in others the two series are in the same plane and the body is 

 hexangular. I have specimens which show every gradation 

 from a very prominent angle to a perfectly flat surface. If 

 we take now the whole remaining part of Dr. Dekay's de- 

 scription, what was written for viridescens applies with equal 

 correctness to fasciatus. The number of plates, the carina 

 on the head, the eyes, the opercula, the jaws, the mouth, the 

 fins, the anal pouch all vary so slightly that I cannot regard 

 viridescens as even a variety oi pecTcianus. Dr. Dekay indeed 

 gives io fasciatus three more caudal rays than to viridescens, 

 but that is the greatest difference which I can find between 

 them. The colors as before remarked, are of very little im- 

 portance. 



DioDON Maculato-striatus. Mitch. 



I had described this as a new species, supposing that it was 

 distinct from Mitchill's fish, but since the appearance of Dr. 

 Dekay's report, I have been induced to suppress my descrip- 

 tion, for the fish is there recorded under the name given above. 

 How it can, however, possibly be Dr. Mitchill's species, I can- 

 not conceive, unless there are very great errors in his descrip- 

 tion. " Length four inches ; breadth about three ; " " eyes 

 two inches asunder " are very far from applying to my speci- 

 mens. But these proportions can scarcely be correct ; that a 

 fish of this family should have the breadth equal to three- 

 fourths of the length, and the distance between the eyes equal 

 to half the length, is almost impossible. There may be an 



