ACANTHOPTERYGII. BERYCID^E. 



TAB. VIII. 



BERYX SPLENDENS, Nob. 



Alfonsin. 



The Oblong Alfonsin, or Beryx. 



Char. Gen. 



Caput osseum, annatum, nudum, genis operculoque squamosis, hoc bispinoso, spinis inconspicuis, 

 adpressis : praeoperculi nudi interoperculique margine eroso-denticulato. Suborbitaria circulatim 

 cristatp-carinata ; cristis eroso-denticulatis. Vomer scobinato-dentatus. 



Oculi maximi. Pinnae dorsalis unicaj triangularis analisque spinse pauca confertas. Pinnse ven- 

 trales multiradiatre, Membrana branchiostega octo-radiata. Caeca numerosissima, tenuia, in fasci- 

 culum praegrandem densissime aggregata. 



Obs. — Pisces pulchriores, regionis extratropica, calidioris, temperatae ; coloribus laetissimis, e rubro 

 roseis lauti. 



Char. Spec. 



B. corpora oblongo, altitudine longitudinem capitis baud superante : dorso recto : pinnae dorsalis 

 abbreviatae basi pinnis pectoralibus brevnore : capita utrinque pone oculos gibboso : operculi lati carina 

 conspicua, distincta : ossis humeralis dilatati margine posteriore arcuato, obliquo. 



D. 4 + 13 — 15 ; V. 1 + 10 — 13 (1 + 11 fere) ; A. 4 + 26 — 29 (4 + 29 fere) ; 



5 + I + IX 

 P. 2 + 15 V. 16 ; C. 



5 + I + VIII 



M. B. 8 ; Sq. lin, lat. 71 — 76 v. 78 ; Vert« 10 abd. + 14 caud. = 24. 



D. splendens, nob. ; Proceed. Zool. Soc. 1833. i. 142. — Cam. Phil. Trans, vi. 1, 197 excl. icon. — 

 Syn. Mad. Fish. 174. 



Lonyit. = 1 — \\ vix 2 - pedalis = 3 — 4 X corporis alt. capitisve longit. 



Tempvs, vera, aestate. 



Locus, in mediis profundis : vulg. 



The Btri/cidd' are a small group of genera, which it is convenient to 

 detach from the true Percida ; whose discriminative features they disturb 

 and render vague, whilst they possess amongst themselves a strong re- 

 semblance in common, both of characters or habit, and of geographic dis- 

 tribution. They are distinguished by a somewhat short, deep form of 

 body ; large head, eyes, gape, and branchial opening ; an extremely short 

 blunt muzzle ; and by the anormal number of the rays in the ventral fins 

 and branchial membrane. The structure of the head is rather Scitenidal 

 than Pcrcidal or Triglidal ; cavernous rather than armed ; yet Avith its 

 bones and ridges crested, prominent, and rough. The dorsal fin seems 



VOL. I. 



