TRACHICHTHYS PRETIOSUS. 57 



In the preceding history of Betyx splendens, t. 8, there will be found 

 sufficient to clear up the above-noticed inconsistencies of system, and to ex- 

 plain the true affinities of Trachichthys in respect to other genera and fa- 

 milies. If allied on one hand to Triglidfe, it seems much more closely so 

 with the PercidfB through Diploprioyi and Apogoji. With Holocentrum, 

 in the second subdivision of its own family Ber-j/cid^, it assimilates in the 

 basal spine of its preopercle; a character in which it also shows an analogy 

 with the Percidal genus Priacanthus. With Sciamido', as reformed,* its 

 natural connexion is but slender ; depending chiefly on the trifling, artificial 

 character of a sometimes unarmed vomer, and the still less discriminative 

 one of the cavernous head-bones. But of the three families, Percidce, 

 THgUdtf, and ScifEvida, as defined by Cuvier, it may be confessed that, 

 apart from its affinity to Beryx, it were not easy to discover on what prin- 

 ciple it should be placed in one, in preference to the others. Hence is it 

 that, in fact, two species of the genus have been actually placed by MM. 

 Cuvier and Valenciennes in two of these families. It may be hoped 

 that the formation of the family Berycidee will dispel this ambiguity. 



In Trachichlhys, as in Beryx, we have a curious instance of apparent li- 

 mitation of the species to the same parallels of latitude, although on differ- 

 ent sides of the eijuator, and separated by enormous intervals of distance on 

 the surface of the globe. Even within these limits, these fishes must be 

 considered of the greatest rarity. The researches of later naturalists have 

 never yet recovered, in Australia, the kind described by Shaw ; and even in 

 the comparatively well-explored Mediterranean, only a single example of the 

 other has been taken. And although in Madeira, through the assiduous 

 vigilance of Mr. Leacock, I have succeeded in obtaining three examples, the 

 fishermen are generally unacquainted with it ; and its Portuguese name, like 

 that of several others of like rarity, is merely that applied to it by its parti- 

 cular captor, and of no general authority. I have derived its English name 

 directly from its scientific (rpay^vg rough, and l')(Pvg a fish), combined with 

 an obvious peculiarity, likely to assist subsequent collectors in its acquisi- 

 tion. I obtained my second example by directing the fishermen to look 

 out carefully for a black-mouthed Alfonsin : " um Alfonsin com a boca 

 preta." 



I have proceeded all along on the assumption that T.pretiosus is dis- 

 tinct specifically from T. australis, Shaw : but Ichthyologists will be 

 better satisfied with the assurance afforded on this point by the high au- 

 thority of Mr. Gray ; who, at my instance, has re-examined Dr. Shaw's 

 original specimen, fortunately still existent in the British Museum, 

 kindly transmitting to me the results. These perfectly confirm the dif- 

 ferences previously made out from Shaw's figure and description ; with 



* See Introduction, p. ix. 



