LOBOTES SURINAMENSIS. 163 



SO much incurved, and the colour is different, as it was done from a preserved 

 specimen. 



Dr. Mitchill's account of this fish was derived from a recent specimen caught 

 in the harbour of New York, and it agrees well enough with the Lobotes 

 Surinamensis, especially as regards the pre-opercle, which he says is " strongly 

 aculeated, almost spinous." Yet he gives only eleven spines to the dorsal fin, 

 and does not speak of the incurved profile, though it is slightly represented 

 in his figure. He considered it an undescribed Bodianus, and applied to it the 

 specific name triurus, from the form of the prolonged and rounded dorsal and 

 anal fins, which, with the caudal, have, he says, " somewhat the appearance of 

 three tails." 



Dr. DeKay's description of the Lobotes Surinamensis agrees in the main with 

 that of Dr. Mitchill, though it is more minute and extended. He gives twelve 

 spines to the anterior dorsal, which is the exact number, and speaks of the " nape 

 as rather prominent and somewhat concave behind the eyes," though this is not 

 represented in his figure. In fact, neither Dr. Mitchill's nor Dr. DeKay's plates 

 can be considered as good representations of this fish, as it appears in our waters, 

 for in Dr. Mitchill's the profile is but slightly incurved, while in Dr. DeKay's it is 

 straight, and both represent the anterior portion of the dorsal fin as nearly of the 

 same elevation throughout its whole extent. If these characters and forms be 

 constant, and are truly represented in their plates, then it is possible that their 

 drawings may have been done from a fish dift'erent from ours, for which must be 

 retained the specific name triurus of Dr. Mitchill, though I think it is most likely 

 their draughtsmen were at fault. 



