THE NOMENCLATURE OF RAOHICENTRON OR EL AC ATE, 

 A GENUS OF ACANTHOPTERYGIAN FISHES. 



By Theodore Gill, LL. D. 



The universally accepted name Elamte must unfortnuately be 

 supplauted by one entirely unknown to fame, overlooked by all natu- 

 ralists, and found in no nomenclator. A brief history of the nomencla- 

 ture of the genus is timely. 



In 1814: Dr. Mitcbill, of New York, tirst described, as a new generic 

 type, a flsli which he called Gentronotus spinosus. He specifically des- 

 ignated the genus as "new" and distinguished it by the broad head, 

 distant eyes, prominent lower jaw, and eight dorsal spines, besides other 

 less important characters. It was apparently merely through a coin- 

 cidence and natural fitness that he gave the same name as Lacepede 

 had previously used for a heterogeneous genus, including the same 

 species as well as the pilot-fish. Nevertheless, the previous use of the 

 name by both Schneider (1801) and Lac6pede (1802), precludes the use 

 for the genus of Mitchill. 



In 1820 Dr. Kaup treated of the same fish and gave to it the name 

 Rachi/centron typus. He gave a good diagnosis, erring only in attribut- 

 ing seven rays to the ventral tins. The following abstract will prove 

 this claim : 



RACHYCENTRON. GASTEROSTEUS, Liiin:t'us. 



"Keuuz. der Gattung. Ziiline fein nnd borstenformig ; Kopf plattgedriickt; 7 

 Kienieustrahleu. Brustflossen kleiu ; Bauchflosseu 7 strahlig. Erste Riickt'iiflosse 

 eutliiilt freye vou eiuauder enferute Stacbelu. Zweyte Riickenliosso imd die After- 

 liosse lang, vom Scliwanze unterschiedeu. Schuppen fein." 



Diese Gattung liat selir viel iihuliclies mit Echeneis und liat uur die freyen Staclielu 

 mit Centronotiis gemein, die sich dnrch den zusammengedriickten Korper sehr vou 

 dicser uutersheidet. Eine Art liaehticentrou ii/jyus. 



The identity of the fish with the Gusterostens canachis of limuxns, the 

 "Motta" of Russel and the " Ceixupira" of Marcgrave, was recognized. 



In 1827 Kaup amended the name into Rachicenlron and expressed 

 his views as to the affinities of the genus in the following terms: 



Wegeu des plattgedriickten Kopfes, «&c., babe icb diese Art, welche fast in alien 



Meeren verkommt, zu einer eigeneu Gattung crboben, welcbo am nJicbsten uiit Teira- 



gouurus verwandt ist. 



I'roceediiigs of tlie United States National i[useuni, Vol. XVIII — Xo. 1059. 



217 



