524 CENTKISCIl)^. 



4. Centriscus velitaris. 



Centiiscus velitaris, Pall. Spicil. Zuol. viii. p. 30. pi. 4. tig. 8; Bl. Sclui. 

 p. 113. 



siimpit, Lacep. ii. p. 93. 



Ampliisile velitaris, Cuv. Megne Anim. 



We extract the following notes from Pallas's description : — 



" D. 2 I 12 (?). A. 25. 



" Pisciciilus bipollicaris, plano-compressus, oblongo-lanceolatiis, 

 ventre in aciem corapresso, ante pinnes vontrales triqueti'o-carinato ; 

 totus qnasi setulis rccumbentibns et adnatis hispidus. Dorsum an- 

 ticum duriiiscvilum, scuto rbombico ad aculeum dorsalcm terminate, 

 ot quasi loricato lineolis obliquis, circitcr quaternis. Spina in medio 

 dorso recumbens, minus quam aculeus nuchae in Balistis, mobilis ; 

 subulata acutissima, subtus canaliculata, aciebus scrrulatis. Sub 

 eaque spina par\'ula, in fossulam dorsalem reponenda, priori et dorso 

 ad basin mcmbranula adnexa. Pinna dorsi pone spinaj apiccm exilis, 

 radiorum circiter duodecim. Pinna3 pectorales parvaj tenora), radi- 

 orum circiter tredecim ; pinnaj ventrales in medio corporis ad imam 

 ventris carinam, fossulae recondendas, tri- vel quadri-radiataj. Pinna 

 ani lata, \iginti quinque radiorum. Anus proximo ad pinnam, ad 

 secundam tcrtiam partem longitudinis totius corporis. Acvdeus 

 minutus ante anum recumbens. Cauda teretiuscula ; pinna sub- 

 bifurca, radiorum perfectorum duodecim. Color totius argentatus, 

 in dorso griseo-flavescens. 



poUices. line-T. 



Longitudo tota 2 5 



rostri usque ad orbitoe margiuem 6| 



totius capitis 11^ 



ad ortum spinae 1 5 



ad pinnas ventrales 1 3 



ad anum 1 6^ 



Distantia pinnae dorsalis et ani a pinna caudse 4 



Latitude pinna) ani 5 



summa coi-poris verticalis 5| 



" Est hie levis armatura; miles, quern Ichthyologico exercitui 

 Amboyna pariter misit." 



We very much doubt whether this fish came from the East Indian 

 Archipelago, as asserted by Pallas ; it has not yet been recog- 

 nized ; it appears to have more affinities towards Centriscus than to 

 Ain^jMsUe, having the skin covered with pricldes, a moveable and 

 serrated dorsal spine on the back, a groove on the belly for the re- 

 ception of the ventral fins, &c. 



2. AMPHISILE. 



Amphisile, sp., Klein, Miss. Pise. iv. p. 28. 

 Ampliisile, Cuv. Rogue Anim. 



Body elongate, strongly compressed, provided with a dorsal cuirass 



