SCOM13EU1D.E. 



ACANTHOPTERYC.il. 



iSCOMBFAUD/E. 



THE BLACKFISH. 



Centrolophus jMmpitus, Cuv. et Valenc. Hist. Nat. ties Poiss. I. ix. p. 334. 

 ,, morio, „ ,, ,, t. ix. p. 342. 



Holecentrus niger, Lacepi:de, t. iv. p. 441. 



Centrolophus niger, „ t. ix. p. 347, 8vo. edit. Paris, 1831. 



Black Perch, Penn. Brit. Zool. vol. iii. p. 351. 

 ,, Blachjish, Couch, MS. 



Generic Characters. — Body covered with minute scales ; one dorsal fin elon- 

 gated, the rays short j teeth very small, numerous ; branchiostegous rays 5. 



Lacepede, when describing this rare fish, considered it 

 unknown to naturalists, and that its singular form required 

 o-eneric distinction. Mr. Couch has had the good fortune 

 to see two specimens of it, and I avail myself of his kind 

 permission to give his account in full. 



"The specimen described was fifteen inches long; blunt 

 and rounded over the snout, flattened on the crown ; mouth 

 small ; tongue rather large ; teeth in the jaws fine ; nostrils 

 double, that nearest the eye large and open ; eye prominent 

 and bright ; five gill-rays : though soft, the membrane of the 

 preoperculiim had a free edge, somewhat incised. Body 

 compressed, about three inches deep ; a thin eknatcd ridge, 



