11. CHIROCKNTRODOX. 403 



B. Dorsal Jin nearhj oppodte to the origin of the anal. 



7. Pristigaster cayaniis. 



PristigastRr cayanus, Cur. Rijpie Ah. pi. 10. fig. 3. 



niartii, Af/ass. in Spix, Pise. Urns. p. 55, tab. 24 a ; Cuv. i§- Val. 



XX. p. 337. 



cayanus, Cuv. S^ Val. xx. p. 334, pi. 597. 



pliaeton, Cav. ^ Val. xx. p. 338 ; Castiln. Anim. Amor. SucI, 



p. 37, pi. 28. fig. 3. 



E. G. D. 15. A. 4G-52. 



Abdominal profile very convex, subscmicircular. The lieight of 

 the body is one-half of the total length (without caudal), tlio length 

 of the head one-fourth. Origin of the dorsal fin much nearer to 

 the extremity of the snout than to the root of the caudal. Scales of 

 moderate size. The upper rays of the caudal fin sometimes produced 

 into filaments. 



Atlantic coasts of Tropical America. 



11. CHIROCENTEODON. 



Body oblong, much compressed, covered with deciduous scales ; 

 abdominal serrature commencing on the thorax. Lower jaw pro- 

 jecting beyond the upper ; structure of the jaws as in Clnpea. Den- 

 tition strong : a pair* of strong canine teeth anteriorly in the lower 

 jaw; intermaxillary armed in a similar manner; maxillary teeth 

 very distinct ; narrow bands of teeth on the vomer, palatine, and 

 pterygoid bones, and on the tongue. Anal fin long, with more than 

 thirty rays ; dorsal fin opposite to the anal. Ventral fins very small. 

 Caudal forked. Branchiostegals six, short and broad. 



"West Indies. 



1. Cliirocentrodon taeniatus. 

 B. 6. D. 15. A. 41. V. 6. 



The height of the body is contained four times and two-thirds 

 in the total length (without caudal), the length of the head four 

 times and one-fourth. Snout compressed, longer than the eye, the 

 diameter of which is two-sevenths of the length of the head. Maxil- 

 lary large, extending nearly to the vertical from the hind margin of 

 the eye. Gill-rakers fine, nearly as long as the eye ; there are about 

 seventeen on the lower branch of the outer branchial areh. Origin 

 of the dorsal fin somewhat behind that of the anal, and midway 

 between the occiput and the root of the caudal. Ventral fins not 

 longer than the eye. Serrature of abdomen not prominent ; there 

 are about eleven scutes behind the ventrals. Pectoral fins nearly as 

 long as the head, without snout. A narrow silvery band along the 

 side of the body. 



West Indies. 



a~d. Three and a half inches long. Jamaica. Purchased of Dr. 



Parnell. 

 c. Three and a half inches long. From the Haslar Collection. 



