506 l.I)J)ENDA. 



with the upper profile of the head. The praeoperculum has the pos- 

 terior margin subvertical, the angle and the lower margin roiuaded ; 

 it is longer than high, and has no sen-ature whatever. The oper- 

 culum and siiboperculum are slightly produced posteriorly into a 

 flexible point. The branchiostegous membrane is fixed to the isthmus, 

 without touching that of the other side. The head is entirely covered 

 with small scales, except the snout. 



The spinous dorsal commences at some distance from the vertical 

 from the base of the pectorals, and is composed of seven slender 

 flexible spines, entirely separated from the soft dorsal ; the first spine 

 is rather shorter than the second, the length of which is one-half 

 that of the head ; the following become gradually shorter. The 

 second dorsal commences nearer to the root of the caudal than to the 

 occiput ; it is subquadrangular and rather elevated ; the first ray 

 is the shortest, undivided, and may be considered as a spine ; the 

 following rays gradually become longer to the last two, wbicli are 

 considerably higher than the spinous dorsal. The commencement 

 and the end of the anal fin fall vertically behind those of the soft 

 dorsal, which it resembles in form ; the first two raj-s are undi- 

 vided ; the sixth branched ray is the longest, higher than the spinous, 

 and lower than the soft dorsal. The pectoral is rounded, and com- 

 posed of slender branched rays ; it does not extend on to the vent. 

 The ventral is inserted exactly below the pectoral, and composed of 

 one feeble spine and five rays, the fourth of which is the longest, 

 nearly reaching to the vent. 



The scales are rather small, ctenoid, pentangular, vnih the basal 

 margin vertical : there is no trace of a lateral line. 



Each of the jaws is armed with a band of viUiform teeth, the pos- 

 terior of which are more cardiform : no canines. The vomerine band 

 is narrow, angularly bent ; palatine bones smooth. The pharyngeal 

 bones are separated from each other and toothed, as in the typical 

 Percidce. 



The intestines are badly preserved ; pieces of an air-bladder, how- 

 ever, could be easily detected. 



inches, linos. 



Total length (without caudal) 5 3 



Height of the body 1 1 



Thickness of the body 10 



Length of the head 1 10 



Width between the orbits 5 



Diameter of the eye 3 



Length of the second dorsal spine 11 



of the last dorsal ray 1 2 



of the sixth anal ray 1 



of the pectoral 1 2 



of the ventral 1 2| 



Page 286. Add to the doubtful species of PRISTIPOMA: — 



8. Pristipoma scapularo, Tachiirf?, Faun. Penmn. Ichthyol. p. 12.— Cbast of 

 Peru. — It does not appear to he a species of this genus. 



