110 U. S. p. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY GENERAL REPORT, 



Family SQUAMirEMES, Mull. 



The structural peculiarities of tliis family, as far as investigated, are but few in number, and 

 one of them, viz : the presence of scales over nearly the whole extent of the vertical fins, the 

 spinous portion of the dorsal excepted, is met with, to a certain degree, in Sciaenoids, but the 

 cavernous structure of the skull in the latter will always assist in detecting the true affinities of 

 the various genera and species referable to either of these two families. 



The body ot the Squamij^ennes is very compressed, and generally deep and short, protected 

 with ctenoid or pectinated scales. The spinous portion of the dorsal being either continuous 

 with the soft portion, else separated. The preopercle is spineless in the majority of cases, and 

 somewhat spinous in others. The maxillar teeth assume various shape and structure : bru^^h 

 or bristle like, trenchant or cutting, and tri-lobed or serrated upon their edge, velvet-like, and 

 even card-like, according to the genera. The palate being either toothed or toothless. 



Srs.—Squammipennes, Ccv. Rtgn. Anim. II, 1817, 332 ; 9d ed. II, 1829 ; &, ed. Illuslr. Poiss. 1U4.— Cnv. &, Val. Hist, 

 nat. Poiss. VII, 1831, 1. 

 Sqiiamtnipennae, Richards. Faun. Bor. Amer. Ill, 1836, 73. 

 Squamipennes, Mull, in Wiegm. Archiv. f. Naturg. I, 1845, 13G. 

 Chaetodontidae, Bonap. Sagg. Distr. Anim. Vert. 1831, 106. 

 Chaetodontoideae, Richards. Faun. Bor. Amer. Ill, 1836,73. 

 Chelodontidae, DeKat, New Y. Faun. IV, 1842, 97.— Storer, Synops. 1846, 85. 



The appellation of Squamipennes, expressing the family trait more generally than Chaetodon- 

 tidae, is here adopted on that sole ground, although it has likewise priority of publication. 



EPHIPPUS, Cuv. 



Gen. Char. Body sub-elliptical or sub-ciicular, provided with two contiguous dorsal fins ; the spinous or anterior one is 



Bcaleless, very much depressed at its junction with the soft, and capable of being folded into a dorsal groove. Anal fin preceded 

 by three spiny rays. Pectoral fins sub-elliptical. Branchial apertures separated underneath by a very Vv-ide isthmus. Scales 

 moderate sized 



Sis.—Ephippus, Cuv. REgn, Anim. II, 1817, 335 ; 2d. ed. II, 1829, 191 ; &, cd. lUustr. Poiss. 108.— Cuv. & Val. Hist, 

 nat. Poiss. VII, 1831, 112.— DeKat, New Y. Faun. IV, 1842, 97.— Storer, Synops. 1846, 86. 



The genus EpJdppus belong to that tribe of the family in which there are no teeth to the 

 palate, but on the other hand provided with brush-like teeth to either jaw ; in which, further- 

 more, the i)reopercle is smooth or spineless, and the anterior dorsal separated from the second 

 by a wide depression in its outline, although both fins are continuous at their base. 



EPHIPPUS ZONATUS, Grd. 



Spec Char. Head small ; snout very short, abruptly declivous ; mouth quite small, posterior extremity of maxillary not 



extending quite to a vertical line which would be drawn across the anterior rim of the orbit. Eyes moderate sized. Branchial 

 isthmus very wide. E.\tremity of first soft ray of veutrals filiform, and reaching the vent. Second anal spine much stouter than 

 tho first and third. Anal and soft dorsal sub-similar in shape or outline. Olivaceousgrey above, yellowish beneath, transversely 

 banded with black . 



The laro-est of the two specimens which we have had an opportunity to examine is not quite 

 six inches in total length. The body, which is sub-circular in its profile, is very much com- 

 pressed ; the greatest depth being equal to the length, the head and caudal fin excluded ; the 



