142 



December 24, 1833. 



William Yarrell, Esq., in the Chair. 



Extracts were read frora a letter, addressed to the Secretary by 

 the Rev, R. T. Lone, Corr. Memb. Z. S., and dated Madera, No- 

 vember 15, 1833. They related to a collection of Fishes made in 

 that island by the writer, and accompanied about thirty species 

 presented by him to the Society, in addition to those formerly trans- 

 mitted by him, and exhibited at the Meeting of the Committee of 

 Science and Correspondence on August l^, 1832. Those now 

 sent were severally exhibited. They include the follouing species 

 regarded by Mr. Lowe as hitherto undescribed, and for which lie 

 proposes the subjoined names and characters. 



Serranus marginatus, Serr.nigrescenSfltiteomaculatus; pin- 

 nis doTsali, anali, caudalique nigris, albo marginatis } pinnd dor^ 

 salijilamentoso. 

 D. U 4- 17. P. 18. V. 1 + 5. A. 3 + 9. C. 18. 

 This fish is verv nearly related to Serr. Gigas, Cuv. & Vai.; but 

 appears to be distinguished by the greater number of the soft rays 

 of its dorsal and anai fins, as well as by the white margin of these 

 and the caudal. Its general tone of colouriug is soinewhat likę that 

 of a Tench, Tinca vulgaris, Cuv. ; and it attains the length of 2 feet, 

 and the weight of 8 pounds. 



Beryk splendens. Ber. ruber ; pinnis ventralibus radiis dtto- 



deciin moUibiis. 

 D. 4 + 14 v. 15. P. 1 + 17. V. 1 + 12. A. 4 + 30. C. fere 30. 

 M. B. 9. 



This new species of Beryx, — a genus remarkable for the excess 

 ia number of the soft rays of tlie Ventral fins beyond that which i.s 

 normai in Acanthopterygian Fishes, viz. five, — has their number 

 greater than any other escept Ber. Delphini, recently described by 

 JVI. Valenciennes from an individual obtained from the Indian Ocean, 

 From Ber. decadadylus, Cuv. & Vai., it differs by the greater num- 

 ber of these rays, by a greater number also of the rays of the bran- 

 chiostegous membrane, and by its less compact form. Its height is 

 equal to the length of its head, and measures three tinies and a half 

 in its totai length : its pectoral and dorsal fins, of equal length, are 

 one fifth of the entire length of the fish ; and the ventral measures 

 one sixth. The dorsal and anai fins are proportionally higher than 

 in that species ; and the latter begins under the end of the former. 

 The caudal fin is deeply forked. The number of vertebrce, exclu- 

 sivc of that which supports the rays of the caudal fin, is tvventy- 

 three. 



