FAMILY LOPHIDE — MALTHAA. 167 
THE DOTTED MALTHEA. 
Mattu®a Novara. 
La Matikee a stigmates. Cuv. and Vat. Hist. des Poiss. Vol. 12, p. 453. 
Characteristics. Three or four round black spots on each side of the spine, midway between 
the eye and branchial orifice. Length 34 inches. 
Description. Snout in its proportions resembling the preceding. Margin of the preopercle 
enlarged as much as in M. vespertilio. Scaly disks neither so numerous nor so prominent. 
Length, 3-5. 
This small species was sent from New-York to Cuvier. I have not met with it. 
THE BAT MALTHEA. 
Matru2Za VESPERTILIO. 
Diablo. Parra, Descripcion de dif. piezas, &c. p. 5, pl. 4. 
La Malthée vespertition. Cuv. et Va. Hist. des Poiss. Vol. 12, p. 440 
Characteristics. Snout elongated into a point. Skin like shagreen, with scattering long 
tubercles. Length 10-18 inches. 
Description. Body flattened. Snout pointed, and about the tenth of the total length. Width 
at the preopercles equal to its length, which is about half of that of the body. ‘The whole 
upper surface covered with a hard rough skin; beneath softer, but rough. The facial out- 
line descends vertically to the mouth, which is small, opening vertically. Upper jaw rather 
longest, protractile. ‘Teeth like shorn velvet, in a band in the jaws, vomer and palatines ; 
asperities also on the base of the tongue. A triangular cavity in front, from which arises a 
filamentous process, terminating in several fleshy filaments. Subopercle very large, ending 
in a point, which reaches nearly to the elbow of the pectoral. 
The dorsal finis midway between the vent and anal fin, lower than the anal, and composed 
of four simple rays. Pectorals broad, with elevenrays. Ventrals short, with five rays difficult 
to be distinguished. ‘The vent in the middle of the total length. Anal fin three times higher 
than long, and with four rays. Caudal fin nearly even, quite rough, and with nine rays. 
Numerous short filaments on the enlarged part of the body. The opaque portion of the cor- 
nea is rough, and furnished with very small tubercles on its borders. 
Color. Pale greyish brown above ; pale reddish beneath. 
Length, 8°0 - 18:0. 
ihinfrays D4) Ps diss Visi) AL 43) C39: 
I have not met with this fish on the coast of New-York; but as it is common in the Carib- 
bean sea, and as M. Lapilaye has obtained it from the Banks of Newfoundland, we may well 
