THE DISCOBOLI. 9 



tropical and subtropical seas, the Gobioids and Gobiesocoids are abundant, 

 but there are apparently no representatives of the Discoboli. 



HISTORICAL. 



Knowledge of the Discoboli previous to the time of Gesner is so indefi- 

 nite and uncertain that it can hardly be said to have existed. In tracino- 

 the origin of one of the generic names now in use, it becomes necessary to 

 make references to earlier writers ; but the term had no application amono- 

 the fishes properly included in the group before the appearance of Wil- 

 lughby's work. To eliminate confusion as far as may be from the gen- 

 eral history, that of each of the different subdivisions has been arrano-ed 

 separately under a distinct heading. 



Liparis. — In book thirty-second, chapter eleventh, " Animalium om- 

 nium in mari viventium, centum septuaginta sex genera esse," of Pliny's 

 Natural History, this name is given as that of one of the fishes in the 

 list of marine animals. In Holland's translation the spelling is changed 

 to Lyparis. There is no sufficient clue to the identity of the species. 

 Salviani, 1554, Gesner, Artedi, and others, give references to Pliny for 

 the name, without attempting identification. Belon, 1553, describes and 

 figures one of the herrings (Clupeidas) as Liparis. Eondelet, 1554, be- 

 stows the title on a very different fish, the figure of which bears some 

 resemblance to the more slender genera of the SparidjB, such as Botips, 

 Smaris, and M^ena. The only agreement between the forms to which 

 these authors have applied the designation appears in an elongate shape, 

 and especially in being very fat, from which the word 'Miparos" (XtTrapo?) 

 derives its applicability. Neither has any other claim to present con- 

 sideration than lies in the possession of the name indicative of fatness 

 or oiliness. Gesner, 1558, copies from both Belon and Eondelet; Aldro- 



•were secured southwest of Panama, in depths of more than 1,700 fathoms, and in temperatures of 

 about 36° Fahrenheit. The species are described and figured in the fortlicoming ichthyological report 

 on tliese researches of the Coramissiou. One species is named Careproclus longijilis, because of the 

 slender prolongations of the upper rays of its pectoral fins. The type is black, much compressed, very 

 slender, and in a total length of more than four inches and a quarter the head and body together measure 

 only an inch, of which the head alone is more than half. The disk is very small, one sixth of an inch 

 in length, little larger than the eye; the nostrils are tubular; and the caudal is acuminate. A second 

 species is given the name Paraliparia fmhrialus, on account of the prominent fringes formed by the 

 lower parts of the pectoral fins, like those of P. membranaceus. Its type is black anteriorly, and be- 

 hind the body it shades into light grayish. In total length it is more than four and three fourths 

 inches, of which the head and body occupy an inch and five eighths. As in the first species, the nostrils 

 are tubular, and the caudal is acuminate. The head is more depressed and broadened. 



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