122 ^ EXCURSIONS IN MADEIRA 



his work on the fishes of the Ganges, he should certainly have 

 adopted it in preference to every other. I will first notice 

 those which appear to be rare, or distinct from any already known, 

 in most instances giving the native name. The abrota, or phi/cis 

 furcatus. fig. 28, a new species of a genus of malacopteri/giens 

 apodes '. The boga, or boops vulgaris, Cuvier ; sparus boops, Lin- 

 naeus. The pequeno dourado, fig. 29, a new genus of labro'ides 

 approaching to spams'". The marracho, a new species of serramis ". 



^ Phycis furcatus, B. It has no evident teeth ; two dorsal fins, the first short, termi- 

 nating in a point ; the second extending two-thirds the length of the back, and reach- 

 ing almost to the caudal, which is so deeply forked as to appear separated ; the anal, 

 corresponding in form, length, and position to the second dorsal; the pectorals rather 

 small, with two barbillons beneath each, but more advanced, or nearer the branchial 

 rays ; all these fins are fleshy, and without distinct rays, which are represented by 

 mere streaks. The species I describe (which was merely sent me to look at, without 

 the liberty of dissecting) had a barbillon beneath the lower jaw. The head is ele- 

 vated, enlarged, and without scales. Its bladder bursts immediately it is taken out of 

 the water, and rising into the mouth, has often been mistaken for an enormous tongue. 

 The body is of a silvery lead colour, inclining to brown ; the gills and muzzle red; tne 

 iris of the eye yellow; length, 1 foot 8 inches. 



"' Labeo Sparoides, B. The pectoral fin is placed so low and distinct from the 

 branchiae, that it is hard to say whether it is the pectoral or the ventral which is 

 wanting ; the scales of the head are scarcely visible ; the dorsal and caudal fins 

 have the same number of rays and spines as the sparus salpa, but the anal has four- 

 teen spines, and three branching rays ; the pectorals, five branching rays ; all the fins 

 are of a golden hue, shaded with blackish brown ; the top of the head is of a golden 

 green ; the body a light silver gray, with ten golden stripes, the dorsal line running 

 along the third ; the muzzle is silvery ; the iris is yellow, and there is a brown rim 

 around the eye. Labeo, the name of a fish known to the Romans. 



" Serranus rufus, B. Its preoperculum is fringed rather than toothed ; it has one 

 sharp spine within, or towards the centre of the operculum ; the whole body is 

 thickly covered with small scales ; tJie dorsal fin has ten spines and thirteen branch- 

 ing rays, and is red, shaded with a greenish brown ; the caudal has nineteen branch- 

 ing rays, and is entirely of a greenish brown; the anal, two spines, and nine branch- 

 ing rays, and of a reddish brown ; the ventral brown, with one spine and five branch- 

 ing rays ; the pectorals red, and with sixteen rays ; the whole of the body is of 

 a brilliant red; length 6| inches. 



