gs4 Greek Verbal Roots in English. © 
given any reasons for his suspicion. The line which he ainsende 
from me thus in parenthesis, could have weighed nothing with 
him, (“‘under the lateral line, a series of white circular spots,” 
Storer,) because this appearance exists also in the foreign fish. 
Thus Yarrell, in his description of this species, says, “the upper 
part of the head, body, and fins, slate gray ; under parts are 
ish white ; young specimens generally exhibit a few white spots.” 
2d edit. Vol. Il, p. 526. I stated the specimen which I describ- 
ed to be “thirty four inches in length”—you perceive it was an 
immature fish. — 
Had not these citenrlis at already so protracted, I chau 
have made a few observations upon the Scopelus Humboldtii, 
Ammodytes Americanus? Hippocampus Hudsonius? and others. 
I hope that some ichthyologist posses nial oe inisare, will furnish 
a more extended 1 notice of the dosh thus cursoril y exam- 
inedy = { 
—Itis to abi seginttod that Dr. Dekay wiped have studiously 
seiblessd the labors of Rafinesque. With all his eccentricities, 
and want of method and frequent want of accuracy, there is 
much worthy of commendation in his “ Ichthyologia Ohioensis” 
—much which should claim the grateful remembrance, at ke 
of American ichthyologists. 
Anr. VIIL—On Greek Verbal Roots in English; by Prof. J. w. Gimas 
Greek verbal roots are liable to various changes or modifications, 
which disguise them more or less to the English eye, and prevent the 
full appreciation of the meaning of many important. terms. Ages 
these are some employed in natural science. - 
Modern philologists have attempted with great labor to clameite these 
changes or reduce them to general principles, and to give a philosoph- 
ical account of their origin. We propors to give their results $0 ad 
as the English language is concerned. 
I. The following are euphonic processes, having for their objec 
merely to relieve the organs of speech, or to please the ear. 
1. The radical vowel a is sometimes changed into e. This is effect: 
ed by attenuation or precession of vowel sound, ‘See Prof. A. Crosby : 
Greek Gram. § 29. Examples will occur as we proceed. ’ 
2. The radical letters, particularly a vowel and liquid, are some- 
times transposed; as, dragon for dracon, ‘ sharp-sighted,’ from »/dare, 
