284 Mr. J. Y. Johnson on rare and little-known 



the middle of the body. The second dorsal fin is rudimentary, 

 and placed over against the anal fin, the rays of which, being 

 damaged in the specimen, cannot be given with certainty. 



The obliquely truncate pectoral fins are inserted a little behind 

 the edge of the opercle, and their length is less than half that 

 of the head. 



The abdominal ventral fins are placed underneath the first 

 dorsal fin ; they are not quite half as long as the pectoral fins. 



The anal fin is higher in front ; its base is about half as long 

 as the head, and it is situate rather more than its own length 

 behind the ventral fins. The caudal fin is emarginate. 



Only a single specimen of this fish has occurred, and it has 

 been sent to the British Museum. M. Valenciennes has regis- 

 tered Paralepis sphyrenoides, Risso (Hist. Nat. iii. 473) as having 

 been taken at the Canaries ; but the distinctness of that species 

 from P. coregonoides,H'isso, is doubtful. Bonaparte thought that 

 they were forms of the same species ; but, if distinct, he would 

 define them thus : — 



P. coregonoides, corpore extenso ; maxilla breviore quam man- 

 dibula ; pinna dorsali vcntralibus oppositis ; anali radiis 22. 



l a D. 10. 2 a D. 6, rud. P. 13. V. 1/8. A. 2/20. C. 17. 



P. sphyi-enoides, corpore subextenso ; maxillis requalibus ; pinna 

 dorsali vcntralibus post-posita ; anali radiis 30. 



l a D. 10. 2 a 3?rud. P. 9. V. 1/8. A. 30. C. 18. 



In my specimen the anal fin is damaged, and the number of 

 rays cannot be ascertained; in other respects it seems nearer 

 the form named P. coregonoides than the other supposed species. 

 The Mediterranean fish is said not to exceed 5 inches in length. 

 The following measurements were taken from the fish which 

 afforded materials for the foregoing description : — 



inches. 



Total length 7g 



Height behind pectorals y 6 ^ 



Thickness ^ 



Head lj 



Eye, longer axis A. 



First dorsal, distance from snout 4^- 



,, length of base ^ . . T ^- 



Pectorals, length -fa 



,, distance from snout 2 



Ventrals, length T \ 



Anal, length of base T 9 7 



,, distance from ventrals 1 



