Dr. A. Giinther on the Genus Trachinus. 301 



XXXI. — Some Remarks on the Genus Trachinus. 

 By Dr. Albert Gunther. 



[Plate VIII. figs. B, C, D.] 



The different species of Weevers {Trachinus) have lately been 

 re-examined by Dr. P. v. Bleeker *, who, having paid attention 

 to several characters not mentioned in the works of previous 

 writers, considers them as important enough to split that Lin- 

 nean genus into three. The characters on which the new divi- 

 sions are founded are the following : — 



1. Armature of the head. 



2. More or less oblique direction of the cleft of the mouth. 



3. More or less scaly covering of the cheek. 



4. Smooth or ciliated edge of the lips. 



5. Presence or absence of pterygoid teeth. 



6. A single or double lateral line. 



Whilst the three former of those characters have been used 

 by other ichthyologists for distinction of the species, M. Bleeker 

 has the merit of having added the three latter : attaching, how- 

 ever, a generic value to them, he distinguishes three genera, 

 characterized as follows : — 



1. Trachinus. 



Caput vertice granulis scabrum. Orbita antice spinis armata. Max- 

 illa superior usque ante oculum adscendens. Squamee genis ses- 

 siles multiseriatse. Labia simplicia, nee fimbriata nee papillata. 

 Dentes pterygoidei. Oculi obliqui, subverticales. Prseoperculum 

 aculeatum. Linea lateralis simplex. 



The following species are referred to this division : T. ar- 

 matus, L., T. araneus, C. & V., T. armatus, Schl., T. (?) cor- 

 nutus, Guich. 



2. Pseudotrachinus. 



Caput vertice granulis e centris radiantibus scabrum. Orbita antice 

 spinis armata. Maxilla superior non usque ante oculum ad- 

 scendens. Spinse suborbitales sursum spectantes. Squamse genis 

 sessiles multiseriatse. Labia simplicia, nee fimbriata nee papillata. 

 Dentes pterygoidei nulli. Oculi obliqui, subverticales. Prseoper- 

 culum non aculeatum. Linea lateralis simplex. 



This division is founded on T. radiatus, C. & V., aud on 

 Pseudotrachinus pardalis, Blkr. 



3. Echiichthys. 



Caput vertice non granosum. Orbita ubique Isevis. Maxilla supe- 

 rior usque ante oculum adscendens. Spinae suborbitales nulla. 

 Squamse genis parvse, deciduae. Labia papillata vel fimbriata. 



* Ann. Scienc. Nat. Paris, 1861, p. 375. 



