Fishes taken at Madeira. 241 



A. B. C. 



Head in length 2-83 3 3 



Height in length 377 3-55 3-6. 



Mr. Lowe having stated that in Sc. ustulata the lateral line 

 consists of 24 scales, each marked with a little tooth or point, 

 Dr. Gunther remarked that he had evidently counted the small 

 scales only by which the lateral line itself is constituted ; but it 

 was to be presumed that, if the transverse series of scales had 

 been counted, their number would be nearly the same as in Sc. 

 scrofa, i. e. from 40 to 46. Now, in my specimens, the scales 

 furnished with a projecting duct (evidently the " little point or 

 tooth") are 24 in number, whilst the rows of scales abutting on 

 the lateral line are about 45. 



In regard to colour, the throat and belly are of a rich pinky 

 red; the body reddish-brown, with dark spots and pale dap- 

 plings; the dorsal, pectoral, and caudal fins are washed with 

 orange and sprinkled with black spots, the ventral and anal fins 

 being nearly immaculate. In the largest specimen there is a 

 faint dark blotch between the eighth and ninth spines of the 

 dorsal. In the second specimen, there is a well-marked dark 

 blotch between the eighth and ninth spines, and another similar 

 blotch between the ninth and tenth spines. In the third speci- 

 men, there is a large continuous deep black blotch extending 

 from near the seventh spine to beyond the tenth. It is evident 

 that there is considerable irregularity in the position and inten- 

 sity of the black blotch on the dorsal fin. In other respects, 

 the colours, as I have described them, agree sufficiently nearly 

 with those assigned by Mr. Lowe to the species Sc. ustulata. 

 But then he has stated that " the great peculiarity of that spe- 

 cies is an irregular chestnut-brown and blackish mark behind 

 the eye, extending principally over the opercle." Of this mark 

 I perceive not the slightest trace in any one of my specimens. 

 Looking, however, at the variations of colour which Mr. Lowe 

 has himself pointed out, it may well be doubted whether any 

 reliance can be placed upon this mark as a criterion of species. 



After considering the facts here stated, I venture to think 

 that ichthyologists will conclude that the supposed species 

 Scorpeena ustulata must be erased, on the ground that the fishes 

 upon which it was founded were merely forms of Scorpana 

 scrofa. 



Fam. Scombridae. 

 Echcneis brachyptera, Lowe, 

 Giinther's Cat. Fishes Brit. Mus. ii. 378. 

 An example of this species, 12| inches in length, had a sucto- 



