320 KEPOET OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [96] 



with the statements of other authors. Perhaps the plain coloration 

 may be due to age, or to the poor condition of the typical specimen. 



Kaup's Apionichthys dumerili has not been described at all, but simply 

 mentioned as the type of the genus. As his species cannot be identi- 

 fied, its name should not be used. 



124. APIONICHTHYS OTTONIS. 



Apionichthys ottonis Steindachner, Ichth. Notizen, vii, 41, 1868 (Sicily). 



Habitat. — Mediterranean Sea. 



This species is unknown to us. Judging from the published descrip- 

 tions, it must be very close to Apionichthys unicolor, and ouly the different 

 locality would appear to indicate specific distinction. 



Genus XLV.— BBACHIRTJS. 



Brachirus Swaiuson, Nat. Hist. Class'n Fishes, 1839, ii, 303 (orientalis, zebra, commer- 



soniana, etc.) (not Brachyrus Swainson, nor Brachyurus Fischer, both prior 



names). 

 Synaptura Cantor, Catal. Malayan Fishes, 1850, 232 (commersoniana, zebra) (name a 



substitute for Brachirus, preoccupied by Brachyurus, which is regarded as the 



correct ortbograpby). 

 Solenoides Bleeker (fide Kaup). 



?Euryglossa Kaup, Wiegmann's Archiv, 1858, 99 (orientalis). 

 ? Eurypleura Kaup, 1. c. (substitute for Achiroides). 

 ? Achiroides Bleeker, Verb. Bataav. Genootscb., xxiv, Pleuron., 6,1862 (melanorhyn- 



chus). 

 ? Anisochirus Giintber, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., iv, 1862, 486 (panoides). 



Type : Pleuronectes zebra Bloch (as restricted by Swain., Proc. Ac. 

 Nat. Sci. Phila., 1883). 



We have had opportunity to study but few of the numerous species 

 referred to this genus, and have no opinion as to the proper limitation 

 of the group. Possibly neither of the European species should be re- 

 ferred to it. 



We retain the name Brachirus (i. <?., Brachychirus), notwithstanding the 

 priority of the name Brachyrus, which seems to have the same meaning. 

 If, however, this name of Swainson be rejected, that next in order of 

 date is Synaptura, which has now the advantage of general usage. 



ANALYSIS OF THE SPECIES OF BRACHIRUS. 



a. [Pectoral fins subequal; one of the nostrils of tbe blind side large, round, much 

 dilated ; deptb, 3 in lengtb, with caudal; head, 5; upper jaw overbauging ; pecto- 

 rals both present, equal in length, their length equal to their distance from the 

 eye; color greenish brown, marbled with darker. D. 72; A. 58 to 60; P. 8. 

 (Kaup ) S avignyi, 125. 



aa. [Pectoral fins unequal, tbe right pectoral £ its distance from the eye ; nostril on 

 each side dilated, trumpet-like; lateral line straight ; ventral not inserted at chin; 

 body rather elongate, depth 3£ to 4. D. 72 to 76 ; A. 58 to 60. Color chestnut, 

 much spotted and variegated; tbree rows of pale ocelli bordered with dark along 

 side of body.] (Capello) Lusitanicus, 126. 



