of the Selene Argentea of LacepMe. 31 



Freunde zu Berlin ;" (being the same as the second volume of 

 that portion of the series which is entitled Beobachtungen, &c.,) 

 third part, Berlin, 1788 ; pages 138-191. This memoir was 

 unknown to Dr. Samuel Mitchill, but is alluded to by Dr. 

 Dekay. 



At page 146, after the name Coitus grunniens, L., follows an 

 article which might be supposed to refer to that fish, but which 

 in fact is a description of the Selene argentea, then unknown to 

 naturalists, and which received no specific name from the modest 

 Schopf, who however was aware that he was describing a new 

 species. A note is appended to the article by the ichthyolo- 

 gist Block, to whom the memoir appears to have been referred, 

 as he has also added notes to several other descriptions. Bloch 

 says, " I take it to be the Vomer of Linnceus" &c. Schopf, how- 

 ever, never describes fish which had been noticed by the great 

 Swede, but merely quotes their names. I have carefully trans- 

 lated his description. 



" Head and body compressed laterally, and nearly all over 

 of a brilliant silvery colour. No spines at the vent. The for- 

 ward portion of the lateral line describes a half circle, the rest 

 runs out straight. The spine on the back is straight. The first 

 dorsal has 6, the second 9.23 rays ; of this one the second ray is 

 prolonged beyond the others, and equals the length (from mouth 

 to tail) of the whole body. The pectorals have 17 or 18; the 

 ventrals 5 ; the anal 1.20 (the second is the longest) ; the 

 caudal 24 rays." 



" The numbers of all the fin rays agree nearly with those 

 given by Linnseus for the Zeus Vomer ; but the absence of 

 spines near the vent and the long rays of the second 



DORSAL AND ANAL FINS DISTINGUISH IT FROM THAT SPE- 

 CIES.* It also differs from the Zeus Oallus as described by 



* "I take it to be the Vomer of Linneeus; in my 'Natural History of Foreign 

 Fish,' 4to. 3d part, page 5145, I have remarked, that I could not find the spines 

 mentioned by Linnaeus. — Bloch." 



