34 The Selene Argentea of Lacepede. 



Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist, des Poissons, Vol. ix. fig. 255 ; 

 Mitchill Trans, of the Lit. and Phil, Soc. of N. Y, pi. 2, figs. 1 

 and 2 ; Dekay, Fish ofN. Y., pi. 27, fig. 82, and pi. 75, fig. 238. 

 These two last authors, under the names of Zeus or Argyreiosiis 

 rostratus, capillaris, and vomer, were probably describing one 

 species, but I will not be positive that it is so. Our Argyreiosus 

 appears to differ from the one found in Brazil and the West 

 Indies, but a comparison of specimens can alone decide that 

 question. 



Schopf, therefore, must have the credit of first describing the 

 Selene as a new fish, and Plumier first figured it. 



The list of synonyms will then stand as follows : 



(s. n.) Schopf: Beob. der Ges. Nat. Forsch. Freunde; 



Tom. 2, pt. 3, p. 146. 

 Selene argenlea Lacepede : Hist. Nat. des Poissons ; 4to., Tom. 4, p. 562, 



pi. 9, fig. 2, (Plumier.) 

 Argyreiosus vomer Agassiz; Selecta Genera, &c. ; p. 109, pi. 58. (Spix.) 



Dutertre and Labat both speak of fish called Limes et Assiettes, 

 and give rough figures, which show that they were referring 

 to the Argyreiosus vomer and Vomer Brownii, but neither of 

 them indicates the Selene as distinguished from them. No refer- 

 ence in Artedi, Linnaeus, Klein, Gmelin, Bloch, Walbaum, 

 Gronovius, and others, can be construed as applying to Selene. 

 Bloch, in Part 6, p. 27 of his great work (in folio, French 

 edition), speaks of a Zeus described in the 11th vol. of the De- 

 scription des Arts et Metiers, page 562, called Poisson lune de 

 l'Amerique. This reference I have not been able to consult. 



I have been thus minute in sifting and comparing authorities 

 in order to establish the species on a sure basis. The family of 

 the Scombridce is still in some confusion, and it would be no 



