from the Sea surrounding the Island of Barbados. 15 



«►■ 

 Fam, Squamipennes, Cuv. 



Pempheiis Schomburgkii, Mull. etTr. nov. spec* Hatchet Fish. 



It is the opinion of Miiller and Troschel, " that this species 

 differs from Pempheris meccicana of Cuv. et Val. which is found 

 in the Pacific Ocean. It agrees in form with the other, but the 

 West India species has a spine less in the dorsal fin.'^ 



Fam. ScoMBEROiDEi, Cuv. 

 Caprophonus, Miill. et Tr. nov. gen. 



" This interesting new genus agrees with Capros in general, 

 but it may be distinguished from it by a single series of teeth in 

 the upper and lower jaw ; by the roughness of the maxillary, and 

 by the three spines of the anal fin, which form a fin separate from 

 that of the soft rays.^' 



Caprophonus Aurora, Miill. et Tr. Hatchet Fish (?). D. 8 + 34 : 

 A. 3 + 32: V. 1 + 5. (B. 5.) 



" The body is much compressed, and the height nearly equals 

 the length. The profile from the highest part of the back to the 

 mouth shows two depressions ; the anterior is situated before the 

 eyes, the other near the summit of the back. The anterior line 

 of the profile has almost a rectangular direction toward the pos- 

 terior line. The profile of the belly is circular. The head forms 

 one-third of the whole length of the fish, excluding the caudal 

 fin. The mouth is a little protractile, and nearly vertical when 

 closed, and the lower jaw forms the end of the mouth. The in- 

 termaxillary is inserted into a deep incisure at the front, and its 

 hinder apophysis separates the two maxillaries. The genus Capros 

 has not that incisure at the front, and the two maxillaries meet 

 together in such a manner that the apophysis of the intermax- 

 illary is inserted under the maxillaries. Both jaws are armed 

 with a single row of close-set small conical teeth. The large eyes 

 are in the middle of the height of the body. The distance of the 

 eye from the snout and from the other eye is equal to the dia- 

 meter of an eye. Over each eye is a point from which lines ra- 

 diate on all sides. The posterior margin of the preoperculum is 

 rectilineal and nearly vertical ; the lower margin is rounded and 

 armed with rough teeth. The nostrils are near the eyes. The 

 dorsal fin begins on the summit of the back, with a very short 

 pointed spine ; the second spine is three times larger than the 

 first, the third spine is five times larger than the second, and is 



* Professor Dr. Miiller and Dr. Troschel have had the goodness to de- 

 scribe this new species under the above specific name. While I recognise 

 the kindness which dictated this distinction, 1 feel reluctant to be the herald 

 of the honour bestowed upon me. — R. H. S. 



