Classification of Tdeostean Fishes. 203 



rays, as in Beryx or Pempheris. Several similar species, 

 with the dorsal sjjines somewhat more widely spaced, and 

 four to six spines, as in I/o/>/osteihus, have since been 

 described from Australia and New Zealand. In 186) 

 Johnson discovered a large allied form at Madeira, which 

 he named 2\ Darwinii ; the same fish has since been re- 

 discovered in Japan and in the Bay of Bengal. The 

 dorsal fin is, however, quite different from that of 2\ australis, 

 and more like that of a }[yrii>risti3 0v llolocentrum, the spines 

 (eight in number) being strong, widj apart, increisiiig in 

 length to the fourth, anl then decreasing to the penultimite, 

 thus producing a shallow notch between the two divisions of 

 the fin. How such a marked difference has not yet bean 

 seized upon for generic distinction I fail to understand, and 

 must now propose the name Gephyroberyx to designate the 

 genus of which T. Darwinii is so far tlie only representative. 



In T. Trailli, Ilutton, from the South Pacific, the spines 

 of the dorsal are more widely spaced than in the typical 

 Trachichihys, but they likewise graduate towards the soft 

 rays. As first observed by Gunther, tlxe vent is far forward, 

 between the ventral fins, in front of, and not, as usual, 

 behind, the series of abdominal scales. This species i)as 

 therefore very properly been made the type of a distinct 

 genus, Paratrachicfithys, by Waite in 1899. 



On the other hand, i would endorse the opinion of Lowe, 

 that Tloplostethus is not entitled to rank as generically distinct 

 from Trachichthys, the presence or absence of minute teeth on 

 the vomer not being in this case a character of sufficient 

 importance. 



Synopsis of the Genera. 



I. Anal fin long'jr tlian dorsal; dorsal 



spines feeble, 4 to 7, }j:radiiat*'d ; 



anal spines 3 or 4 ; vertebine 24. . . . 1. Bcrtj.T, Cuv. 



II. Anal tin not longer than dor.-al; ver- 



lebrre 20 to 30. 

 A. Dorsal spines feeble, 2 to 4, gradu- 

 ated ; belly not serrated. 



1. Uyoid barbels; anal spines 3 or 4. 2. Polt/nu.ita, LiOvro. 



2. No barbels ; anal spines 1 or 2. 

 n. Scales small ; head moderately 



large, with feeble dentition ; 



vent anterior to ventrals. ... 3. Aphredodcrus, Le Sueur. 

 b. Scales lar^^e ; head nic^derately 



large, with feeble dentition; 



vent posterior to ventrals. 

 Anal far behind dorsal ; eye moderate .... 4. McJamphaes, Gthr, 



Anal below dorsal ; eye moderate 5. Plectromus, Gill. 



Anal below doisal ; eye very small ...... G. Scopeloi/adusy \-,\\[\. 



