90 Mr. Bennett on some Fishes from Jamaica. 



Anthias formosus, the Hcemulon elegans, Cuv. MSS., for, instead of 

 the longitudinal vittcB we have here numerous oblique lines. This cha- 

 racter distinguishes it equally from every other described species with 

 which I am acquainted of the genus HeBmulon, recently proposed among 

 the SparidcB by M. Cuvier, with the single exception of his Htsm. hete- 

 rodon, the Diabase raye dejaune of M. Desmarest. In this latter there 

 are, however, three vittee along each side of the back, which are wanting 

 in our fish, the oblique lines being continued in it to the base of the 

 dorsal fin. I would therefore propose to characterize it as a new species. 



DiABASis OBLIQUATUS. Diob. fiavescens, capite vittis cceruleis duo- 

 decimo corpore lineis cceruleis ohliquis numerosis. 



D. J-f. P. 15. V. i. A. -f3_. C. 16. 



On a yellowish, somewhat fuscous, ground, (perhaps altered by the 

 spirit in which the specimen has been immersed for about three months,) 

 the markings are pale blue, in numerous vittee : those on the head and 

 opercula, which are somewhat broader, and more deeply coloured than 

 those of the body, are nearly longitudinal, about twelve in number : those 

 of the body are oblique, directed upwards and backwards. The latter 

 are formed by lines passing across the middle of each scale, and are con- 

 sequently numerous, not less than sixteen or seventeen being crossed by 

 a line dravm from the junction of the spinous and soft portions of the 

 dorsal fin to the belly in front of the anus. On the tail, behind the dor- 

 sal and anal fins, the markings become longitudinal, in about nine rows. 

 The fins, especially in their scaly soft portions, are more fuscous than 

 the body : into these the markings do not extend. The lateral line, 

 deflected opposite to the extremity of the dorsal fin, is yellow, and is 

 accompanied below by a blue line ; a similar line, but more indistinct, 

 passes along its upper edge. The caudal fin is forked ; the spines of the 

 dorsal are filamentous. 



The front and the extreme teeth in each jaw, especially in the upper, 

 are longer and stronger than the others, and are somewhat hooked ; a 

 variance from the generic mark " dents en velours' ' indicated by M. 

 Cuvier. His characters may perhaps be erroneous in this respect, or the 

 structure may be peculiar to the present species, the only one of the 

 genus I have yet examined. 



In this description I have omitted several points which form part of the 

 generic marks indicated by M. Guvier, whose name for the genus fHce- 



