368 Additional Notes 6n the Holconoti. 
this fin are not separated by a depression, but its outline descends 
reguiarly from the fourth or fifth anterior spinous rays to the 
o0sterior extremity. Structure of the anal the same as in Am- 
phistichus but proportionally longer; the sexes differing also in 
the same manner. Young not known, the female obtamed hav- 
ing been canght in January. Jaws very slightly protractile, lower 
jaw projecting ; two rows of teeth in the upper jaw only. Lips 
not fleshy ; lower lip free all round. 
Holconotus rhodoterus, Agass.—Bluish gray above, silvery upon 
the sides with rose colored spots in irregular longitudinal lines; 
vertical fins, especially the caudal, reddish. 
I have just been informed (February 28th) that the California 
Academy of Natural Sciences claims for Dr. W..P. Gibbons the 
discovery of the viviparous fishes upon which I had established 
the family Holconoti and the genus Embiotora ; but upon what 
ground [ am not informed. This is a question in which [ am 
entirely disinterested, having thus far been only the historian of 
the discovery and the biographer and godfather of the fishes. 
Dates and reference to other publications which may have been 
made in California, will easily settle the question of priority which 
as far as the discovery of the viviparity of these fishes 1s cole 
I learn also, from the same quarter, that Dr. Gibbons has 
The knowledge of this curions family is likely to lead to many 
other interesting disclosnres. Dr. ‘Thom. H. Webb, one of = 
scientific corps of the Mexican Boundary Line Commission, has 
sent me under date of Dec. 9th, 1853, the following abstract ee 
his diary, dated San Diego, May 3, 1852: “Capt. Otunger, . 
the U. 8. Revenue service, caused his seine to be drawn for Us 
to-day. Caught many Tiger and Shovel-nose sharks, two floun- 
ders, . . . also a number of small fish, about two or bly 
song, each, of which contained ten or twelve living youns. | 
quite a number of them alive, in a vessel of water, for some ys 
In the mother they were not, so to speak indiscriminately hue 
dled together, but methodically arranged, and so placed in re 
to each other as to form a compact series, without the loss of 1° 
terstitial space, in other words, so disposed as to best accommon™ 
the family. On leaving San Diego, I took extra pains to P) 
