158 PISCES. 



LuvARus, Rafin. 



Apparently closely approaches Peprilusj the extremity of the pel- 

 vis is furnished with a small scale that acts as an operculum to the 

 anus; no trenchant blades^ a prominent carina on each side of the 

 tail, as in the Tunny, &c. 



Luv. imperialis, Rafin.,, Ind. d'lttiol., Sicil., pi, i, f, i. Sil- 

 very, with a reddish backj an extremely large species that inha- 

 bits the seas of Europe.(l) 



Seserinus, Cuv. 



All the characters of the Stromatei, even internally; but there are 

 two small ventrals, or rather vestiges of ventrals. 



Ses.Iiondelelii, Cuv. j Rondel., 257. A small species from the 

 Mediterranean. 



KURTUS, Bl. 



The fishes of this genus are closely allied to those of Peprilus, from 

 which they particularly differ in the less extent of their dorsal and in 

 the development of their ventrals: the anal is long, the scales are so 

 extremely small that they are hardly visible till the skin is dried; 

 there are none on the fins; seven rays in the branchiae: a pelvic spine 

 between the ventrals, and several small trenchant blades before the 

 dorsal, at whose base is a spine directed horizontally forwards. 



A singularity of structure is presented in their skeleton; the ribs 

 are dilated, convex, and form rings which are in contact with each 

 other, thus enclosing a conical and empty space, which extends be- 

 neath the tail, in the inferior rings of the vertebrae, in a long and thin 

 tube which contains the natatory bladder. The 



Kurt, indicus, Bl., 169, is very probably the female of the Kur- 

 tus cornutus or Somdrum-Kara-Mottce of Russel, a fish very re- 

 markable for a little cartilaginous and curved horn, which rises 

 from the first of the small trenchant blades before the dorsal. 



CoRYPHiENA, Lin. 



The body compressed, elongated, covered with small scales; upper 

 part of the head trenchant; a dorsal extending along the whole of 



(1) A specimen was taken at the isle of lie. In 1826, a drawing of which was 

 forwarded to us by M. Journal Rouquet. 



I suspect that we should refer to it, at least as a congener, tlie Jluionia Citvien. 

 Risso, 2d cd. pi. xi, f. 28, which is figured, however, with two anal spines. 



