89 
Gen. Saurus, Cuv. 
I possess the head of a third Madeiran Saurine fish, belonging 
truly to the genus Saurus, and not to Aulopus ; but the body having 
been destroyed, I must decline for the present attempting either to 
identify or to define it. It was of a mottled pale and scarlet colour, 
varied with brown or dusky, and had a distinct dark spot above at 
the tip of the muzzle. 
Gen. Merorzas, nob. 
I place here, as in some degree related to Scopelus, but merely 
provisionally, conceiving that further investigations may authorize 
its being formed into a new family, a most curious little fish, which 
i saw caught in a boat-scoop whilst swimming on the surface, about 
a league and a half from shore, on a hot calm day in September 1841. 
Although full-grown or adult, being in roe, it was only an inch and 
a half long, and was nearly altogether black. 
With reference to its affinities and position in the Cuvieran system, 
let it be observed, that— 
Ist, it is decidedly Malacopterygious, and this without apparent 
affinity in other points to any known Acanthopterygious genus. If 
it recalls to mind in some respects Pomatomus, it altogether stands 
aloof in scales, dentition, single dorsal fin, small eyes, &c. from that 
enus. ‘The fins resemble most those of a Cyprinus. 
Qndly, the ventral fins are not abdominal, but thoracic, which at 
once opposes its insertion amongst Cyprinide, Esocide, Salmonide, 
and Clupeide of Cuvier. In Aulopus, Cuv., indeed, the ventral fins 
are subthoracic, and there are other points about Metopias indi- 
‘cating rather close alliance of some kind with Scopelus; but it has 
certainly no immediate natural affinity with the true Salmonide, or 
even with Sauride, either in scales, dentition, fins, or habit. It is 
also quite destitute of the artificial symbol of these families, having 
no trace of a second rudimentary or adipose dorsal fin. 
3rdly, it differs toto celo from Gadide; agreeing only with the 
rare Mora Mediterranea, Risso, in the thick cube-shaped head and 
short abrupt muzzle. The ventral fins, moreover, are thoracic, not 
jugular ; and I could find no trace of a beard or barbule. 
These considerations seem to point to the propriety of regarding 
Metopias as belonging to a new family or tribe of Thoracic Mala- 
copterygians, ranging between Salmonide and Gadide; still it is 
very possible that a discovery of some yet unknown link with old- 
established groups may solve at once, as in the case of Brama longi- 
pinnis and Taractes, the problem of its true position. The following 
characters will serve meantime for its discrimination, whether they 
prove eventually of mere generic or still higher value. 
Gen. Meropias. 
Pinne malacopterygie ; ventrales thoracic: pinna dorsalis unica ; 
adiposa nulla; caudalis bifida. Squame parvee leves (cycloidex). 
Dentes minuti uniseriati; palatinis linguaque vomereque iner- 
mibus. 
