38 MR. J. Y.JOHNSON ON NEW FISHES FROM MADEIRA. [Jan. 13, 



The fishermen call this handsome fish " Freira do alto," Brama 

 rail being called " Freira." Several specimens have been taken in 

 the months of February and March, the lengths of vrhich ranged 

 from 27 to 33 inches. 



In form it bears a close general resemblance to Brama rati, which, 

 however, is less thick in proportion, has much smaller scales, and 

 is without the broad ridge at each side of the tail and the white 

 borders of the vertical fins. Moreover in that species the anterior 

 portions of the dorsal and anal fins are much less developed. If ad- 

 mitted into the genus Brama, the definition of that genus given in 

 Dr. Giinther's Catalogue will require modification in regard to the 

 size of the scales, the number of the dorsal spines, and the jaw-teeth, 

 which are there said to have an outer series of stronger teeth. No 

 such series is discoverable in the species now described. 



The following measurements were taken from two examples of 

 nearly the same length : — 



A. B. 



inches. inches. 



Total length 32^ 33 



Height 13 13 



Thickness under anterior part of dorsal. . 4 4 



Length of body without caudal 25 



Head 6 1 7^ 



Eye, diameter If 



Teeth, width of band on jaws -^ 2y^- 



Rictus 2^ 



Dorsal, distance from muzzle 8^ 10^ 



, length of base 14 



, height in front 6 7\ 



Pectorals, distance from muzzle 7g 



, length 8-|- 



Ventrals, length 1^ 1^ 



Anal, length lOg 



, height in front . 6 



, distance from muzzle 14^ 



Caudal, expanse 12 12 



Scales of body, width 1 1 



Fam. TjENiode^ (Lophotid^, Giinther). 



LOPHOTES CRISTATXJS, Sp. n. 



D. about 255. P. 13. V. 5. A. 19. C. 15. M. B. 6. 



Elongated, compressed, blade-like ; the line of the unarmed belly 

 nearly straight ; the back curving upwards slightly for the first 

 third, then falling gently to the tail. The height of the body, com- 

 pared with the length, is as 1 to ^\. The colour is uniformly a sil- 

 very grey, without spots. The body is clothed with simple scales, 

 which are buried in the skin, and set obliquely so as to give a reti- 

 culated appearance. They are rather large and very delicate. 



The head is short and unarmed ; it bears a high fleshy crest, the 



