Remarks on Fishes. 151 



sions some difficulty in the examination of its real characters. 

 The genus to which it appears to present the greatest resem- 

 blance is Sillago, hut the rounded pectorals and the short 

 flat muzzle to which the eyes are approximated, and the 

 absence of serrate margins to any of the opercula are de- 

 cided distinctions from that genus. 



The following are the characters of this new genus : 



Cestreus,* J. M. 



Head oval and flat in front ; eyes prominent, and situated 

 in the anterior part of the head ; jaws flat, and directed up- 

 ward, with minute conical teeth in the intermaxillaries. 

 Four branchial rays, and two rough ridges terminating in 

 blunt points on the upper and posterior corner of the oper- 

 culum. Pectorals round, placed over the ventrals which are 

 preceded by a spine. Dorsals widely separated, a fleshy 

 prominence in front of the anal fin. 



Cestreus minimus, J. M. 



The head (2 h. pi. IV.) is depressed anteriorly, and with- 

 out scales. The eyes are prominent, and placed so high as 

 to approximate towards each other slightly on the crown. 

 The mouth is directed upwards with a double row of minute 

 hooked teeth in adult individuals, placed in irregular clus- 

 ters of two or three. The body is compressed, diaphanous, 

 with only twenty-six vertebra?. The air-vessel large and 

 silvery, with variegated margins ; the stomach situated in 

 front of the air-vessel is simple, soft, and continuous, with a 

 short intestine without cecae. The rays are 



D. 5—9 : P. 16: V. 1/5 : A. 12 : C. 13. 



The first dorsal consists of soft pointed rays connected by 

 a thin, transparent membrane, the second dorsal as well as 

 all the other fins composed of soft branching rays except the 

 ventrals, in which the first is spinous. The pectorals, as in 

 the Gobies, are inserted square with the sides into a soft 

 fleshy pedicle ; they are rounded at the extremity, and long. 



* The Greek name of a kind of mullet. 



