40 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE. 



presence of two nasal spines ; but it differs in the roughness of the skin (that 

 species being described as smooth), and in the greater inequality of the dorsal fin. 

 Perhaps it may be the same as the species brought from the coast of Chili by 

 Mr. Cuming, and briefly noticed by Mr. Bennett in the " Proceedings of the 

 Zoological Society" (1832, p. 5.), but which this last gentleman did not venture 

 to describe as new, from the circumstance of its general agreement with the 

 A. Peruvianas. The principal deviation in Mr. Cuming's fish from the species 

 just mentioned is stated to have occurred in the number of the fin-rays; those of 

 the spinous portion of the dorsal fin being seventeen (one less than in the 

 A. Peruvianas), while of the soft rays of the anal there were ten (three more than 

 in the species referred to). Mr. Darwin's fish agrees with Mr. Cuming's in the 

 number of the dorsal spines, but not in that of the soft rays of the anal, which is 

 eight, being one more than in the A. Peruvianas and two less than in Mr. 

 Cuming's ; and it is observable that both the specimens obtained by Mr. Darwin 

 agree in this particular. Mr. Bennett has not noticed any of the other characters 

 of Mr. Cuming's fish.* 



One of the most distinguishing peculiarities in the species here described is 

 the existence of vomerine teeth, which though extremely minute are quite 

 sensible to the touch. As these teeth are denied by Cuvier to the whole genus 

 we have here another instance, similar to that of the Aspidophorm Chiloemis 

 already mentioned, of the slight value of the character which their presence or 

 absence aftbrds. Possibly, however, they may disappear in the adult state. 

 Both Mr. Darwin's specimens are small, neither equalling two inches ; and if 

 they are immature, which is probably the case, some of the other characters 

 mentioned in the description, perhaps even the hispidity of the skin, may result 

 from this circumstance. They must therefore be received with caution until 

 larger specimens shall have been obtained. 



* Since the above was printed, Mr. Waterhouse has been kind enough to show me in the museum of the 

 Zoologwal Society the specimen which he believes to be the one procured by Mr. Cuming Unless the 

 characters are very much altered by age, it is decidedly distinct from the A. hispidus above described The 

 general form indeed is the same; but the skin is perfectly smooth, marked with vertical striae; the granulated 

 ridges on the head are less prominent, and the superciliary ridges without spines. The fin-ray formula is not 

 quite as stated by Mr. Bennett, who appears, in his computation, to have mistaken the last dorsal spine for one 

 of the soft rays of that fin, and also to have over-estimated the number of soft rays in the anal. The formula 

 is really 18/12 !; A. 1/9, &c. I have no doubt of Mr. Cuming's fish being the true A. Peruvians; whilst 

 the one here characterized as new is probably the young of a nearly allied species. Mr. Cuming's specimen is 

 six and a half inches long. ° F 



. It may be advantageous to science to mention here, though not immediately connected with the present 

 inquiry that another species of Agriopus in the museum of the Zoological Society, which was seen by M. Valen- 

 ciennes during Ins visit to this country, and referred by him in the « Histoire des Poissons" to the A 



verrucosus. 



. . i . - ' -- -j - ..™uin, ma i umjuib iu me ^..verrucosus, 



proves not to be that species but the A. spinier of Dr. Smith, recently described by him for the first time in 

 his Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa." 



