50 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE. 



ciliated; the concealed portion with eight or nine deeper and more distinct stria, not Meeting 



in the centre to form a fan, and with the basal margin crenated. The scales on the cheeks and 



opercle are smaller than those on the body, and almost smooth. 



The dorsal fin commences in a line with the posterior margin of the opercle, and extends 



nearly the whole length of the back, rising from a groove as in the Sparidce : its height on the 

 whole tolerably uniform throughout: spinous portion occupying more than half the fin; the 

 anterior spines gradually increasing in length to the fourth/ which equals rather more than 

 one-third of the depth ; the succeeding ones nearly even, very gradually decreasing to the last, 

 which is about two-thirds the length of the fourth; all the spines moderately stout: soft portion 

 of the fin even, and rather higher than the last spine. Anal commencing in a line with the 

 third soft ray of the dorsal, and terminating opposite to that fin : the first spine short, but 

 strong ; second and third spines equal in length, being about two-thirds the length of the soft 

 rays, but the second much stouter than the third ; the second spine is also distinguished from 

 the others by having its surface longitudinally striated : soft rays nearly even, and resembling 

 those of the dorsal. Caudal forked, with the upper lobe a trifle longer than the lower; the 

 basal half covered with minute scales. Pectorals narrow and pointed, about two-thirds the 

 length of the head, with a small fold of loose skin in their axillae. Ventrals placed a little 

 further back than the pectorals, and somewhat shorter ; a long pointed scale in their axilla, 

 nearly one-third their length. 

 Colour.—" Bluish silvery."— D.— The colour, as it appears in spirit, is nearly uniform bluish 

 gray, and very similar to that of the Cantharus griseus. The gill-cover has a dusky edging 

 posteriorly. 

 Second specimen.— Smaller than the above, and not quite so deep in the body ; the greatest depth 

 contained a trifle more than four times in the entire length ; the nape in consequence less 

 elevated, and the profile less oblique. Eyes relatively a little larger, their diameter rather more 

 than one-fifth the length of the head. Preopercle with the posterior margin not so rectilineal, 

 approaching to concave ; the angle at bottom projecting in consequence a little backwards ; the 

 denticulations not quite so distinct and regular. One ray more in the soft dorsal. 



D. 12/16; A. 3/12; C. 17, &c. ; P. 19; V. 115. 



Long. unc. 9. lin. 2. 



Colour. — " Silvery ; above, shaded with brown and iridescent with blue ; fins and iris some- 

 times edged with blackish brown. Flap of the gill-cover edged with black."— D. 



Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago. 



This species, which is undoubtedly new, may be known from most of those 

 described by Cuvier and Valenciennes by its greater number of soft rays in the 

 anal fin. The only ones which equal it in this respect are the P .Conceptionis and 



* The third spine is broken, and may have been as long as the fourth. 



