FISH. 103 



follow four short conical teeth ; then six large triangular, compressed, sharp-pointed ones, but 

 not all of equal size ; then five more small conical ones, which complete the series on each side. 

 No teeth on the vomer or palatines. Eyes of moderate size, situate in the middle of the 

 length of the head, high, but not touching the line of the profile ; their diameter one- 

 eighth the length of the head. Preopercle rectangular. Opercle triangular, the membrane 

 produced posteriorly at the upper part in the form of a rounded angle : a short row of scales 

 observable along its upper margin, and another along its lower. Subopercle and interopercle 

 without scales. Also a short row of scales, similar to those on the opercle, behind and par- 

 tially beneath each eye, and, with these exceptions, no other scales on the head. Above each 

 eye is an irregular row of minute pores: there are also pores beneath the eye, and on the 

 sides of the snout, mixed with short raised lines having somewhat the appearance of written 

 characters. Gill-opening widely cleft ; the branchial membrane free all round. 



Scales on the body moderately large, and similar in form to those of the C. auratus, as 

 described by Cuvier and Valenciennes. The number, in a longitudinal line from the gill to 

 the caudal, is forty-six, in a vertical about seventeen. Lateral line also as in that species, but 

 with the mucous tubes branched, and giving off eight or nine twigs on each side. 



The dorsal commences a littLe behind the terminating angle of the opercle, and the anal 

 immediately beneath the first branched ray of the dorsal : these fins terminate in the same ver- 

 tical line, and the last ray in each is double : the simple rays are soft and flexible. Caudal 

 slightly rounded. Pectorals short, and obliquely truncated, contained eleven and a half times 

 in the entire length. Ventrals very small, about two-thirds the length of the pectorals, 

 rounded, close together, with an elongated scale between them; their point of insertion slightly 

 backwarder than that of the pectorals. 

 Colour. — Not noticed in the recent state. In spirits, it appears of an almost uniform dark brown, 

 at least above the lateral line. There is some trace of a pale longitudinal band on each side of 

 the head beneath the eye, which is continued, but rather indistinctly, along the whole length 

 of the body, the tips of the scales remaining dark. Possibly during life all the lower part of 

 the sides and belly may have exhibited numerous dark spots upon a pale or silvery ground. 

 Under part of the head pale brown, with some faintly-defined ocellated spots : also a faint trace 

 of red on the opercle, All the fins pale brown, without spots. 



Habitat, Japan ? 



This species was given to Mr. Darwin, when at Chiloe, by the surgeon of 

 a whaling-ship, who said that he believed that it was caught in the Japan 

 seas. From the great similarity which prevails amongst the species of this 

 genus, I am not sure that it is really new, as I have ventured to consider it. 

 The specific character also, so far as the colours are concerned, must be received 

 with some caution, in consequence of these last not having been observed in the 

 recent state. It seems to approach very closely the C. hemichrysos of Cuvier and 

 Valenciennes, brought by MM. Quoy and Gaimard from the Sandwich Islands ; 

 but it differs in its colours, especially in the fins being all uniformly pale brown, 

 and in having fewer scales on the opercle, and beneath the eye. It is impossible 



