164 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE. 



Family.— SCLENID.E. 

 Otolithus analis. Jen. 

 This new species of Otolithus is from Callao : it was omitted to be noticed in 

 the body of the work. There is but one specimen in the collection, in bad condi- 

 tion, and not admitting of a very detailed description ; but it is evidently distinct 

 from all the species described by Cuvier and Valenciennes. 



It is rather more elongated than the O. Guatucupa, the depth being not much more than 

 one-fifth of the entire length. The head is long, and contained three and a half times in the 

 same. The lower jaw is considerably the longest. The teeth above are small, and sharp- 

 pointed, apparently in two rows, the outer row being a little stronger than the inner : there 

 are two very strong canines in front, springing from between the rows. Below, the teeth are 

 in two rows in front, and one at the sides ; those in front small, but those at the sides un- 

 equally sized, three or four, standing at intervals, being much stronger than the others, and 

 very sharp. Diameter of the eye about one-sixth the length of the head ; its distance from 

 the end of the snout one diameter and a half. 



The lateral line is continued to the extremity of the caudal, between the ninth and tenth 

 rays. There is a small interval between the two dorsal fins. The second dorsal, as well as 

 the anal, are longer than in the O. Guatucupa, with more soft rays, especially the anal. The 

 pectorals are narrow and pointed, and between one-half and two-thirds the length of the 

 head. The ventrals are attached almost exactly beneath the pectorals. The caudal appears 

 to have been square. 



D. 9—1/24; A. 1/16; P. 17; V. 1/5. 

 Length 12 inches. 

 Colour. — The colours were not noticed when recent, and can hardly be judged of now. The 

 general tint appears to have been silvery. If there were any markings, no traces of them 

 remain. 



Habitat, Callao, Peru. 



This species has a longer anal than any of the American species described 

 by Cuvier and Valenciennes. I have in consequence named it analis. 



Prionodes fasciatus. p. 47. 

 It has been suggested that this may be nothing more than a monstrosity. 

 Whether this be really the fact or not, can only be determined by the examination 

 of more specimens. But in either case, I am so satisfied now of its being a 

 Serranus in all its essential characters, that I conceive it never can be placed in a 

 different family from that genus. If the fact be established of its never possess- 

 ing vomerine and palatine teeth, such a character can, at the very utmost, serve 

 only to distinguish it as a subgenus in that group. But every day is bringing 

 more and more to light the small value of that character. 



