20 



Maltlie longirostris, Cuv, & Val., the Guacucuja of Marcgrave ;* and 

 Malthe notata, Cuv. & Val. These species seem to correspond with cer- 

 tain limits of variation, and are probably entitled to subspecific rank, 

 particularly since these limits of variation are correlated with their geo- 

 graphical distribution. The form designated as vespertilio corresponds 

 to section (d) of Giinther, having the snout one-ninth or one-tenth of 

 the total length, and is recorded from Cuba, Jamaica, Santo Domingo, 

 Porto Bico, and Martinique. 



M. longirostris corresponds to section (a) of Giinther, having the 

 snout one-sixth of the total length, and is recorded from Bahia and 

 Para. 



M. notata was described from Surinam, and, according to Dr. Giinther, 

 from young specimens. Dr. Giinther identifies it with a Demerara 

 specimen, and refers it to section (e), having the snout one-thirteenth 

 of the total length. 



M. angusta, corresponding to section (tj) of Giinther, with the snout 

 one-twentieth to one twenty-fifth of the total length, represents the 

 minimum development of snout, and is known from Brazil. 



Malthe euM/rons, Bichardson, is undoubtedly entitled to full specific 

 rank. 



ANTENNABinXE. 



PTEBOPHBYNE PICTA, ( Val.) Goode. 

 Devilfish; Marbled Angler. 



lophius histrio, var. b, pictits, Schneider. Blocb, Syst. Ichtb. 1801, 124. 



CMronectes pictus, Cuv. & Val.. Hist. Nat. Poiss. xii, 293, pi. 364. 



AnUnnanus marmoratus, var. a,picta, Gthr., Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. iii. 1861, 186. 



A single specimen was given me by C. C. Keane, esq., of Hamilton, 

 and I saw several others. The fish is pelagic, occurring only in the 

 warmer parts of the Atlantic. Its home is among the floating masses 

 of Gulf-weed (Sargassum bacciferum). It is often brought ashore in the 

 beds of this alga, which is thrown up among the rocks in great heaps 

 after the winter storms. I have seen its curious nest, consisting of a 

 bunch of eggs adhering in glutinous masses to the Sargassum, the 

 whole cluster large enough to fill a quart measure. One of these was 

 thrown ashore in February, and is now in the collection of J. Matthew 

 Jones, esq., of Halifax, Nova Scotia. 



* Historia Naturalis Brasilia?, 1648, p. 143. 



