STERNOPTYX. 



261 



bones of the pelvis form another, also terminated below 

 by another small spine, in front of the ventrals, which 

 are so small as to have been formerly overlooked : along 

 the ridge of the pelvis, on each side, is a series of small 

 fossettes, which have been regarded as a festooned fold 

 of the sternum, and has given rise to the generic name. 

 In front of the first dorsal fin is an osseous or mem- 

 branaceous ridge or crest, which appertains to the anterior 

 interspinals; and behind this fin is a small membraneous 

 projection, which represents the adipose fin of the 

 salmons : the sides of the mouth are formed by the 

 maxillaries. Of the two described species, S. diaphana 

 has small, even, and crowded teeth, and five rays to the 

 gills : its form is singularly oblique, for the mouth pro- 

 jects beyond the ventral line. The other, S. Olfersii, 

 has hooked teeth, and nine rays to the gills. The 

 Sicilian species, before alluded to, is so exceedingly rare, 

 that we only met with them twice during six years, 

 and both times in the same situation, cast up on the 

 shore opposite Reggio, in the Straits of Messina, after 

 violent storms : on one of these occasions, near a dozen 

 specimens were found, most of them much broken by 

 the action of the surf: excepting for their bones, they 

 would have been little thicker than a wafer, and their 

 colour was of the most brilliant silver. In all proba- 

 bility they live in very deep water, for their whole 

 structure is analogous to that of some of the riband-fish, 

 the eyes being excessively large, and the fins very brit- 

 tle. We remember comparing them with the descrip- 

 tions in Shaw*, and observing some differences ; but 

 depending on the power of describing them hereafter, 

 we neglected taking any notes ; and the specimens being 

 now lost, as already stated, further information upon 

 them, from us, at least, becomes impossible. 



(229.) The singular genus Sudis is placed by Cuvier 

 in the herring family (Clupcinai), close to Erythrinus 

 and Amia: it has an evident affinity with the two last, 



* Shaw, probably on the authority of Hermann, states that there is no 

 gill niembrane. — Gen. Zool. vol. iv. p. 112. 



s 3 



