APPENDIX. 417 



figure represents three of these on the body, and three transverse ones on 

 the tail. 



DACTYLOPTERUS Trigloides. 



Pectoral fin short, reaching only to the end of the 

 second dorsal, with three unconnected digitated pro- 

 cesses at the base, as in Trigla. 



Trigla corvus. Raf. Carat, pi. 6. f. 1. p. 32. 



The very slight notice of this most interesting species by Rafinesque 

 prevents me from giving further details than what may be learned from 

 his work. He expressly says that there are three free rays at the base 

 of the pectoral ; while, in every other respect, his figure portrays a genu- 

 ine Dacti/lopterus. The first dorsal tin is represented with four rays, the 

 second with nine ; the anal fin is immediately under the second dorsal, and 

 neither is surpassed in its length by the pectoral. Rafinesque observes 

 that the back and pectoral fins are black with blue marks, the sides red- 

 ish ; and the belly white 



Imperfect as are the notices of the three last fish, I have no doubt that 

 future discoveries will establish their authenticity, and even increase the 

 present list. Another, indeed, which differs from all these, is incidentally 

 noticed by Bloch, who says that a second specimen of his Trigla vohtans 

 bad only a single free ray before the first dorsal ; that this ray was much 

 lengthened, and placed considerably nearer the head. This is probably a 

 new species between Blochii and orientalis (Cuv. pi. 76.), this latter being 

 distinguished by an intermediate spiny ray between the long filament and 

 the first dorsal Enough, however, has now been said to show that there is 

 every probability that the D. vuUtans of all preceding authors includes 

 many species, anJ that the majority of the specific characters they have 

 assigned to it are more properly genenc ; the species themselves being de- 

 termined by the number and construction of the rays, the relative length 

 and position of the fins, &c. By these characters, also, we may readily dis- 

 tinguish the two following, which have been also overlooked as one by 

 MM Cuvier and Valenciennes, under the common name of D. orientalis. 

 I shall, therefore, first state the true characters of their species, and then 

 describe the others. 



DACTYLOPTERUS orientalis. Cuv. Val. 



•Suborbital bone without spines ; pectorals nearly reach- 

 ing to the end of the caudal fin ; two soft detached 

 rays, wide apart, before the anterior dorsal fin, the 

 first very long, the second short, and both furnished 



with a membrane at the base J anal rays } 



D. orientalis Cuv. et Val. N. H. Poissons, iv. p. 134. pi. 76. 



DACTYLOPTERUS bispinosus. 

 A slender ray, and an oval spine, wide apart, placed be- 

 fore the anterior dorsal, and another oval spine be- 

 fore the second dorsal ; anal rays branched. 

 Trigla volitans. Russell, ii. p. 45. pi. 161. 

 Dorsal 5, 8 ; anal 6. 

 Coasts of Coromandel ; but rare. Dr. Russell. 



VOL. II. E E 



