A NEW GENUS OF GANOID FISH. 471 



regularly succeeding one another, over the whole body; the only exception I 

 have noticed being in the large specimen already minutely described, and it is 

 probably simply an individual peculiarity. In some specimens one or two of the 

 mesial dorsal scales vary a little in form, being sometimes larger, and having a 

 projection to the right, or to the left side, so as to include and cover the space 

 commonly occupied by the first lateral scale. These occur irregularly along the 

 mesial line, and sometimes one or two mesial scales are absent altogether. 



Caudal fin.— The caudal fin also varied considerably in shape in different 

 specimens, being much rounded at its extremity in some fishes, and in others 

 rather acutely pointed. The fin-rays also appear to vary slightly in number. 



No specimen, however, except the large one described, showed the projection 

 of the termination of the caudal extremity of the vertebral column, in the form 

 of a distinct style or process ; but in some of the others there was noticed a 

 fulness or thickness in the centre of the tail, where the prolongation may be 

 covered and concealed by the scales at the base of the tail, and by the caudal fin- 

 rays themselves. 



Some of these peculiarities may be noticed a little more in detail in referring 

 to these additional specimens of the fish : — 



1. The first had only nine dorsal finlets, the last finlet with the hard fin-ray, 

 as in the fish already described, being wanting. 



2. The second, measuring 9 1 inches in length, the head -| of an inch, has the 

 same peculiarity as the last, the finlets being nine in number. 



3. The third has eleven dorsal finlets ; the last is distinct, or not attached to 

 the base of the caudal fin, and its small fin-ray is soft in character. 



4. The fourth has also eleven dorsal finlets, the last finlet being also distinct, 

 or separated from the caudal fin, and the fin-ray soft. It measures 9| inches in 

 length, and the first dorsal finlet is 3-f inches distant from the point of the snout. 



5. The fifth has eleven dorsal finlets, the last is attached to the base of 

 the caudal fin-rays, and its fin-ray is soft. It measures Q\ inches in total 

 length. The head measures laterally rather less than f of an inch. 



6. The sixth has ten dorsal finlets, the last being attached by its finlet to the 

 base of the caudal fin-rays. It measures 8-J- inches in length, and the head 

 laterally, rather less than f of an inch. 



7. The seventh has ten dorsal finlets, the last close io the base of the caudal 

 fin-rays, and its ray soft. The tail is pointed. 



8. The eighth has eleven dorsal finlets, the last being close to, but free from, 

 the base of the caudal fin-rays, and the ray is soft. Tail rounded. It measures 

 9^ inches in length. 



9. The ninth has eleven dorsal finlets, the last attached to the base of the 

 caudal fin-rays, and the ray hard. It measures 10-J inches in length. 



