﻿July, 1856.] ELLIOTT SOCIETY. 4:5 



ing it, have each of their anterior extremities extended into a salient point, 

 which gives the fish the appearance of having two horns." McMurtrie's 

 Cuvier, Vol. 2, p. 295. 



The American fish differs from the above in having a modified second dor- 

 sal fin at the base of the tail ; containing a spine, which is never visible but 

 rudimentary, and imbedded in a bony base, covered by the skin of the tail, 

 forming a knob or bump posterior to the first dorsal fin. Behind the knob 

 is a groove or depression in the upper surface of the tail, two or three inches 

 in length, and another about one inch long in the posterior dorsal end of the 

 bump ; its other generic characters are the same as in Cephaloptera of Du- 

 meril. 



We propose to distinguish this genus by calling it Diabolicthys, derived 

 from the Greek, and signifying Devil-fish. The specific name, Elliotti, we 

 retain. 



The synonomy will therefore stand thus : 



FAMILY RAIID^E. — Linn. Cut. 

 Genus. — Diabolicthys. 



Diabolicthys Elliotti. 

 Synonymes. — Diabolus Marinus, Catesby, Nat. Hist, of Carolina, London, 

 1731-1743. 



Cephaloptera vampirus, Mitchell, Annals Lyceum, New York, 



Vol. I., p. 23, plate 2, fig. 1, 1823. 

 Cephaloptera Giorna, Lesueur, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sciences, 



Philadelphia, vol. 4, p. 117, plate 6, fig. 1. 

 Cephaloptera vampirus, DeKay, Nat. History N Y. Zoology, 



1842. Part I, p. 377, plate 67, fig. 219. 

 Devil Fish, Elliott, Sports of Carolina, Charleston, 1846. 

 Cephaloptera Elliotti, Holmes, Charleston Mercury, June 24th, 



1854. 



As the Carolina fish is undoubtedly a new species, we called it Cephalop- 

 tera Elliotti. — Mercury, June 24=th, 1854. 



The male taken in the harbor of Charleston, (June, 1854) and preserved 

 in the Museum of the College of Charleston is of this species, as is also the 

 young specimen captured many years ago. . 



ft. in. 



Length from the superior margin of mouth to base of dorsal fin, 6 1 



Length of tail from anterior base of dorsal to extremity, 5 9 



Length of frontal appendices or horns, - 19 



Breadth, - 8 



Width across tip of pectorals, - • - - - - - 14 3 



Length of base of dorsal proper, ----- i 



Height of do. 8 



Length of knob posterior to dorsal fin, 5 



