382 
ON A NEW SPECIES OF CEPHALUS. 
The drawing measures/from the snout to the extremity of 
the caudal fin, 11 1 inches. It is three inches in depth: 
the dorsal fin measures inches in length ; the anal not 
quite 2 inches ; the pectoral 2 inches ; and the caudal fin 
/(jths of an inch. 
The general form of this species is more fish-like than that 
of any other of the genus. The separation of the dorsal, 
caudal, and anal fins is distinctly marked in the drawing, 
which seems to have been executed with much care. The 
habit of the body is said to be less compressed than the 
sunfish described by Pallas, so that " a section of it pre- 
sented a full oval, except towards the tail, where it was con- 
siderably thinner."" The skin of the body is described to 
me as having been covered with a sort of indistinct appear- 
ance of small scales, in size like those of a sole ; they were 
not imbricated, but adhered all round to the skin. The 
head, however, was quite smooth. The general colour of the 
fish was a dull silvery or plumbeous hue, which became 
nearly white, or of a cream colour on the belly. The eye 
was large and prominent * ; the mouth a small circular hole 
with horny edges, but without any moveable lips. The 
top of the head was slightly flattened. A cartilaginous 
substance extended from the pectoral fin, so as to include 
the upper and fore part of the head, and returned by an 
acute angle | inch from the snout toward the breast. The 
extent and form of this substance, which was, however, 
covered by the general integument, is well marked in the 
drawing. 
My informant had not observed the branchial apertures, 
from which we may conclude that they were small. 
The general form of the pectoral, dorsal, and anal fins 
in the drawing is triangular and pointed. They as w^ell as 
* In the drawing it measures 0.6 incli in diaraeter. 
