FISHED. 
57 
Order ACANTHOPTERYGII. 
Fam. POLYNEMID/E. 
POLYNEMUS APPROXIMANS. 
Polyn. griseus : radiis pectoralibus liberis sex ; pinnis dorsalibus subapproximatis. 
Hab. apud San Bias et Mazatlau. 
A very slight sketch by Mr. Collie, and a brief description from his pen, furnish the only materials 
for the history of the present species. He states that “ The general colour is greyish. The pectoral fila- 
ments are six in number, placed anteriorly to and beneath the pectoral fins. The first spine of the anterior 
dorsal fin is very short; that of the second dorsal longer : a moderate-sized one forms part of each 
ventral fin ; and the anal is supported by three spines gradually surpassing each other in length, the 
anterior being very short/’ No mention is made of the number of fin-rays ; nor of the comparative 
length of the free pectoral rays. From the sketch it appears that the two dorsal fins are more nearly 
approximated than is usual in the genus. The caudal fin is deeply forked. 
Its length was about seven inches ; its breadth, one. 
The following anatomical observations were made by Mr. Collie: “Stomach, a sac. Cceca 
numerous and small. Intestinal canal little more than a straight tube from the pylorus to the anus. 
Air-bladder wanting.” 
In the absence of an air-bladder the Polyn. approximans differs from every species of the genus 
observed by M. Cuvier, except the Polyn. longijilis, Cuv. (Polyn. paradiseus and quinquarius, Linn.) 
This deficiency, the number of free pectoral rays, the approximation of the dorsal fins, its compara- 
tively sombre colour, and its habitat, furnish sufficient grounds for distinguishing it from every species 
hitherto described. 
Fam. COTTID/E. 
COTTUS DICERAUS. Pall. 
Cott. corpore antice lato ; lined laterali incurvd muricatd ; prceoperculi spind elungatd interne 6-8-spinosa. 
D. 7, 14. A. 11. C. 11. P. 17. V. \. 
PLATE XV. FIG. 1 . 
Cottus diceraus. Pall., Nov. Act. Petrop. tom. \.p. 354. tab. 10. Jig. 7. 
Cottus Stelleri, Schn., Blochii Syst. Ichth. p. 63. 
Synanceia Cervus. Tilesius, Mem. de V Acacl. Imp. de Petersb. tom. 3. p. 278. 
tab. 13. figg. 1—7. 
Of this singular fish three original descriptions have already appeared ; the earliest was by 
Pallas, the second by Tilesius, the third by MM. Cuvier and Valenciennes, the latter being given in 
the fourth volume of their “Histoire Naturelle des Poissons, ’’ page 191. After the figures which 
accompany the two former of these descriptions, (although these figures are somewhat distorted,) it 
would have been unnecessary again to represent it, had we not possessed the opportunity of giving it 
rvith its natural colours, as observed in a recent state. These agree well with the remark of Tilesius, 
“ coloribus egregi^ exornatus, scilicet brunneo, flavo, olivaceo et violaceo variegatus, et flavo alboque 
marmoratus est.” Such, very nearly, are the colours preserved in Mr. Beeehey’s drawing. They are, 
however, much more brilliant than in a copy of Tilesius’ plate, presented by him to the Linnean 
Society, which “ auctor ipse ad naturam pinxit” — the colours there given being a slight clayey brown, 
marbled with yellowish white ; the fins pale blue, with black spots, and mostly tipped with brownish 
red. Mr. Collie also, in whose notes a lengthened description of the fish is preserved, states its 
“ colour above a dusky brown ; beneath, a yellowish clay.” — C. 
I 
