249 
°f g or y o) > an ^ th e backwarder position of the third dark side- 
spot. The ventral fins are short, only equalling one-twelfth of the 
body without the caudal fin, and the four first produced rays of the 
first dorsal are equal in length to the ventral fins. The lateral line 
ends as in MM. Cuvier and Valenciennes’ figure (t. 297) of T. iris , 
but is quite unarmed. The ventral line is serrulate, and the whole 
surface, particularly towards the ventral hue, is finely shagreened or 
granulate; the granulations becoming stronger towards the ventral 
line, as in the same figure. 
In shape and proportions it agrees better with T. falx , but differs 
in several important particulars from MM. Cuvier and Valenciennes’ 
description of that fish. 
The only individual examined of this beautiful and extraordinary 
fish occurred in June 1845, and has been added by me to the collec¬ 
tion of the Cambridge Philosophical Society. It was scarcely quite 
dead when I first saw it, and was in the most perfect state of preserva¬ 
tion. Another Trachypterus had occurred in Jane 1844, and was 
probably the same species ; but the example was unfortunately thrown 
away by the person to whom it had been mis-sent without my seeing 
it. It was said to have been about three feet long. 
The whole body is pure bright silver, appearing as if frosted from 
the fine granulations of the surface. The fins are of a delicate scar¬ 
let or vermilion, the lower point or angle of the caudal being tipped, 
and the hinder end of the dorsal edged with black. On the sides are 
three blackish oval or elliptic spots. This example was twenty-five 
inches long, exclusive of the caudal fin, which resembles a bat’s or 
griffin’s wing, and is erected in a fan-like manner; the lower lobe or 
portion being suppressed or undeveloped, and only indicated by the 
presence of five short spinules or abortive rays. 
Fam. Labridje. 
8. Labrus larvatus. Flams , capite humerisque griseo-nigres- 
cente larvatis; pinna dorsali antice caudaque utrinque infra 
lineam lateralem rectiusculam unimaculatis; corpore oblongo 
elongato; dentibus validis crebris, antice biseriatis; pinnce 
caudalis apicibus analisque ventraliumque margine cceruleo- 
nigris. 
D. 17+13; A. 3+11; P. 16; V. 1+5; C. 
Squamae lin. lat. 42—45. 
3 v. 4 + VI. 
2 v. 3 + V. ; 
B. M. 5; 
In general appearance, shape, and the peculiar straightness of the 
lateral line, this fine species much resembles CossyphusBarwini, Jen.; 
but it is a true Labrus, with the dorsal and anal fins naked, and the 
preopercle quite entire. Its nearest allies are therefore L. mixtus and 
L.Scrofa ; from which however, besides other characters, the nume¬ 
rous strong teeth distinguish it. A single example only has occurred, 
measuring seventeen inches and a quarter in length. 
