OCR Text |
Show 60 MR. C. TATE REGAN ON [May 12, has presented the types of the new species and other desiderata to the British Museum, whilst the greater pait of the collection has been sent to the Museum at Berne. RAIIL\E. RAIA CYCLOPHORA, sp. nov. Snout with an obtuse triangular projection of moderate length. Anterior border of pectoral emarginate. Eye-diameter 3^-4 times in the distance from their anterior margin to the tip of snout and equal to interorbital width. Mouth strongly curved, 36-38 rows of teeth in the upper jaw. Body smooth, except for a series of 10-11 spines on the dorsal surface of the tail, and, in the male, a double series of curved spines on each pectoral. Male with claspers extending to below first dorsal fin. Uniform brownish, with a conspicuous black circle on each pectoral near the middle of its base. Description based on two examples from Rio Janeiro-a female, 480 mm. in total length, and a male, measuring 410 mm. MURvEXnLE. MURJEXA HELENA Linn. Five specimens from Rio Janeiro are all dark brown in colour, with numerous small white spots on the head, body, and fins. Examples from the Mediterranean in the British Museum Collection are similarly coloured, and it seems probable that M. insularum Jordan & Davis, from the Galapagos Is., which is said to differ from M. helena in having this system of coloration, in reality may not be distinct. ATHERINID^E. ATHERTNICHTHYS BRASILIENSIS Quoy & Gaim. Of two examples one has four dorsal spines, the other five. In the original description it is stated that the lower jaw is shorter than the upper, so that Messrs. Jordan and Evermann are incorrect in referring this species to Chirostoma, which is distinguished by " the very long and strong mandible, which protrudes beyond the upper jaw." The Atherinichthys brought from Mexico by Salle and named A. brasiliensis by Dr. Giinther, is a distinct but allied species, which I propose to name A. sallei*. * A T H E K I N I C H T H Y S SALLEI, sp. nov. r-Depth of body rather less than length of head, 5 times in total length. Snout much shorter than eye, the diameter of which is 2ij times in length of head and equal to interorbital width or length of post-orbital part of head. Lower jaw somewhat shorter than upper ; maxillary extending to vertical from anterior margin of eye. Sc. 43/10. D. IV, 1 8 ; A. II19. Spinous dorsal commencing above origin of anal; anterior rays of soft dorsal and anal produced, longest anal rays equal to depth of body; pectorals falcate, as long as head ; origin of ventrals equidistant from posterior opercular margin and first anal ray ; caudal emarginate. A sharply defined silvery lateral band as broad as a scale. Description based on a single example, 75 m m . in total length, from Mexico. This species agrees in every respect with Messrs. Jordan and Evermann's definition of Menidia. It resembles A. brasiliensis in the disposition of the fins and number of rays, but the latter species has a much longer head, longer snout, smaller eye, & c , and very indistinct lateral band. |