_Membrana branchialis septem-radiata; aperturâ amplâ. Pinna dorsalis
unica; spinis gracilibus. Dentes aculeiformes, tenues; serie
maxillari externâ cæteris fortiori. Operculum mucronibus duobus
parvis posticè armatum. Preoperculum marginibus basali et
adscendenti denticulatis; spinis nullis. Ossa infraorbitalia leviter
denticulata. Os maxillare squamosum. Squamæ corporis levissimè
ciliatæ, posticè striis levissimis, transversis, parallelis,
flabelli locum occupantibus._
I propose to establish this new genus for the reception of the
_Centropristes Georgianus_ of Valenciennes, which appears to offer
sufficient peculiarities to warrant such a step. Its herring-like form,
denticulated suborbital, scaly maxillary, small pectorals, backward
position of the ventrals, and deeply forked caudal, sufficiently
distinguish it from _Centropristes_, with which it hardly agrees in any
of its characters, beyond that of wanting canines, and having the
preopercle denticulated, and the opercle armed with small sharp points.
Its teeth, however, are not exactly velutine, as in the typical species
of that genus, but rather in fine card, with the outer row in both jaws
stronger than the others. But, perhaps, one of the most marked
peculiarities in this proposed genus resides in the scales, which have,
instead of the usual fan of diverging striæ on their basal portions, a
triangular space filled up by a number of extremely fine, closely
approximating striæ, parallel to each other, and also parallel to the
basal margin, which is cut quite square and entire.[5]
Although this genus is thus separated from _Centropristes_, there is no
doubt of its having a near affinity with it; and also with _Grystes_,
from which last, however, it is at once known by its denticulated
preopercle. It is still more closely allied to _Apsilus_, which it very
much resembles in its general form, as well as in some of its particular
characters. Amongst other points of resemblance with this last genus,
may be noticed the similarity of the teeth; the very large gill-opening;
the small and inconspicuous points on the opercle; the weak spines of
the dorsal and anal, both which fins also terminate in a point behind;
the small pectorals, and the deeply forked caudal.
It is probable that the _Centropristes truttaceus_ of Cuvier and
Valenciennes also belongs to this new genus, which, as well as the _C.
Georgianus_, comes from New Holland, and which those authors seem, not
without much hesitation, to have placed provisionally in the group in
which it now stands. It is not stated, however, whether the peculiar
character of the scales in the _C. Georgianus_, above pointed out,
exists also in this species.