_A. brevior: pallide olivaceus, lateribus fasciis transversis
obsoletis nigricantibus; pinnis omnibus brunneis: maxillâ inferiore,
et limbo preoperculi, poris conspicuis circiter novem,
suborbitalibus circiter quinque, seriatim dispositis._
D. 8—25; A. 1/22; C. 14, &c.; P. 23; V. 1/5.
LONG. unc. 2. lin. 5.
FORM.—Not so much elongated as the last species: the depth rather more
than one-sixth of the entire length, and the head only four times in
the same. Also distinguished by a row of large mucous pores on the
lower jaw, passing upwards posteriorly, and continued along the limb
of the preopercle: the number of these pores on each side is nine or
ten: a row of similar pores, amounting to about five, passes
backwards from a little above the end of the maxillary beneath each
eye. In other respects, the form is similar to that of the last
species, excepting that the interval between the second dorsal and
the caudal is only one-eighth of the entire length, in consequence
of the body being less elongated.
COLOUR.—(_In spirits._) Back and upper half of the sides, olivaceous
brown; beneath silvery. No very obvious markings; but traces may be
seen of six or seven transverse dusky fasciæ, reaching from the back
to a little beneath the lateral line, which were probably more
distinct in the recent state. All the fins brownish; the dorsal a
little powdered with dusky specks. The fourth and fifth rays of the
ventrals are white, and appear to have been always of a different
colour from the rest of the fin.
Habitat, Coast of Patagonia.
This appears to be another new species of _Aphritis_, taken by Mr.
Darwin on mud-banks, in Port Desire, central Patagonia. It is very
closely allied to the _A. undulatus_, but, I conceive, certainly
distinct. There is but one specimen in the collection.