This new species of _Otolithus_ is from Callao: it was omitted to be
noticed in the body of the work. There is but one specimen in the
collection, in bad condition, and not admitting of a very detailed
description: but it is evidently distinct from all the species described
by Cuvier and Valenciennes.
It is rather more elongated than the _O. Guatucupa_, the depth being
not much more than one-fifth of the entire length. The head is long,
and contained three and a half times in the same. The lower jaw is
considerably the longest. The teeth above are small, and
sharp-pointed, apparently in two rows, the outer row being a little
stronger than the inner: there are two very strong canines in front,
springing from between the rows. Below, the teeth are in two rows in
front, and one at the sides; those in front small, but those at the
sides unequally sized, three or four, standing at intervals, being
much stronger than the others, and very sharp. Diameter of the eye
about one-sixth the length of the head; its distance from the end of
the snout one diameter and a half.
The lateral line is continued to the extremity of the caudal, between
the ninth and tenth rays. There is a small interval between the two
dorsal fins. The second dorsal, as well as the anal, are longer than
in the _O. Guatucupa_, with more soft rays, especially the anal. The
pectorals are narrow and pointed, and between one-half and two-thirds
the length of the head. The ventrals are attached almost exactly
beneath the pectorals. The caudal appears to have been square.
D. 9—1/24; A. 1/16; P. 17; V. 1/5.
Length 12 inches.
COLOUR.—The colours were not noticed when recent, and can hardly be
judged of now. The general tint appears to have been silvery. If
there were any markings, no traces of them remain.
Habitat, Callao, Peru.
This species has a longer anal than any of the American species
described by Cuvier and Valenciennes. I have in consequence named it
_analis_.
PRIONODES FASCIATUS. p. 47.
It has been suggested that this may be nothing more than a monstrosity.
Whether this be really the fact or not, can only be determined by the
examination of more specimens. But in either case, I am so satisfied now
of its being a _Serranus_ in all its essential characters, that I
conceive it never can be placed in a different family from that genus.
If the fact be established of its never possessing vomerine and palatine
teeth, such a character can, at the very utmost, serve only to
distinguish it as a subgenus in that group. But every day is bringing
more and more to light the small value of that character.
STEGASTES IMBRICATUS. p. 63.
I am informed by Mr. Lowe, of Madeira, that this is the same as the
_Glyphisodon luridus_ of Cuvier and Valenciennes.[50] Their
description is so short, that I failed to recognize it; and I was
induced to consider it as a new genus from the circumstance of its
possessing vomerine teeth. Whether these teeth exist in any other
species, or have only been presumed absent in all, because not found
in some, I am not aware. But here again we see how little such a
character is to be depended upon.