Part 40

COLOUR.—Not noticed in the recent state. In spirits, it appears silvery, with the back and upper part of the sides deep dusky blue, the two colours separated by a well-defined line.

Habitat, Iquique, Peru.

This is probably an undescribed species of Engraulis; nor am I aware that authors have hitherto noticed any from the west coast of America. Mr. Darwin obtained two specimens which are precisely similar to each other. The species closely resembles the common European Anchovy, differing principally in its larger head, and more backward ventrals in respect to the dorsal.

FAMILY.—PLEURONECTIDÆ.

Mr. Darwin’s collection contains individuals of five species belonging to this family, besides the drawing of a sixth; but the specimens brought home are dry, and badly preserved. Two appear to have been previously noticed; but it is difficult to pronounce upon the other three with certainty, neither do they admit of being very accurately described. These last, therefore, I shall not venture to name, but merely point out a few of their principal characters, adding the localities whence they were obtained.

The species, of which there is a drawing, I conceive to be certainly new; and as its characters are very distinguishable, I shall name it in honour of the gentleman, one of the officers of the Beagle, by whom the drawing was made.

1. PLATESSA ORBIGNYANA. Val.?

Platessa Orbignyana, Val. in D’Orb. Voy. dans l’Amer. Mérid. Atl. Ichth. Pl. 16. fig. 1.

FORM.—Oval; greatest breadth two and a half times in the length. Eyes on the left side, near together, and equally in advance. Teeth in a single row, sharp-pointed, moderately strong, rather widely separate: posterior extremity of the maxillary cut nearly square. Dorsal commencing in a line with the eyes, and leaving a space between it and the caudal. The lateral line takes a sweep over the pectoral. Upper or eye side of the body slightly rough, with the scales finely ciliated; under side smooth, the scales on this side not ciliated.

COLOUR.—“Above dirty reddish brown; beneath faint blue: iris yellow.”—D.

Length 8 inches 9 lines.

Habitat, Bahia Blanca, where it is said to be plentiful.

This species agrees so well with the figure of the P. Orbignyana in D’Orbigny’s Voyage, that I have little hesitation in considering it the same,—but as no description of this last has been yet published, it is still possible I may be mistaken.

2. Platessa ——?

FORM.—Very similar to the last species, from which it scarcely seems to differ, except in having the teeth smaller, and somewhat more numerous and closer together; also in the maxillary, which is more dilated at its posterior extremity, and more obliquely truncated. The scales are extremely similar.

Length 6 inches 6 lines.

COLOUR.—Not noticed.

Habitat, King George’s Sound, New Holland.

HIPPOGLOSSUS KINGII. Jen. PLATE XXVI.

H. fuscus: corpore ovato, lato: oculis sinistris, haud valde approximatis: dentibus acutis, fortioribus: lineâ laterali anticè arcuatâ: pinnâ dorsali supra oculos initium capienti, dimidio anteriore humillimo, posteriore modicè elevato: ventralibus distinctis, haud anali continuis: caudali subquadratâ, radiis mediis cæteris paululum longioribus.

D. 18 et 48; A. 51; C. 14; P. 11; V. 6.

FORM.—Breadth, not including the dorsal and anal fins, half the length of the oval of the body. Eyes on the left side, apparently distant from each other about two diameters; the upper one a little behind the lower. Teeth sharp and strong, forming a very regular series. The lateral line takes a sweep over the pectoral fin. The dorsal commences above the upper eye; the first half, or until it gets above the extremity of the reclined pectoral, is very little elevated, and much lower than the rest of the fin, with the membrane apparently notched between the rays; the remainder of the fin attains a moderate elevation, and there is an abrupt transition from the former to the latter portion. The anal answers to the elevated portion of the dorsal: both these fins fall short of the caudal by a small space. Pectorals short, and of a somewhat triangular form. Ventrals very distinct, free, placed right and left, with the rays a little projecting beyond the membrane; which last character appears also in the dorsal and anal. Tail somewhat square, but the middle rays slightly projecting beyond the lateral ones in the form of an obtuse lobe.

COLOUR.—Represented in the drawing of a uniform light brown.

Habitat, Valparaiso.

This is the species of which, as before stated, no specimen was brought home, but only a coloured drawing made by Mr. Phillip King, an officer of the Beagle, for Capt. FitzRoy. The drawing appears to have been done with accuracy, and from it the above description has been taken. The fin-ray formula, however, was computed from the recent fish, the above numbers being marked upon the drawing.

Fish. Pl. 26.

from Nature by W. Hawkins

Hippoglossus Kingii. ]