distinguished by the equal development of, and the correspondence of, the regions of the body above and below the axis, while in the Percoids and others, these regions are obliquely opposed. It is therefore probable that future investigation will place the family on a firm basis. The family itself is composed of two very distinct types which must be regarded as subfamilies; the LEPOMINE distinguished by the very much greater development of the dorsal than the anal fin, their termination at the same vertical behind, and the equality of their respective soft portions; the EUCENTRARCHINE, in which the dorsal and anal fins are nearly or quite equal and obliquely opposed, so that the end of the anal is considerably behind the vertical from that of the dorsal; the soft portion of the anal is longest. These two subfamilies embrace a number of genera; Dr. Holbrook has admitted "Pomotis, Ichthelis, Pomoxis, Ambloplites, Calliurus [Ag.]', &c., Raf., Centrarchus and Bryttus." The Pomotis chatodon Bd., P. obesus, Grd., Centrarchus pomotis, Bd., Ambloplites interruptus Gd., and Pomoxis hexucanthus Ag., are types of as many additional genera; that typified by Pomotis chaetodon may be called MESOGONISTIUS on account of the peculiar angulation at the dorsal spine; P. obesus (n. g. ENNEACANTHUS) is distinguished by the nine spines of the dorsal fin; Centrarchus pomotis (ACANTHARCHUS), by the elliptical form, cycloid scales and convex caudal; the Ambloplites interruptus has been already separated under the name of ARCHOPLITES; finally, Pomoxis hexacanthus, (HYPERISTIUS) is removed from Pomoxis on account of the more oblique mouth, less produced snout, and the presence of seven or eight dorsal spines. Of these genera, Centrarchus Ag., Hyperistius Gill, and Pomoxis Raf., belong to the subfamily Eucentrarchinæ, while all the others are Lepominæ.

While we have been thus obliged to dissent from Dr. Holbrook in many of his conclusions, we would at the same time indicate our appreciation of his great zeal in the cause of science, and his laborious and pains-taking endeavors to perfect his work. When, indeed, we recall that after having had engraved many years ago at least eight plates representing twice that number of species for a work on Southern Fishes of the Atlantic slope; after having published at least one part of a "Southern Ichthyology" with fresh plates in 1847, he suppressed both and issued in 1855 under another title the work now reviewed, and that he

CHAENOBRYTHUS Gill (type Calliurus melanops Grd.).—Calliurus Raf.=Grystes Cuv. Micropterus Lac.

A synopsis of the family of Ichthelida, or Centrarchoids, will be hereafter published in the Proceedings of the Academy of Philadelphia. There the synonymy of the genera, so much complicated by the mischievous Rafinesque, will be also discussed and a rectification of the nomenclature attempted.

"Southern Ichthyology: or a Description of the Fishes inhabiting the waters of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida." New York and London, Wiley & Putnam, 1847. I have seen only one number of this (II), including pages 1 to 32 and plates

finally withdrew as much as possible that last publication from circulation and issued a new edition of it with so slight modifications in 1860, we cannot withhold the praise of the most conscientious desire on his part for perfection, and the wish that the first volume of the final work shall be followed by others. It is however, doubtful whether the enterprising little state at whose expense the last edition of that first volume was published will feel able soon to continue its encouragement of the abstract sciences, and we may therefore probably hope in vain for the completion of the work. The following list of the species described under Holbrookian names, with references to the pages of the second edition, first edition, plates and figures of second edition, and names known to us, will therefore be useful. For the family relations of several of the species, the reader is referred to the remarks on a previous page. The list is rendered almost necessary by the impossibility of the recall of the first edition which has already been referred to in so many works and by the great difficulty if not impossibility of obtaining copies of the second edition.

Family Scombrida.

Temnodon saltator,

Cybium maculatum,

1, Eucentrarchus (irideus). 2, Morone Americana. 17 IV, 1, Roccus lineatus.

20 21 66

24

28 25

32 29 v,

35 32

39 36 VI,

42 39

45 42 VII,

49 47

2, Micropterus salmoides.
2, (Epinephelus) erythrogas-
[ter.

1.

1, Hyperistius caroliniensis.
2, Promicropterus maculatus.
2, Centropristis atrarius.
1, Triloburus trifurcus.

51 VIII, 2, Sargus probatocephalus.

59 56

1.

64 62 IX, 2, Pomatomus saltatrix.
68 66 1, Apodontis maculatus.

I to IV, illustrating Umbrina alburnus (I, 1) U. littoralis (10, I, 2) Micropogon undulatus, (12, II, 2) Corvina ocellata (17, ÍI, 1) Leiostomus obliquus (21, ÍII, 1) Lobotes Surinamensis (25, III, 2) Elacate canada (30, IV, 1) Ephippus gigas (IV, 2). It is announced on the cover of the second part that "No. I, containing the Anatomical portion of the Work will be published with No. VI, and in the "Notice" to the first edition of the Work reviewed, it is affirmed that “two numbers were published under another title in 1845." The number noticed is, however, the only one with which we are acquainted.

1 Pomotis incisor, 1st ed.

2

• Pomotis rubricauda, 1st ed.

ART. XI.-U. S. Coast Survey Reports for the years 1861 and 1862.

THESE Volumes embrace the history of progress of the important public work to which they relate, for the two years following the first of November, 1860. It is gratifying to observe that neither political troubles nor civil war have had the effect to arrest an undertaking no less interesting to science than valuable in its bearing upon the material prosperity of the country. In the first of the years above referred to, indeed, the plan of operations was laid out without reference to any probable interruption from unforeseen causes; and in the midst of the agitations which disturbed the public mind during the fall and winter of 1860-61, the operations of the survey went on upon the southern coast, from Virginia to Texas, without disturbance. The usual amount of work for the season had been accomplished by most of the parties before their proceedings were suspended in consequence either of actual or of threatened violence. Operations upon the northern coast were of course undisturbed, but the distribution of labor was somewhat modified during the summer of 1861, in consequence of the state of things in the vicinity of Chesapeake Bay.

During the second of the years to which these reports relate, the services rendered by the officers of the survey upon the coast and rivers of the insurgent states, though not directed so entirely as before to the systematic prosecution of the general plan of the survey, have been probably of more immediate value to the government than if they had been so. They have recov ered to the use of our naval expeditions, and of our blockading squadrons, the channels and sailing lines which had been lost through the careful removal by the insurgents of all the buoys, beacons and other artificial indications by which they had been distinguished; they have sounded out new channels among the islands occupied by our forces on the southern coast, and in the sounds and inlets of the same region; and they have explored the changes which had taken place in channels previously known, and ascertained their magnitude and extent. In this way they have contributed very materially to the security of our navy and to the efficiency of the blockade. In some cases they have more directly aided in the success of the expeditions with which they have been connected, by surveys preliminary to the planning of an attack; as at Fort Jackson, where the positions of the mortar vessels and their distances from the fort were determined by means of a triangulation carried on directly in sight of the enemy; or as, in the interior, they have in many instances secured topographical information of the greatest value, by operations sometimes conducted immediately under fire.

In the mean time, upon all that large portion of the coast which the rebellion could not reach or affect, the survey has steadily advanced without any modification of its plan, though with an activity somewhat reduced in consequence of the reduction of the appropriations for this work since the commencement of the war. This reduction has been considerable when compared with the total of the appropriations themselves-amounting to from twenty to forty per cent-but in absolute amount it is so inconsiderable as to excite a doubt as to the wisdom of the policy which has suggested it. It is certain that the coast survey is worth to the country very greatly more than its cost. There can be no sort of doubt that it has already indirectly paid for what has been expended upon it, a hundred times over. Nor can there be any greater doubt that its value grows with every stride of progress it makes toward completion. While, therefore, the government is engaged in the prosecution of naval and military operations of such magnitude that its average daily expenditure exceeds by four or five times the total annual cost of this survey, and while the survey has proved itself to be one of the most efficient instrumentalities contributing to the success of those operations, the insignificant saving secured by this curtailment would seem, in view of an enlightened economy, to be of very questionable advantage. Indeed had there never been any survey of the southern coast before the war began, it may safely be said that an efficient blockade of the insurgent states could never have been maintained at all.

Leaving these matters, however, to those to whom they belong, we will proceed to state, briefly, the results of the operations of the survey up to the year 1862. The area covered by the triangulation at that time amounted to upwards of fifty-four thousand square miles, within an extent of sixty-two thousand square miles embraced by the reconnoissance. The extent of coast developed amounted to more than four thousand five hundred miles, and the length of shore-line to twenty-three thousand miles. The number of geographical points determined amounted to nine thousand four hundred and fifty-two.

Eighty-five stations had been occupied for longitude determinations, one hundred and twenty-four for latitude, and eightyfour for azimuths. The topography embraced an area of seventeen thousand square miles, on a general coast line of four thousand miles, and a shore line, measuring the sinuosities, of over forty-two thousand miles.

The hydrography covered an estimated area of forty-six thousand miles. One hundred and ninety-six thousand miles had been run in sounding, six million three hundred and ninety-eight thousand soundings had been made, and more than eight thousand four hundred specimens of bottom obtained.