128 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OP 



rated longitudinal rows, which slightly converge anteriorly. Post-orbitar arch 

 wanting. Tongue oval, flat, attached by its anterior and posterior borders, 

 free laterally. Digits 4 5. Tail long, compressed. 



H. cristata (Laur.) Triton cristatus Auctoruin. What species Merrem 

 assigned as the type of his genus Molge, we have been unable to ascertain, nor 

 would it seem to be generally well known among herpetologists, from the num- 

 ber and variety of species to which it has been applied. The following are 

 some of them : Plethodon erythronotus, Hynobius naevius, Euproctus 

 platycephalus, Triton palm i p e s , Diemyehvlus pyrrhogaster. 



On the genus CALLIONYMUS of Authors. 

 BY THEO. GILL. 



In the genus Callionymus, as it has been restricted by modern naturalists, 

 three distinct genera are yet confounded. Sharing all of the following charac- 

 ters, two of them differ so much from each other in the position of the bran- 

 chial apertures, that there can be no doubt of their claims to rank as separate 

 genera. The characters common to all, and which distinguish them as a sub- 

 family, will be first given, and afterwards the generic diagnoses. 



The body is elongated, and often transversely oval anteriorly, and conse- 

 quently broader than high ; thence it gradually declines in height and thick- 

 ness to the base of the caudal fin, and being often quite thick near that fin, 

 assumes there a peculiar bulging appearance. The whole is naked and smooth. 



The lateral line commences at the mastoids, and is connected, near its 

 origin to that of the opposite side by a transverse nuchal line ; thence it ge- 

 nerally declines slightly, and is then continued along the side of the back or 

 the upper part of the side to the caudal fin. 



The head is in general outline depressed and triangular, but varies in de- 

 tail. The preopercle has a stout horizontal process which generally terminates 

 posteriorly in a group of radiating and recurved spines, one above the other, 

 or which has the spines along the superior border. The profile is oblique. 

 The preorbitals or first sub-orbitals are prolonged anteriorly and frequently 

 extended towards each other, thus forming a roof under which the jaws are 

 concealed when retracted. There appears to be on each side but a single 

 nostril, which is situated before the eye. 



The mouth is small and sub-terminal, but under the muzzle, and is protrac- 

 tile downwards. 



The teeth are villiform, and present in a moderately broad band in each 

 jaw. The palate is smooth. 



The tongue is generally far within the mouth ; it is sometimes entirely 

 united to the floor of the mouth, while at other times it is anteriorly free. 



The branchiostegal membrane has on each side five or six slender rays. 



The branchial apertures are very small and superior. 



The first dorsal fin commences before the bases of the pectorals ; it varies in 

 shape, but there appears to be a constant arrangement of the rays. These are 

 always four in number, and the first two are approximated at the base, but as 

 the membrane enlarges, diverge from each towards their ends ; the third is 

 considerably posterior : the fourth is separated by a still wider interval from 

 the third. 



The second dorsal commences a short distance behind the first, is oblong 

 and is distant from the caudal less than its length. 



The anal has the form and structure of the second dorsal, but its commence- 

 ment and termination are posterior to those points of the dorsal. 



The caudal is elongated, but narrow, and has only from ten to thirteen ar- 

 ticulated rays, of which from one to three of the superior and inferior are 

 simple. 



The pectoral fins are well developed, and are angular at the middle of their 

 posterior margins. Their bases are vertical, but concave. 



[April, 



