CLASS PISCES. 233 



and frequently reduced to a single ray. Their head 

 is very small, and their body elongated like the blade 

 of a sword ; a dorsal, all of whose rays are simple 

 and without articulation, extends along the whole 

 length of the back. The teeth are like those of a 

 clinus, and the stomach and intestines of one uniform 

 appearance. 



Bl. gunnellus, L., Bl. 71. 1., Lace p. II. xii. 2. Very 

 abundant on the coast of France : there is a suite of 

 ocellated spots along the whole base of the dorsal. 



Opistognathus, Cuv. 



The form of a true blenny, and particularly its short 

 snout ; distinguished by very large maxillaries, pro- 

 longed behind into a kind of long, flat moustache ; 

 rasp-like teeth in each jaw, the external row strongest ; 

 three rays in the ventrals, which are placed exactly 

 under the pectorals. 



O. Sonnerati, Cuv., is the only species known ; it 

 was brought from the Indian Ocean by Sonnerat. 



ZOARCUS, Cuv. 



We dare not separate these fishes from the blennies, 

 although they have no spinal ray, for they are pro- 

 vided with their anal tubercle, intestines without cceca, 

 and smooth oblong body ; six rays in the branchiae. 

 There are three rays in the ventral ; teeth conical, 

 forming a single row on the sides of the jaws, and 

 several in front; none in the palate ; the dorsal, anal, 



