CLASS PISCES. 529 



under the throat. The vertical fins do not begin in 

 several of them to become salient until they approach 

 the tail ; and their muzzle is advanced and pointed. 

 Their stomach is a long cul-de-sac, the intestine 

 straight, and the bladder long, narrow, and placed 

 behind. 



There are some species absolutely without pectoral 

 fins \ And others in which but small vestiges of them 

 are to be seen 2 . 



There are even some (the Apterichthes, Dumeril, 

 Cecilia, Lacep.) in which no vertical fins are per- 

 ceptible, and which are consequently fishes entirely 

 without fins 3 . 



Monopterus, Commers. and Lacep., 



Has the two branchial orifices united under the throat 

 in a transverse cleft, divided in its middle by a parti- 

 tion. The dorsal and anal appear only on the middle 

 of the tail, and unite together at its point. There are 

 some pectiniform teeth to the jaws and palatines, six 

 rays to each gill, and only three very small gills. 



Only one species is known, from the Sunda Isles, 

 Monopt. Javanensis, Lacep., with a green back and 

 fulvous belly ! . 



1 Sphagebranchus rostratus, Bl. 419. 2., and the pretended Lepio- 

 cephale Spallanzani, Risso85. ; Ccecula pterygea,Y ahl. Mem.d'Hist. 

 Nat. de Copenh. III. xiii. 1. 2. Mcmti-bukaropaiimu, Russel I. 37. 



2 Sphageb. imberbis, Laroche, Ann. Mus. XIII. xxv. f. 18. 



3 Murcena cceca, Lin., Laroche, Ann. Mus. XIII. xxi. 6. 



1 I suspect that this is again the fish which Lacepede has repre- 

 sented, V. xvii. 3., under the name of Unibranckaperture lisse. 

 VOL. x. Mm 



