76 Mr. Couch on the Natural History 



The three first species of this genus are destitute of a 

 swimming-bladder : in the Hake's Dame this organ is bor- 

 dered with a fringe of curious tubercles. 



THORACIC FISHES. 

 Cepola. 

 Red Snakefish. C. ruhescens. — Two specimens of this fish have 

 come into my possession ; one of them, about five or six 

 inches in length, was taken with a line ; the other, from 

 which my description was taken, was thrown on shore 

 in a storm. It measured fifteen inches in length, an inch 

 and a quarter in depth at the deepest part, including the 

 dorsal and anal fins, and was very thin ; but the smaller 

 specimen above alluded to was nearly round. It tapered 

 both in depth and thickness toward the tail. The angle of 

 the mouth was much depressed, which caused the under jaw 

 to appear the longest ; both were armed with long and sharp 

 teeth. The eyes were large, and the head short before 

 them. The dorsal fin was twelve inches in length, and had 

 seventy rays ; the anal fin was eleven inches long, and had 

 sixty rays ; the tail distinct, spear-shaped, of twelve rays, 

 the middle rays being two inches long and ending in a point, 

 and the rays at the sides not exceeding a fourth of that 

 length. The ventral fins were pointed, and fastened to the 

 body for about half their length by a fine membrane. Be- 

 side the lateral line there was a row of small bony promi- 

 nences near the dorsal fin. The colour was a diluted red. 

 From the inspection of several specimens, I am inclined to 

 think that this ought to be ranked as a Jugular Fish. 



a furrow passes above the eyes to the back; stomach firm, with longitudinal folds; 

 no appendix to the intestines ; air-bladder large, and of unusual form. In the intes- 

 tines were the remains of an Echinus. This fish has all the marks of a Gadus, to which 

 genus it appears to me properly to belong. — J. C. 



Gymnetrus. 



