SYNOPSIS. 407 



and as thin as tape ; eyes large ; lateral line straight and 

 near the middle, sides marked with a double series of lines 

 which meet in the lateral line at an acute angle : dorsal 

 and anal very low, and meeting at the hinder extremity 

 when they form a pointed caudal ; colour pale white, with 

 an opalescent appearance. — Penn. Brit. ZooL, iii. p. 212, 

 pi. 28 ; Tarr. Brit. Fish., ii. p. 409. 

 Gen. XCIV. Ophidium. Head smooth, body opaque, elon- 

 gated, and compressed ; dorsal, anal, and caudal united ; pec- 

 torals pretty large ; dorsal rays articulated ; gill-opening mo- 

 derately large. 



Sp. 198. 0. imherbe. Beardless Ophidium. Head short and 

 very obtuse ; teeth on both jaws, as well as on the palate 

 and pharynx ; pectorals rounded ; dorsal commencing 

 over the base of the pectorals, anal at the vent, the tail 

 oval at the extremity ; colour purplish brown disposed in 

 minute speckles ; ten small blue spots along the base of 



the anal fin Linn., Penn. Brit. ZooL, iii. p, 208, pi. 29 ; 



Mont. Mem. Wem. Soc. L p. 95y pi. 4 — 2 ; Tarr. Brit. 

 Fish., ii. p. 412. 

 Sp. 199. 0. barhatum. Bearded Ophidium. Body tapering 

 gradually to the tail from a little before the middle ; 

 under jaw with four barbules which unite into one at the 

 base ; body flesh-colour with a silvery lustre, occasionally 



slightly clouded Limi., Jenyns Brit. Vert.,-^. 481 ; Yarr. 



Brit. Fish., ii. p. 415. Donzelle commune, Ciw. Reg. An. 

 Gen. XCV. Echiodon. Jaws with large conical curved teeth 

 in fix>nt ; dorsal and anal fins nearly as long as the body ; gill- 

 apertures large ; branchioBtegous membrane with seven rays ; 

 body compressed, elongated, without scales. 



Sp. 200. E. Drummondii. Drummond's Echiodon. Mouth 

 rather obliquely cleft ; two large incurved teeth at each 

 extremity of the upper jaw, one on each side of the under 

 jaw ; dorsal fin commencing a short distance from the 

 head, anal a little in advance, both low at first, but gradu- 

 ally increasing in height, uniting behind to form a pointed 

 caudal ; colour of the anterior half a dull flesh tint, hinder 



