BLADE-EELS. 271 



Family X. Ophidiad^. 



{Blade-eels.') 



A small number of Fishes, by most naturalists 

 arranged with the Eels, the Prince of Canino 

 elevates to the rank of a Family under the above 

 name. They resemble the Eels in having the 

 intestine carried far backwards, the anal orifice 

 being removed to a considerable distance from the 

 head ; and in the dorsal and anal fins meeting at 

 the point of the tail ; the skin also is covered 

 with minute scales almost concealed by being 

 imbedded in its substance. The gill-openings, 

 however, are large, and the gill-covers have free 

 motion : the rays of the dorsal are jointed, but 

 not branched; the body is long, and generally 

 much compressed, so that these fishes have been 

 compared to sword-blades. Some of the species 

 are furnished with cirri or beards, of which others 

 are destitute. Some are opaque and of dark 

 colours ; others are delicately pellucid, tinged 

 with carnation or rose-colour, with black fins. 



About five and twenty sjDecies are known, all 

 of which are marine, inhabiting the Mediter- 

 ranean and the Atlantic. Some three or four are 

 marked as British. 



Genus Ophidium. (Linn..) 



The body in this genus is eel-shaped, com- 

 pressed and opaque ; the head is smooth ; the 

 eyes very large ; the throat furnished with cirri ; 

 there are teeth in both jaws, as well as in the 

 palate said j)harynx. 



