ECHENEIS VITTATA. 81 



dal fin between the eighth and ninth rays. It is formed by a series of small 

 dots. 



The pectoral fins are rather large, and situated on the middle of the sides a 

 little before the end of the sucking-disk. They are ovate, pointed or subacute, 

 and quite entire ; their length equals the breadth of the body at their base. 



The ventral fins are placed exactly underneath the pectoral ; they are as large 

 and long as these, but more obtuse or fan-shaped. Their first simple ray is two 

 thirds the length of the first and longest branched ray. The last is connected half- 

 way up by a web to the body. These fins fit in under a slight ridge on the side of 

 the belly. 



The dorsal and anal fins correspond exactly in position, and in general shape and 

 structure. They begin at the middle of the body, not reckoning the caudal fin ; are 

 high and raised in front, and then gradually narrow off backwards, ending a little 

 short of the commencement of the caudal fin, and having their last ray partly web- 

 bed to the body. The anal fin is more distinctly pointed in front, and narrower 

 behind than the dorsal. 



Caudal fin large, fan-shaped, convexo-truncate, with the edge slightly uneven. 



The rays of all the fins are obscure, and concealed by a thickish leathery mem- 

 brane. They can scarcely be counted accurately whilst the specimen is fresh. 



Colour generally blackish, with a warm purplish tint, mottled or varied with 

 paler or whitish, and with two light bands along the sides, inclosing a dark conspi- 

 cuous central one, which runs immediately below the lateral line, spreading out 

 upon the caudal fin so as to leave only the two outer tips and edges pure white. 

 The two pale bands become towards the shoulders clearer, more decided white ; 

 and the lower is produced forwards, beneath the eye, to the corners of the mouth. 

 The throat is mottled black and white ; the belly dark and mottled ; the back 

 uniform black. The sucker is also black ; especially its smooth, raised, fleshy bor- 

 der. The pectoral fins are uniform black ; the ventral paler, but black towards 

 their tips ; the dorsal and anal black, but with their front raised-part bordered, 

 and the tips of all the rays just touched with pure white. Caudal fin black, bor- 

 dered at the upper and lower tips and edges with pure white. The iris is coppery. 

 The mouth inside pale whitish. 



The length of the example figured, the only one which has occurred, 

 and which was captured in the month of August, is twelve inches and 

 three quarters. 



I cannot find this fish anywhere distinctly specified ; though it may 

 perhaps have sometimes passed for E. naucralcs^ L.* It is at once dis- 

 tinguished from E. Hneata^ Menzies, in Linn. Trans, i. 187, t. 17, f. 1, in 

 the Gfreater number of laminre with which the suckinar-disk is furnished, &c.: 

 and from E. lunata, Bancroft, in Zool. Journ. v. 413, t. 18, in the entire 

 caudal fin. The number of rays in the dorsal and anal fins is also con- 

 siderably greater than in these, or in other Madeiran species. 



* Sec Dr. Bancroft's remark, in the Znol. Journ. v. 413, on the E. naucratcs, " pinnis posteriori- 

 bus albo marginatis," of Dr. Patrick Browne ; to whose work I regret I have not access. 



