PHYCIS MEDITEREANEUS. 195 



Whole body reticulated v/ith rather small and indistinct, vertically lunate scales, 

 which when removed are found to be longitudinally oblong, soft, entire, and of the 

 cycloidal structure. Only the muzzle and lips are naked. The fins, especially the 

 first dorsal, are apparently naked ; but really are reticulated halfway up or more 

 from their base with small obscure scales. 



The lateral line is narrow, distinct, and somewhat chain-like. It runs nearly 

 straight to the tips of the pectoral fins, and then, descending gradually to the middle 

 of the sides, continues again in a straight line to its termination. It is generally 

 even ; but sometimes, as in the example figured, has a festoon or sinus in some part 

 of its course, or else is a little wavy at its origin. 



The usual colour is an uniform light greyish-brown or pale ash, with sometimes 

 a leaden, sometimes an olive tint ; the back, head, lips, and fins towards the 

 borders being darker and approaching to black, with the edges of the second dorsal, 

 anal, and caudal, and the tips of the pectoral fins white. The ventral forks or fila- 

 ments are pale or whitish, sprinkled with grey specks. In the variety j3, which is 

 however comparatively rare, the whole fish is of a rich deep coffee-colour, relieved in 

 parts on the sides of the head and shoulders with brighter saffron or golden-brown 

 tints, paler under the throat, but scarcely so on the sides or belly : the fins are 

 almost black towards their tips or edges, and fimbriated with pure white and orange 

 flesh-colour : the whole in colouring reminding one somewhat of the Tench ( Tinea 

 vzdcfaris), or the Mero of Madeira, (Sen-amtsjimbriatus). Intermediate or transi- 

 tion states as to colour between these two varieties occur : some having the head 

 coffee-coloured and the body of the usual pale ash ; whilst others are pale ash, 

 clouded or mottled with coffee-brown : and I have not observed them to correspond 

 with any regularity to particular seasons, or to either of the sexes. 



The iris is either pale brassy, or iii /3, rich coffee-brown on a golden ground, the 

 inner edge being clear brassy. Its upper part is darker than the rest. The pupil 

 is bluish or rather violet-black, not opaline. The vent is surrounded by a broad 

 livid-black ring, or rather may be said to be in the middle of a round black spot. 

 The bands or groups of teeth are red or flesh-colour : the rest of the mouth inside, 

 with the tongue, being pale or white. 



On dissection, the liver is found to be pale-coloured, and very large, having both 

 its lobes excessively elongated, and reaching even beyond the vent. The stomach 

 is large, oblongo-pyriform, or simply pear-shaped. The caeca are very distinct and 

 numerous, being upwards of thirty in number. They are long and slender or ver- 

 miform, and somewhat stiff or fiiTn in substance. The intestine makes one long 

 complete, and then two short half volutions ; proceeding afterwards straight to the 

 vent. The air-bladder is singular from its constriction into three confluent cham- 

 bers or compartments, placed one before the other ;* the hindmost being large and 

 oval, the middle one much smaller and globose, and the foremost again larger and 

 cross-shaped or transverse, like the head of the common Hammer-fish {Zygcena 

 malleus, Val.), or bilobed with a wide and deep sinus in front. The parietes of 

 each of these are very thick, strong, and fibrous : yet they are almost always found 

 ruptured upon capture. 



As in the Cheme and some other fishes, the stomach by spasmodic action 

 becomes very frequently inverted, rising up into the mouth ; in which state it was 

 mistaken by Mr. Bowdich for the air-bladder. The mouth is also generally gaping, 

 and the branchial membrane and the muscles of the throat and jaws are left spas- 

 modically outstretched in a state of rigid tension after death. 



There are fourteen abdominal, and usually thirty-three, but sometimes thirty- 



* These were figured by Willughby, p. 205, long ago, and are well described by Laroche in his 

 " Observations sur la Vessie aerienuc des Poissons," p. 70. 



