﻿146 GAKGETic FISHES. Order V. 



This species is rather the largest. Above it is of a black- 

 ish green colow, and below whitish, while the sides are slight- 

 ly variegated with clouds. The fins are of the same colour 

 with the parts on which they are inserted. 



On the crown of the head is one oval concavity. The two 

 tendrils at the hinder apertures of the nostrils are as long as 

 the head ; the two at the angles of the mouth are a little 

 longer ; of the four under the chin, the two outer ones are a 

 little longer than the inner, and reach to the back of the head. 

 The palate has no teeth. The eyes are convex. I can observe 

 two strong rays in each membrane of the gill-covers. 



Although the back fin is connected with that of the tail, the 

 two are easily distinguishable, the former containing fifty- 

 three rays, and the latter about fourteen. Each pectoral fin 

 has seven branched rays and the prickle. Each ventral fin has 

 four branched rays, with an undivided one at each side. The 

 fin behind the vent contains fifty rays. 



2d Species. — Macropteuonotus magur. Plate XXVI. 



Fig. 45. 



A macroptet'onctus with the tail and back fins distinct ; with 

 sixty rays in the former, and forty-four in that behind the 

 vent ; and with the edge of the pectoral prickles unindented. 



This species, if it be distinct, has the utmost affinity to tlie 

 Macropteronotus batrachus of La Cepede, (Hist, des Poissons, 

 Tome V. page 84,) or the Silums batrachus of Bloch, (Ichth. 

 Tome XL page 34, PI. CCCLXX. fig. 1.) The fish, indeed, 

 described by these authors differs from ours in the num- 

 ber of rays supporting its fins, but, owing to the thickness 

 of the skin, no great reliance can be placed on the accuracy 

 of this mark ; and besides, these authors describe their fish as 

 of an uniform brown colour, and state, that the prickle of each 

 pectoral fin is strongly indented behind. 



