276 



Eighth Subfamily. 

 SILURID^ BRANCHICOL^. 



The rayed dorsal fin is present, short, and placed behind the 

 ventrals ; anal short. "Vent far behind the middle of the length 

 of the body. Gill-membranes confluent with the skin of the 

 isthmus. 



Seventeenth Group. STEGOPHILINA. 



A single maxillary barbel on each side. 



113. STEGOPHILUS. 



Stegophilus, Reinhardt, in Naturhist. Foren. Vidensk. Meddel. 1858, 

 p. 



Adipose fin none ; dorsal fin short, without pungent spine, placed 

 behind the ventrals, which are inserted behind the middle of the 

 body ; anal short ; caudal truncated. Teeth small, forming bands in 

 the jaws. The vomerine teeth are present, foitning a patch which is 

 confluent with the intermaxiUaiy band, and situated quite in front of 

 the jaw. Cleft of the mouth inferior, with a single barbel to each 

 angle of the mouth. Eyes rather large. Head covered with soft 

 skin. Operculum and interoperculum armed with spines. Gill- 

 openings narrow, separated by a broad isthmus. Ventrals five-rayed. 



Small fishes from Brazil. 



1. Stegophilus insidiosus. 

 Reinhardt, I. c. tab. 2. 



D. 9. A. 7. P. 6. V.5. 



The length of the head is more than the depth of the body, and 

 one-seventh of the total. Head longer than broad, with the upper 

 jaw produced. Barbel very small. (Eeinh.) 



Rio das Velhas. 



114. VANDELLIA. 



Vandellia, Cuv. ^ Val. xviii. p. 386. 

 Adipose fin none ; dorsal fin short, without pungent spine, placed 

 behind the ventrals, which are inserted behind the middle of the 

 body ; anal short ; caudal truncated. Teeth none in the jaws ; a 

 transverse series of long pointed teeth in front of the vomer ; cleft of 

 the mouth inferior, with a single barbel to each angle of the mouth. 



