7. GEMPTLTJS. 353 



2. Gempylus coluber. 



Gempylus coluber, Cuv. S^ Val. viii. p. 211. pi. 221. 

 Lemnisoma tliyrsitoides, Less. Voy. Coq. Zool. Poiss. p. 160. 



D. 30-31 1 ^ I VI. A. :^ I VI. C*c. pylor. 9-10. 



The ventral is reduced to a very small spine. The height of the 

 body is contained seventeen times in the total length, the length of 

 the head five times and a half. Coloration uniform. {Cuv.) 



Sea of Otaheite. 



Perhaps identical with the other species. 



Alepidosaurus, Lowe, has been considered as a fish most closely 

 allied to the family of Sphyraniidce or TricJiiuridce. The similarity, 

 however, is merely external, and its natui'al affinity is decidedly 

 Siluroid. 



The rays of the dorsal fin are soft, composed of joints ; there is a 

 large adipose fin on the back ; the ventrals are abdominal, composed 

 of one toothed spine and nine rays. The suboperculum is absent ; 

 the margin of the upper jaw is formed entirely by the intermaxillary 

 bone ; the maxillary bone is rudimentary. The pyloric appendages 

 are absent. 



2a 



