LEPTOCIU'UALUS. 139 



and Jlyoprorus, although I shall shortly mention the other forms 

 hereafter. 



LEPTOCEPHALUS. 



In a group of larval fishes in which the ordinary method of dis- 

 tinguishing species is impossible, a compilation of the synonymy is 

 rather hazardous, although it is evident enough that more specific 

 names have been proposed than can be justified, even by those who 

 would treat of these fishes as of animals forming an independent part 

 of the system. Therefore I propose to indicate those forms only 

 which are distinguished by characters showing that they have, in all 

 probability, a distinct origin, adding to each aU those binominal 

 names which refer to such a form, without intending to say that 

 these names refer to the same species, as the larval states of distinct 

 species may be extremely similar or almost identical. 



I. The forms with a rounded, obtuse motit. 



A. With jJectoralJins. 



1. End of the tail not prolonged into a tupe)-iny point. 



a. Mediterranean, Atlantic {Australian). 



a. Compressed form — L. morrisii. 



Leptocephalus, Gronov. Zoophyl. no. 410, tab. 13. fig. 3 ("bad) • Pen- 

 nant, Brit. Zool. iii. p. 139, pi. 25 (bad). 

 Leptoceplialus morrisii, Gm. Si/st. Nat. i. p. 1150; JBl. Schn p 133 

 *i Si f ■ ^^' ^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^ ' ^^"ntaf/ue, Werner. Mem. ii. p. 436' 

 pi. 2'2. fag. 1 ; Leach, m Zool. Misc. iii. p. 10, pi. 126 ; Deere in 

 Loud. May mit. Hid. vi. p. 530 ; Yarrell, Brit. Fish. 2nd edit ii. 

 p. 409, and 3rd edit. i. p. 40; Peach, Ann. S,- Mat/. Nat. Hist 1854 

 xiii. p 238 iRaup, Apod. p. 147, and Ann. ^- Mm;. Nat Hist. 186o', 

 VI. p. 2/1 ; Couch, Hist. Brit. Fish. iv. p. 348, pi. 340 

 Opludium peUiicidum, Couch, in Loud. May. Nat. Hist. v. pp. 313 

 742. '^ ' 



Leptocophalus spalanzani, Risso (not Ichth. Nice, p. 85), Eur Merid 

 111. p. 205 ; Eaup, Apod. p. 147, fig. 7. i n • • 



giissoui,_ Cocc'o, Isis, 1831, p. 1340. 



? candidissimus, Costa, Faun. Nap. Pesci, c. tab. 



Body compressed, its depth being about e(iual to the length of the 

 head. _ Sometimes the body, sometimes the tail, the longer. End of 

 the tail generally rounded, not prolonged. Snout obtusely rounded 

 tyc ratlier large. Tongu(> distinct. Pectoral fins developed 

 Jaws with or without smaU teeth. Chorda doraalis without ossifi- 

 cations. 



Coasts of Europe ; Australia. 

 rt. Polperro. Purchased. 



/',c. Ijridgewater. From Leach's Collection. (Pound by J Anstice 

 Esq.) 



<;. Madeira. Presented by the Rev. K. T. Lowe. 

 (. South Europe. I'reseuted by 11. B. Webb, Esci. 

 /'-/•. Numerous examples. Messina. 



