LEPTOCEPHALUS. 141 



II. Snout pointed : pectoral Jins present. 

 Leptocoplialus longirostris, Kaup, Apvd. p. 150, fig. 14. 



Body much compressed, elevated, and short, the upper and lower 

 profiles abruptly rising behind the head. Head low, rather long. 

 Eye of moderate size. Tongue not free in front. Jaws toothed. 

 Muscular stria; vertical. 



The specimen described by Kaup was from Messina. An example 

 in the Liverpool Museum is stated to have been obtained 150 miles 

 west off Cape Verde Islands. It is 05 millims. long, 18 millims. 

 deep, the head being 5 millims. 



III. Tlie forms ivith a jwinted snout ; in all, the pectoral jfins are absent or 

 rtidimentary. 



A. Mediterranean and North Atlantic, 



1. Snout moderately pointed ; a dee]) notch in the upper profile 

 of the head. 



Body compressed, its depth being much more than the length of 

 the head, which is very small. A deep notch in the ujiper profile, 

 above the anterior angle of the orbit. Snout rather pointed, not 

 prolonged. Eye of moderate size. Tongue not free in front. Pec- 

 toral fins none, or rudimentary. Jaws toothless. Chorda dorsalis 

 without ossifications. 



a~c. Algiers. Presented by Lieut,-Col. Playfair. 



2. Stiout acutely pointed. Tongne free in front. 



Leptocephalus hfeckelii, part., Kaup, Ann. ^- May. Nat. Hist. 18G0, 

 vi. p. 270, pi. 3. fig. B. 



Body compressed, its depth being more than the length of the 

 head. Vent generally behind the middle of the total length. SuoTit 

 acutely pointed, not prolonged. Eye large. Tongue free in front. 

 Pectoral fins none, or rudiraentarj-. Jaws toothed. Chorda dorsalis 

 without ossifications. 



a, b, Messina. Named L. luvckeUi by Dr. Kaup. 

 c, d-e. Mediterranean. 



Leptocephalus brevirostris, Kaup, Apod. p. 150, fig. 15. 

 I regard these specimens as belonging to the form L. hcpcl-elii. 

 They have the hind part of the body shortened, the entire fish 

 appearing more elevated. The form of the head is (juite the same 

 as in L. hcrchelii. 



a. Messina. Named L. brevirostris by Dr. Kaup. 



.3. Snout acutely pointed. Tongue not free in front. 



Lepidopus pellucidus, Risso, Ichfh. Nice, p. 152, pi. 5. fig. 19. 

 Heluiicnthys diaplianus, Costa, Faun. Napol. Pesc. tav. 31. 

 ? Leptocephalus gracilis, Storer, Mem. Am. Ac. ii. p. 524. 



