7. GEMPYLUS. 35Ji 



2. Gempylus coluber. 



Gempylus coluber, Cuv. df Vul. viii. p. 211. pi. 221. 

 Lemuisoma thyrsitoides, Less. Voy. Coq. Zool. Poiss. p. IGO. 



D. 30-31 1 ^ I VI. A. ^ 1 VI. Ctec. pylor. 9-10. 



I II I 12 ! ^ *' 



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

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

 the head five times and a half. Coloration imifox-m. (Cuv.) 



Sea of Otaheite. 



Perhaps identical with the other .species. 



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

 allied to the family of &])hyrmikhe or Trichiurida'. The similarity, 

 however, is merfely external, and its natural aflSnity 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 i-ays. 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. 



VOL. ir. 2 A 



