LEPIOCEPHALUS. 139 



and Uyoproi-us, although I shall shortly mention the other forms 

 hereafter. 



LEPIOCEPHALUS. 



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 vrho 

 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 all 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 rotmded, obtuse snout. 



A. With pcctwaljlus. 



1 . End of tJte tail not prolonged into a tajtering point. 



a. Mediterranean, Atlantic (Australian). 



a. Compressed form — L. morrisii. 



Leptoccplialus, Gronov. Zoophyl. no, 410; tab. 13. fig. 3 (bad) j Peu- 

 ?iant, Brit. Zool. iii. p. 139, pi. 25 (had). 



Leptocephalus morrisii, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 11/50; Bl. Schn. p. 133, 

 tab. 108. fig. 2 (very bad) ; Montague, Werner. Mem. ii. p. 430, 

 pi. 22. fig. 1 ; Leach, in Zool. Misc. iii. p. 10, pi. 120 ; Deere, in 

 Loud. Mag. Nat. Hist. vi. p. 530 ; Yarrell, Brit. Fish. 2nd edit. ii. 

 p. 409, and 3rd edit. i. p. 40 ; Peach, Ann. Sf Mag. Nat. Hist. 1854, 

 xiii. p. 238 ; Kaup, Apod. p. 147, and Ann. 8f Mag. Nat Hist. 1800, 

 vi. p. 271 ; Couch, Hht. Brit. Fish. iv. p. 348, pi. 340. 



Ophidium pellucidiun, Couch, in Loud. Mag. Nat. Hist. v. pp. 313, 

 742. 



Leptocephalus spalanzani, Itisso (not Ichth. Nice, p. 85), JEur. Mh-id. 

 iii. p. 205 ; Kaup, Apod. p. 147, fig. 7. 



gussoni, Cocco, Isis, 1831, p. 1340. 



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



Body compressed, its depth being about equal to the length of tlie 

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

 the tail generally rounded, not prolonged. Snout obtusely rounded. 

 Eye rather large. Tongue distinct. Pectoral fins developed. 

 Jaws with or without small teeth. Chorda dorsalis without ossifi- 

 cations. 



Coasts of Europe ; Australia, 



a. Polperro, Purchased, 



h, c. liridgewater. From Leach's Collection. (Found by J. Anstice, 

 Esq.) 



d. Madeira. Presented by the Rev, R. T, Lowe. 



e. South Europe, Presented oy R. B, Webb, Esq. 

 f-r. Numerous examples. Messina. 



