LEPTOCEPHALUS, 141 



II. Snout pointed ; pectoral Jins present. 

 Leptocephalus longirostris, Kaup, Apod. 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 striae 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 miUims. 

 deep, the head being 5 millims. 



III. Tlie forms with a pointed snout ; in all, the pectoral Jins are absent or 

 rudimentary. 



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 uj^per 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. Snout acutely pointed. Tongue free in front. 



Leptocephalus haeckelii, part., Kaup, Ann. ^- Mag. 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. Snout 

 acutely pointed, not prolonged. Eye lai-ge. Tongue free in front. 

 Pectoral fins none, or rudimentary. Jaws toothed. Chorda dorsalis 

 without ossifications. 



a, h. Messina. Named L. hceckelii 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. Jiackelii. 

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

 appearing more elevated. The form of the head is quite the same 

 as in L. hceckelii. 

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



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



Lepidopus pellucidus, Hisso, Ichth. Nice, p. 152, pi. 5. fig. 19. 

 Helmichthys diaphanus, Costa, Faun. Napol, Pesc. tav. 31. 

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



