144 MTDR^NIDiE. 



Leptocephalus altua, Richarch. Voy. Ereh. l<f Terr. Fish. p. 51, pi. 30. 

 figs. 8-10. 

 Like the preceding form, but with rudimentary pectoral fins. 

 Teeth strong. 



For completeness' sake we have to mention the following forms, 

 which are very insufficiently known : — 



1. Leptocephalus stenops, Kaup, Apod. p. 150. — Messina. — Eyes 

 unusually large and close together. 



2. Leptocephalus dussumieri, Kaup, Apod. p. 151, fig. 17. — Malabar. 



HYOPRORUS. 



Ilvoprorus messinensis, Kolliker, Verh. phi/s. med. Ges. Wilrzb. iv. 

 1854, p. 101 ; Kmip, Apod. p. 144, fig. 4.' 



Body much compressed and elevated ; head narrow, long ; snout 

 long, with the upper jaw longest (as in NettasLoma). Teeth ex- 

 tremely minute. Nostrils as in Nettasfoma. Pectorals very small*; 

 vertical fins conspicuous. Vent in advance of the middl6 of the 

 total length. Gill-openings narrow. lUood red. 



Messina. 



Mr. Gill refers (in my opinion very justly) this fish to Nettastonui, 

 (See p. 48.) 



TILURUS. 



Oxystoiniis hyalinus, Rajinesqvp. 



Leptocephalus tricbiurus, Cocro, Giurn. Sc. Lett, iy Art. Sicil. Palermo, 



1820, xxvi. p. 138. 

 Tilurus gengenbauri, Kolliker, Verh. phys. med. Ges. Wi(7-zb. iv. 1854, 



p. 100. 



trichiurus, Kauji, Apod. p. 145, fig. 5. 



rissoi, Kaiip, Apod. p. 146. 



Body much compressed and elongate ; tail terminating in a 

 thread. Head compressed, small, with the snout acutely pointed 

 and of moderate length, the lower jaw being the longer. Both jaws 

 toothed. Gill-openings wide. Intestine terminating far behind, at 

 a point where the body is very narrovs . Pectorals very small. 

 Dorsal fin a broad fold of the skin, distinct from the nape ; anal a 

 very low fold. 



Mediterranean. 



a, b, c, d, e, f, g. Numerous examples from Messina. 



All these ex.timplcs arc remarkably alike in shape and in size. I 

 do not know of any fish to which Tilurus could be referred. It 

 evidently does not belong to the family Mursenida;. 



* There is a curious passage in Dr. Kaup's description,^, c, viz. " What Pro- 

 fessor Stummeln mentions as representing pectorals."' There is no such individual 

 as Professor Stummeln ; and the explanation of the passage is probably tliis, 

 that Professor Kolliker describes the pectoral fin as a " klciner Stunnnel''^^— thai 

 is, a small rudiment. 



