lb BERYCIDJi:. 



descending upwards; the sub- and inter- operculum have rounded 

 lower margins, and both are situated in an oblique direction upwards. 

 The praeoperculum has a scaleless portion at its angle, which is 

 rounded and indistinctly crcnulated ; the posterior margin descends 

 obliquely towards behind. Of the humeral arch the suprascapula 

 alone is slightly denticulated. 



The two barbels arise in front of the branchiostegals from the 

 basihyal (Owen), and reach as far behind as the base of the pec- 

 toral fin. 



PseiidobrancJdce well developed. 



The dorsal Jin arises above the middle of the fish (the caudal not 

 included), with five feeble spines, gradually becoming longer behind, 

 but the fifth being about one-half only of the first ray, which is the 

 longest ; the folloAving rays become shorter and shorter to the 

 seventeenth, the remainder being very short and nearly equal in 

 length. The last ray is one-fourth only of the first. The distance 

 between the dorsal and caudal fins is 3|- in the length of the 

 former. The caudal Jin is deejily forked, with pointed and equal 

 lobes ; the length of a lobe is about one-fifth of the total, and that 

 of the middle (shortest) ray is one-fourth of the length of a lobe. 

 The anal Jin is similar in shape to the dorsal, but much shorter 

 and lower. The third spine is about one -third of the first ray, 

 which equals the fifth dorsal ray ; the end of the fin falls just below 

 that of the dorsal. Tlie pectorals are short, pointed ; they reach 

 beyond the level of the origin of the dorsal, and are equal in length 

 to that of the fii'st dorsal ray. The ventral Ji)is are very short ; 

 their spine is closely attached to the first ray, and both can be 

 separated from one another by the knife only ; the fii'st ray is not 

 branched, but articulated ; the length cfjuals the diameter of the 

 eye, and the fin reaches scarcely beyond the pectoral. 



The scales are rather oblique and irregular, with distinct conccntnc 

 layers on the free part and without serratm-e. 



All the teeth are in very broad, velvet-like bands ; that of the 

 intermaxillary is elongate, cimeiform, broadest on its inner extremity; 

 nearly all the band is not covered by soft parts, and free, outside of 

 the mouth ; the band of the mantUbulaiy is narrower and undulating. 

 One broad band extends on the palatine and pterygoid bones, and con- 

 fluent with it is an exceedingly large and ovate patch of teeth on 

 the entopterjffjoid bone. The vomerine teeth form a narrow band, 

 tapeiing behind. The tongue and the branchial bones are covered 

 with broad patches of \"illit'()rm teeth. Thus this fish oftcrs the 

 most comiilete dentition in this and the following families. 



inches, lines. 



Total length 10 



Height of the body 2 7 



Length of the head 2 8 



Diameter of th(! eye ( * II 



Interspace b(!tween the eyes M 



Length of a barbel 2 



IJrcndth of tlic i-ntoptcrygoid patcli of teeth . i") 



