378 oPHrDiTD^. 



muscles are fixed to the air-bladder itself. Processes of the first and 

 fourth vertebrae small, not swollen. 

 Mediterranean. 



a. Adult. Padstow, Cornwall. Museum Leach. 



3. Ophidium rochii. 



Ophidion, Wilhighby, p. 113. 



Ophidium bai-batum, pt., Delaroche, Ann. Mus. xiv. p. 275. 

 Ophidium barbatum, Jiathke in Mull. Arch. 1838, p. 423. 

 rochii, MUM. Abhandl. Berl. Acad. 1843, p. 150. taf. 4. fig. 2 (air- 

 bladder). 



D. ca 140. A, ca 120. 



Very similar to 0. broussonetii, but with a difierent structure of 

 the air-bladder. 



Processes of the first and fourth vertebrae very thin ; the single 

 bone at the anterior extremity of the air-bladder is cuneiform. Air- 

 bladder contracted anteriorly and posteriorly, and with a round fora- 

 men behind, closed by thin mucous membrane only. (Mull.) 



Mediterranean. 



Whether Ophidium barbatum, Mitch. Lit. & Phil. Trans. New York, 

 i. p. 362. pi. 1. fig. 2, or Ophidium marginatum, Dekay, New York 

 Faun. Fish. p. 315. pi. 52. fig. 169, is a species difierent from the 

 European we cannot say, the single specimen in the British Museum 

 not having either intestines or gills. Externally it is nearly identical 

 with 0. barbatum. 



a. Adult : bad state. New York. 



4. Ophidium vasallL 



litsso, lekth. Nice, p. 97. pi. 5. fig. 12, and Eur. Merid. iii. p. 212 ; Cuv. 

 Rigne Anim. ; MUU. Abhandl. Berl. Acad. 1843, p. 152. taf. 4. fig. 5 

 (air-bladder) ; Costa, Faun. Napol. pi. 20. 



D. ca 130. A. ca 110. 



The four barbels are nearly equal in length, as long as the head, 

 and extending to the base of the pectoral. The depth of the head is 

 contained once and two-thirds in its length. Teeth villiform. The 

 lower branch of the outer branchial arch with four gill-rakers, the 

 longest of which is longer than one-half of the diameter of the eye. 

 Ethmoid without prominent spine. Operculum covered with rudi- 

 mentary scales. Vertical fins without black edge. 



Air-bladder globular, with a round foramen posteriorly ; no single 

 bone in front of its anterior extremity. 



Mediterranean. 

 a, b, c. Adult. 



5. Ophidium brasiliense. 

 Valenciennes, inKaup, Apod. Fish. p. 154. 



Barbels short, not reaching to the chest ; no spine on the snout. 

 Teeth rather stout. The dorsal fin only is edged with black. {Kaup.) 



Brazils. 



