3. coccia. 387 



I. Sternoptyx diaphana. 



Sternoptyx diaphana, Hermann, in Naturforscher, 1781, xvi. p. 8. 

 taf. 1. figs. 1 & 2 (bad), and xvii. p. 249 (cop. by Walbaum, Artedi, 

 iii. tab. 1. figs. 1 & 2 ; and by Bl. Schn. p. 494. pi. 35) ; Cuv. Regne 

 Anim. 2nd edit. pi. 13. fig. 1 ; Cuv. § Val. xxii. p. 415 ; Loive, Proc. 

 Zool. Soc. 1843, p. 85. 



hermanni, Lacep. v. p. 613. 



B. 5. D. 9. A. 13. P, 10. V. 3? 



The height of the body equals the distance between the extremity 

 of the snout and the commencement of the tail ; tail very short. 

 Interorbital space slightly concave ; the posterior limb of the prse- 

 operculum borders the hind part of the orbit, and descends in a very 

 oblique line, terminating in two points. Pectoral fin scarcely reach- 

 ing to the ventrals, which are very small. 



Tropical parts of the Atlantic. 



Second Group. COCCIINA. 



Sternoptychoids with the body scaleless, with pseudobranchise, 

 and without rudimentary spinous dorsal iin. 



3. COCCIA. 



Ichthyococcus *, sp., Bonap. Faun. Ital. Peso. 



Head and body strongly compressed, rather elevated, covered with 

 a silvery pigment, there being no regular scales. Series of luminous 

 (phosphorescent) spots run along the lower side of the head, body, and 

 tail. Cleft of the mouth of moderate width, the entire lower jaw 

 being received between the dilated maxillary bones, which form nearly 

 the whole margin of the upper jaw ; intermaxillaries very small ; 

 the maxillary has a sharp and minutely serrated edge ; a few minute 

 teeth near the symphysis of the lower jaw. Palate apparently tooth- 

 less. Eye of moderate size, and, although lateral, directed upwards, 

 the space between the eyes being an exceedingly narrow ridge. 

 Pectorals and ventrals developed, the former quite at the lower side 

 of the body. Dorsal fin nearly in the middle of the length of the 

 body, above the ventrals ; adipose, fin rudimentary. Anal fin of 

 moderate length. Caudal forked. Gill-opening very wide, the outer 

 branchial arch extending forward to behind the symphysis of the 

 lower jaw, and beset with very short gill-rakers ; branchiostegals 

 about ten ; pseudobranchiae present. Air-bladder none. 



Mediterranean. 



* This word is formed to designate a fish dedicated to the memory of Cocco ! 

 Similar generic names, created and introduced by Bonaparte into the ornitholo- 

 gical system, have always been considered as a nuisance, although ornithologists 

 submitted to it. Fortunately they are not so frequent in Ichthyology that their 

 rejection would be accompanied with inconvenience, and therefore I do not 

 hesitate to substitute for it a name more in accordance with the rules of nomen- 

 clature. 



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