FISHES — BLENNIDAE — NEOCLINUS BLANCHAEDI. 115 



a vertical line drawn at the origin of the dorsal fin. The maxillar teeth are well developed, 

 especially upon the outer row ; they are sub-conical, somewhat curved, canine-like in their 

 aspect. Those of the inner row are of the same type and character, only smaller, forming 

 rather a patch than a row at the symphyses of the jaws. The palatine and vomerine teeth are 

 sub-conical also, more erect than the maxillary ones, and rather stouter than the outer row of 

 the latter, especially the palatine ones. The eyes are large and sub-circular, their horizontal 

 diameter entering about four times and a half in the length of the side of the head. The 

 interocular space equaling the half of the ocular diameter. Two sub-equal filiform tentacles 

 may be observed upon the upper posterior region of the eyeball, and a multifid membranous flap 

 arising from the posterior rim of the anterior nostril. The branchial apertures are very wide, 

 being continuous under the throat ; the branchiostegals, six on either side, are conspicuously 

 developed. 



The dorsal fin originates at the occipital region and extends all along the back, without, 

 however, uniting with the caudal. The anterior two-thirds of its length is composed of simple 

 and inarticulated rays, the posterior third of simple and articulated ones. It is nearly of equal 

 height throughout, being somewhat lower at the junction of the two kinds of rays just alluded 

 to. The tips of the posterior rays extend to the rudimentary rays of the upper lobe of the 

 caudal. The same is true with regard to the posterior rays of the anal and the inferior lobe of 

 the caudal. The origin of the anal itself is situated opposite the space between the fourteenth 

 and fifteenth dorsal rays, hence quite elongated. It is composed of two small inarticulated 

 rays, situated at the anterior margin, and of simple and articulated ones, which increase 

 slightly in depth backwards. The interradial membrane is somewhat emarginated, and the 

 depth of the fin a little less than the height of the dorsal. The caudal is rather slender, 

 posteriorly rounded, and contained nearly nine times in the total length. The ventrals are 

 slender, rather long, the middle articulated ray being the longest, and the posterior one shorter 

 than the anterior, which conceals within its membrane the rudimentary spine. The pectorals 

 are broad and rounded, composed of simple but articulated rays ; the inferior ones somewhat 

 stouter than the upper, and projecting beyond the interradial membrane, which is emarginated 

 or concave. Their posterior extremities do not extend as far back as the vent, which is situated 

 immediately in advance of the anal fin. 



Br. VI : VI ; D XXIV, 17 ; A II, 29 ; C 3, 1, 6, 5, 1, 4 ; V i, 3 ; P 15. 



The scales are small, apparently non-imbricated, longer than deep, sub-circular or sub- 

 elliptical in their outline, cyloid in structure, with radiating furrows posteriorly. 



The lateral line constitutes a curve convex upwards, extending from the scapular region to 

 opposite the eleventh or twelfth dorsal ray, where it terminates without reaching the middle 

 region of the abdomen or flanks. 



The color, as preserved in the liquor, is of a reddish brown, with dark transverse bands or 

 faciae, more apparent upon the posterior than on the anterior region of the body. The dorsal 

 and anal fin are variegated with light and dark, but two very distinct black ocellae with light 

 margins may be observed at the upper margin of the anterior portion of the dorsal — one 

 between the first and second rays^ the other between the seventh and eighth. The pectorals 

 and ventrals being unicolor. The inferior edge of the maxillar bones is whitish ; the lips are 

 lighter than the sides of the head. 



