FISHES — BLtNNIDAE — APODICHTHYS FLAVIDUS. 



117 



The scales are very minute, sub-elliptical or rather ovoid in their outline, cycloid in structure, 

 ■with a few radiating furrows upon their posterior and lateral sections. No lateral line being 

 discernible. 



The ground color is yellowish brown ; the dorsal region exhibiting twelve or thirteen saddle- 

 like blotches of deep brown, margined with black, two of which being situated in advance of 

 the dorsal fin. About eighteen vertically elongated, squarrish blotches, of a light brown in 

 their centre and darker upon their margins, may he observed along the flanks, and a vertical 

 bar or a spot in the intervening space. An interoculo occipital black vitta, extending from the 

 upper rim of the orbit to the occiput, and continued vertically downwards from beneath the 

 orbit to the hyoidian apparatus. Sometimes, instead of a vitta, we observe a double black filet. 

 The lips are blackish. The pectorals and anal yellowish, and the caudal greyish yellow. 



References to the figures. — Plate XXVb, fig. 6, represents Gunnellus ornatus, size of life. Fig. 

 7, is an enlarged scale of the same. 



List of specimens. 



APODICHTHYS, Girard. 



Gen. Chae. — Body very elongated and very much compressed. Head moderate and oblong ; snout obtuse ; mouth large. 

 Small and conical teeth upon the jaws and front of vomer ; maxillar teeth disposed upon a double row. Palatines toothless. 

 Branchial apertures continuous under the throat. Dorsal and anal fins uniting with the caudal, which is exteriorly rounded. 

 Dorsal composed exclusively of spiny rays and occupying most of the dorsal region. Anal provided anteriorly with a large, 

 acutely triangular, and excavated spine. No ventral fins. Scales pectinated and very small ; no lateral line perceptible. 



STiii.—^podichthys, Gnu. in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. VII, 1854, 150. 



This genus is closely allied to Gunnellus, from which it differs by the total absence of ventral 

 fins, the presence, at the anterior margin of the anal fin, of a large, acutely triangular, and 

 excavated spine ; and, finally, by its dentition, which consists of small conical teeth instead of 

 being card or velvet-like. 



To it must be referred Blennius gunnellus apos of Tilesius^ observed by the latter in the sea 

 of Kamtschatka. 



1. APODICHTHYS FLAYIDUS, Grd. 



Spec. Char. — Exterior row of maxillar teeth larger than the internal row, which is sometimes rudimentary. Mouth large ; 

 posterior extremity of maxillar bone extending to a vertical line drawn posteriorly to the orbit. Origin of dorsal fin situated 

 opposite the base of the pectorals. Caudal fin small. Uniform greyish yellow. A black filet extending from the occiput to the 

 upper rim of the orbit, and from beneath the orbit obliquely to the angle of the mouth. 



SiK. — ^podiclUhysJlavidus, Grd. in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. VII, 1854, 150. 



The specimen before us is between eleven and twelve inches long. Its head, which is rounded 

 anteriorly, is contained about nine times in the total length. The snout is obtuse. The mouth 



