LEPT0CEPHALIDJ2. 147 



this SO little definite, that Leptocpphalus diaphavus {TIelmicllujs 

 diaphamis, Costa) is an intermediate form. 



5. Leptocephalus Morbisi, Gmelin. 



Leptocephalus Morrisi, Bl. S Schn. t. 108, f. 2 (copied from Penn. 



Br. Zool. t. '25) ; Yarrcll, Br. Fish. 

 Leptocephalus Gussoni, C'occo. 



Leptocephalus candidissiiuus, Costa, Fauna Nap. t. 20. 

 Leptocephalus vitreus, Kolliker, Zeitsch.filr Wiss. Zool. iv. 3G0. 



Diagn. A hlunt head ; scarcely visible teeth. The lateral line, 

 belly, and anal fin dotted with black points ; tail pointed ; the 

 greatest height of the body equalling a ninth part of the total 

 length. 



Descr. This species, though one of the earliest known to natu- 

 ralists, I have not as yet seen. It has the greatest likeness to 

 Spalanzani, and is only distinguished from it by its higher body. 

 When I compare the above-mentioned figure of Morrisi with the 

 candid issiui lis of Costa, I can detect no character by which they 

 may be distinguished from each other. 



6. Leptocephalus Spalanzani, Risso, fig. 7. 

 Leptocephalus Spalanzani, Risso, Hist. iii. 205. 



Biagn. A blunt head ; almost imperceptible teeth. Lateral 

 line, edge of the belly, and anal dotted with black. Tail pointed. 

 Height of the body scarcely exceeding one-thirteenth part of the 

 total length. 



Bescr. The same bottle which contained Leptocephalus diaphamis 

 (labelled Lepidopus pellucidus, Kisso) held also this species [Spa- 

 lanzani) and pimctatus, all of which had been collected by Savigny, 

 in the year 1823, at Nice, and sent by him to the Paris Museum. 

 What the species truly is that is figured by Risso {Ichth. de Nice, 

 t. v. f. 19) under the name of Lepidopus pellucidus, I have not 

 ascertained ; but I can at least afiirm that it bears not the least 

 likeness to our sketch, given above. Neither does the description 

 published by Risso at a later period, in his Hist. t. iii. 205, suit 

 2)ellucidus well, but agrees better with our drawing. Risso says, 

 " Its snout is rounded, and the upper jaw is a little longer than 

 the mandible ; " but in pellucidus both jaws are pointed, and of 

 equal length. Risso himself seenis not to have been certain of 

 the identity of his Spalanzaiii with pellucidus, or he would not 

 have employed a new specific name. Lejndojnis pellucidus remains, 

 therefore, a questionable species, which, it is to be hoped, will yet 

 be recovered. L. Sjjalanzani is distinguished unmistakably by its 

 slimness from the most elongated known example of L. Morrisi. 



Total length 4-57 in. 



Length to the anus . ...... 1-77 ,, 



The distance between the point of the snout and the anus is 

 comprised twice and five-sevenths in the total lengtli. 



