OPHIDINE. 155 



4. Opiiidium Vasallt, Risso. 



Ophidium Vasalli, Risso, Hist. Nat. 219. 

 Ophidium chrysocephalum, Raf. 19, No. 46. 



Traces of scales on the occiput and operculum. No black edging 

 to the fins. There are four barbels of equal length. 



Paris Museum. 



5. Ophidium barbatum, Linn. 



Ophidium barbatum, Bl. 159, f. 1 ; Yarr. 415. 

 Ophidium pliysocephalum, Raf. No. 45. 



The two anterior barbels shorter. Flesh-coloured, with black 

 edging to the dorsal and anal fins. No scales on the gill-plates. 



6. OPHTDIUM MARGINATUM, Dekmj. 



Ophidium marginatum, Dekay, New York Fauna, pi. iii. 169, p. 315. 



Colour gray, with dark longitudinal stripes; beginning of the 

 anal white ; its end and that of the dorsal fin edged with black. 

 This fish is named the " Small Cusk," and it has a resemblance to 

 the Gadoid Brotula. 



Paris Museum. 



I am unacquainted with the Ophidium stigma of Lay and Bennett, 

 or with the Oph. Rochei and Oph. Broussonetti of Miiller. 



Genus 3. GYMNELIS, Reinhardt. 



Gymnelis, Reinhardt, Beretninr/. an den Kong. Vidensk. Sehk. Fork. 

 1830 Off 1833 ; Id. Bidr. til den Groenl. Fauna Kjobenhavn, 1837, 

 p. 49, No. 53; Richardson, Belcher s Arctic Voy. ii. p. 367, 1853. 



Ophidium, Linn., Penn., Yarrell. 



Cepolophis, Kaup, MSS. 



Ophidia destitute of barbels and scales. Six branchiostegals. 



Descr. Resembling the true Ophidia in the blunt head. Vomerine 

 teeth not projecting forwards, but seated deep in the palate. Anus 

 placed in the pro.Kimal half of the fish. Pectoral and vertical fins 

 moderately developed. This genus differs essentially from Fie- 

 rasfer in the anus not being in the pectoral region, but further 

 back, as in Ophidium ; in the vomerine teeth not projecting for- 

 wards, but being more distal and near the line of the jaws ; 

 the body also is less slender, and the tail not so acutely sword- 

 shaped. 



