PISCES. 123 



Tafdn, Tab. 23. The Romans kept these fishes, which were highly esteemed 

 by them, in stews. Of Vedius Pollio it is related that he cast his con- 

 demned slaves to these fishes ; Plinids Hist. nat. Lib. xi. c. 23 ; compare 

 Seneca de Ira, Lib. iii. cap. 40. 



Uropterygius Rueppell. Teeth in jaws acute, conical, in a double 

 row. Solitary conical tooth in vomer. Caudal fin small, as if formed 

 by the confluence of dorsal and anal fins. 



Opliisurus Lac. Dorsal and anal fins not produced as far as the 

 apex of tail ; apex of tail subulate. (Remaining characters almost 

 those of Anguillce, but some species approach the Murcenai by their 

 small pectoral fins, scarcely distinguishable.) 



Sp. Ophisurris coluhrinus, Murcena coluhrina Gmel., Lacep. Poiss. v. PI. 19, 

 fig. i; — 3Iur(ena ophis L. ; — Murcena serpens L. &c. 



Tribranchus Peters. 



Leptocei^halus Gronov., Pennant. Body compressed, sub-pel- 

 lucid. Head very small, acuminate. Teeth very minute. Pectoral 

 fins very small, placed behind the branchial aperture. Dorsal and 

 anal fins longitudinal, confluent with one another at the tail. 



Sp. Leptocephalus Morrisii Penn., Gronov. Zoophylac. \. Tab. 13, fig. 3, 

 Lacep. Poiss. 11. PI. iii. fig. 2, Yarrell Brit. Fishes, 11. p. 311 ; in the 

 North Sea and Mediterranean. 



Family XXV. Ophidini. Swimming-bladder either closed and 

 Avithout pneumatic duct, or none. Pyloric appendages mostly none. 

 PseudobranchijB pectinate. Ovaries furnished with oviduct. 



Ammodytes L. Body elongate, covered with very small scales. 

 Head compressed, acuminate; lower jaw produced beyond upper. 

 Teeth none. Branchiostegous membrane with six or seven slender, 

 setaceous rays. Dorsal and anal fins long, depressed, produced 

 nearly to the distinct, forked caudal fin. 



Sp. Ammodytes Tohianus L., Block Ichth. Tab. 75, fig. 2, Skandinaviens 

 Fiskar, PI. 54; the sand-eel; (compare above, p. 53). Ray and 

 LiNN^US were of opinion that two species occur on the coasts of 

 Europe. The accurate discrimination of the two is principally due to 

 Lesauvage. The other species is named hy Cvyies. Ammodytes lancea; 

 it continues smaller than the preceding, has the under jaw less projecting, 

 and a dorsal fin which is prolonged more forwards, to above the pectoral 



