XXIII ACANTHOPTERYGII TLS 
Some are oviparous, others (Zoarces, Diplacanthopoma, Hephtho- 
cara, Lucifuga) viviparous. The eyes are absent, or at least not 
visible externally in some of the bathybial forms (7yphlonus, 
Aphyonus, Tauredophidium), as well as in the only known fresh- 
water forms, the Cuban Cave-Fishes Stygicola and Lucifuga, which 
are evidently allied to the marine Srotula, whilst the blind 
Cayve-Fishes of North America (ef. p. 618) are derived from fresh- 
water types. It is believed that blind fishes are found also in 
eaves of the island of Jamaica, but no specimens have been seen 
by naturalists. The largest Cuban Cave-Fish is 5 inches long.’ 
Fam. 13. Congrogadidae.—Eel-shaped Fishes without ven- 
trals, allied to the Blenniidae, but with all the rays soft and 
articulated, the post-temporal small and ankylosed to the skull, 
and the sub-orbitals produced into laminae supporting the eye- 
ball. Lips much developed; gill-membranes free from isthmus ; 
scales very small. 
A single genus, Congrogadus, with three species from the 
Australian and East Indian coasts. The recently described 
Japanese genus Hierichthys has been referred to this family. 
Fam, 14. Ophidiidae——Devraded Blenniids, closely related 
to the Zoarcidae, with pseudobranchiae, with tapering tail without 
distinct caudal fin, and with the ventral fins each reduced to a 
pair of filaments or a bifid ray inserted just behind the chin at 
the extremity of the clavicle, which is produced forwards as a 
slender rod. 
Small marine, carnivorous fishes, from the Atlantic and 
Southern Pacific coasts as well as from great depths in the 
Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. About 25 species are 
known. Genera: Ophidium, Lepophidium, Genypterus. 
Fam. 15. Podatelidae.— Mouth inferior, protractile, toothless 
or with minute teeth. Praecaudal vertebrae with transverse 
processes, to which the ribs are attached. Guill-membranes 
narrowly attached to isthmus; 8 or 9 branchiostegal rays; gills 
4; no pseudobranchiae. Supratemporal loosely attached by 
ligament to the skull; scapula cartilaginous, perforate, bearing 
the base of the pectoral fin, which is an undivided cartilaginous 
plate; coracoid small, ossified. Ventral fins jugular, each re- 
duced to a single stout filament made up of two intimately 
coherent rays. Body short, tail elongate and tapering, com- 
1 Cf. Poey, Mem. Cuba, ii. p. 96 (1860). 
J P 
