FISH. 167 
row on each palatine. Pharynx also armed with strong teeth; but the tongue, which is free at 
the tip, and rounded, smooth. Eyes large and prominent, and elevated rather above the line 
of the profile: their diameter one-fourth the length of the head; their distance from the end 
of the snout one diameter; the interocular space reduced to a narrow channel, and scarcely 
equalling half a diameter. 
Opercle of a triangular form; subopercle lanceolate, projecting further than the opercle, 
and passing upwards and backwards to form the terminating angle of the gill-cover. Gill- 
opening of very moderate extent; the branchial membrane fastened down underneath, with 
five rays. Skin smooth and naked, loose, and probably very mucous in the living fish. Ap- 
parently no lateral line. The edges of both jaws curiously fringed each with a row of 
tubipores, or cutaneous appendages in the form of tubes, having pores at their terminal ex- 
tremities for the exudation of mucus. The row on the upper jaw is continued along the 
margin of the suborbital on to the cheek; that on the lower is carried upwards to form an 
edging to the preopercle. There is also one of these tubipores at each nostril, another behind 
each eye, and a third on each side of the nape. 
The dorsal commences above the terminating angle of the gill-cover, and extends the 
whole length of the body: its height nearly uniform throughout, equalling half the depth : the 
rays slender; all articulated, except the third, which is spinous, and shorter than those which 
precede and follow it; mostly simple, but some of the posterior ones slightly divided at their 
tips. Vent situate beneath the termination of the first quarter of the dorsal. The anal begins 
immediately behind it, and, like the dorsal, is carried on to the end of the body, to unite with 
it in forming a pointed caudal; all the rays soft and delicate. Pectorals rather pointed, with 
the middle rays longest, and about two-thirds the length of the head. Ventrals very minute and 
narrow, of only three rays, and appearing like one filament, about one-third the length of the 
pectorals; attached in front of the pectorals, and nearly in a line with the gill-opening. 
B. 5; D. about 80; A. about 60; C. about 15; P. 16; V. 3. 
Length 5 inc. 9 lin. 
CoLour.—Not noticed in the recent state. In spirits it is nearly colourless, with the exception of 
a dark bluish line along the base of the dorsal; upper part of the head, and nape, also stained 
with the same dark tint. 
Habitat, Archipelago of Chiloe. 
This species was taken by Mr. Darwin under stones. There is but one spe- 
cimen in the collection, and it would be very desirable to see others, in order to 
ascertain whether the circumstance of the third dorsal ray alone being spinous, 
(those that precede as well as follow being articulated), is merely accidental in the 
one above described, or really characteristic of the species. If the latter, it is an 
anomaly,—a single spine thus occurring in the middle of a soft fin,—of which I 
know no other example. 
