Fishes taken at Madeira. 165 



Uraleptus Maraldi, Risso, sp. 

 1st D. 11. 2nd D. 60. A. 65. P. 24. V. 7. C. n. 20. n. 



The body is subelliptical, compressed, elongated, much at- 

 tenuated behind, and covered with small cycloid scales. The 

 height compared with the total length is as 1 to 5^. The un- 

 armed head is thick, broad, and flattened above, with a short, 

 obtuse, rounded snout; its length, compared with the total 

 length, is as 1 to 4|. The large eye reaches to the profile of 

 the head, and is contained therein four times; it is distant 

 rather more than a diameter from the tip of the snout, and the 

 space between the eyes is equal to about one diameter and a 

 third. The opercular pieces are covered with scales. The upper 

 jaw is protractile, and the upper border of the mouth is formed 

 entirely of the premaxillary, which is armed with a row (12-16) 

 of small pointed teeth, distant from each other and curving in- 

 wards, behind which is an inner row of minute, sharp, closely- 

 set teeth. In front the inner row becomes double. The maxil- 

 lary is covered with colourless skin, and lies, when the mouth is 

 closed, under the integument behind. The mandible, which is 

 rather shorter than the upper jaw, carries a single row of (9-14) 

 conical, pointed, curving teeth, with minute sharp teeth inter- 

 calated between them. The palatine bones, the vomer, and the 

 tongue are unarmed. The mouth is white inside; the rictus 

 of moderate size. 



There is no nuchal groove. The first dorsal fin is short, but 

 rather higher than the second, and commences a little behind 

 the root of the pectoral fins at the distance of about one-third of 

 the total length of the fish from the snout ; it extends to the 

 second, which is long, is rather higher in front than behind, and 

 reaches almost to the caudal fin. The long anal fin commences 

 almost as far forward as the second dorsal, which it resembles in 

 shape, and ends opposite to its termination, both being angular 

 behind. The pectoral fins are long and pointed ; they are not 

 fleshy, and their rays are slender. The slender ventral fins are 

 inserted in front of the pectoral fins ; their second ray is elon- 

 gate, and the first and third are also long. The caudal fin, 

 composed of delicate rays, is lanceolate, and is equal to about 

 one-ninth of the total length. The vent is far forward, being 

 situate in the first third of the total length. 



The lateral line commences a little above the opercle, and 

 follows the curve of the back for its anterior half; it then de- 

 scends rather rapidly, but is horizontal on the posterior third of 

 the body. There is no barbel on the chin. 



The colour is a dark brownish grey, with a black throat and 

 pale-red pectoral fins ; the other fins are of a dark indigo hue. 



Two examples of this fish have occurred, and these were taken 



