140 New Type of Fishes allied to Nemophis. 



Caudal well developed, oblong, emarginated,* with its rays simply 

 articulated, and with an external elongated one above and below. 



Pectoral fins low, angnlar, with the rays slender and simply articu- 

 lated, and the connecting membrane thin and not notched. 



Ventral fins, obsolete. 



Such is the combination of characters which distinguishes 

 this remarkable genus. The result of its examination assures 

 the certainty that the genus is related to the Blennioids, but 

 the peculiar modification of the oral apparatus, the elongated 

 body, and the absence of ventral fins, indicate that it does not 

 belong to the same family, but must be regarded as the repre- 

 sentative of one nearly allied to it. To it, however, the Nemo- 

 phis Lessoni Kaup may possibly be referred. 



The genus Nemophis* was proposed by Kaup for the recep- 

 tion of a fish discovered by Lesson and Garnot, on the Expedi- . 

 tion of Dnperrey, and was regarded as forming " a distinct 

 group among the Riband-shaped Fishes," and as " perhaps the 

 type of a different family which we may call Nemophidez" 

 If by the " Riband-shaped fishes" the Cep>olidce, Trachypte- 

 ridce, Zophotidce, or an}' other allied types are meant, this view 

 is certainly erroneous. Its affinities with the Blennioid alli- 

 ance are obvious, and, as Dr. Giinther has very well remarked, 

 it has with the riband-shaped fishes " nothing in common, 

 except the elongate form." Nemophis is distinguished for its 

 compressed anguilliform body tapering backwards and termi- 

 nating in a slender tail, while the profile is decurved to the jaws 

 and the snout not prominent. It will be therefore necessary, if 

 the new genus and Nemophis are retained in the same family, 

 to consider each as the type of a peculiar sub-family. 



Plagiotremus spilistius, Gill. 



The height at the anus is contained 20 times in the length, exclusive 

 of the caudal, and that at the base of the caudal nearly 30 times. The 



* A species of Nemophis from Madagascar, is in Mr. Brevoort's collection. 



