New Family Type of Fishes related to the Blennioids. 143 



mouth. The family appears to \q most nearly related to the 

 Blennioids, with which it essentially agrees in the structure of 

 the fins, and even in the development of the branchiostegal rays 

 and their exposure; it only differs in degree from those fishes, 

 but the more elongated body and the peculiar modification of 

 the head at once distinguish it ; no anal papilla is developed, 

 at least in the single specimen examined, nor is it probable 

 that it is present in either sex. The whole structure is firm 

 and compact, and presents a considerable contrast to the flabby 

 appearance characteristic of the Blennioids.* 



Chsenopsis ocelflatus, Poey Ms. 



The height is contained about 20 times in the total length ; the head 

 about 4% ; the diameter of the eyes equals or exceeds an eighth of the 

 head's length, is distant about 1\ -diameters from the snout, and its pos- 

 terior margin is rather nearer the angle of the preoperculum than the 

 snout. The height of the dorsal fin in front equals about half the length 

 of the head ; the length of the pectoral is contained between 10 and 11 

 times in the total, and the caudal enters between 16 and 17 times in 

 the length. 



D. xvni. 38. A. ii. 38. C. 15. P. 12. V. 2-3. 



The color is greenish purple ; the dorsal at its anterior angle has an 

 orange ocellated spot. 



A single specimen 4f inches long was obtained by Prof. 

 Poey at Matanzas, and kindly forwarded for my examination. 

 With the Chcenopsis a small specimen of Callionymus\ was 



* I exclude from the Blennioids the genus Murcenoides and its allies, and have 

 constituted for them a peculiar family — Xiphidiontidce. 



f Callionymus has been restricted to species with a single* lateral line, bran- 

 chial apertures on the sides of the nape, and perfect ventral fins. The C. gora- 

 mensis Blkr. may be regarded as a distinct type {Diplogrammus), distinguished 

 by the double lateral line. Synchiropus and Dqctylopus are excellent genera, and 

 the last has been adopted under the name Vulsus, the change of name having 

 been made on account of the existence of the term Dactylopoda, given by Von 

 Meyer to a group of reptiles, as I have been kindly informed by the author of 

 the change. Such extreme views would necessitate very numerous changes in 

 the nomenclature, and are not recognized by naturalists generally. 



