70 



XIV— BLENNIIDJE. 



CHASMODES, Cuv. & Val. 

 C. boscianus. 



Sk Eanded Chasmodes. 



This peculiar small fish has an oblong, naked body. Head 

 thick ; its length in the total length as one to three and a 

 half. Mouth excessively cleft, and extending to the posterior 

 margin of the orbit. Snout slightly produced, with the upper 

 profile oblique. Teeth very fine, and crowded together like 

 the teeth on a fine comb, on the anterior part of the jaws ; 

 those above are blunt-pointed, and about 50 in number; those 

 below are acute, recurved, and of about the same number ; 

 no canines. Lateral line indistinct, and obsolete behind. 

 The aperture of the branchial rays is reduced to a small 

 opening above the base of the pectoral. The dorsal fin is 

 equal throughout its whole length, and equals in height one- 

 third of the depth of the body; it unites with the caudal upon 

 one-quarter of the latter fin. The anal fin is distinct from 

 the caudal ; it commences about the middle of body. Yen- 

 trals two-rayed, with a filamentous termination, and about 

 one-sixth of the total length. Caudal fin rounded. A very 

 small tentacle (often absent) above the orbit. Greyish, with 

 brown colored clouds, forming sometimes six broad, clouded, 

 vertical bands. Length, 2 to 3 inches. 



Fin-rays :— D. 29 ; P. 14 ; V. 2 ; A. 19 ; C. 15. 



Blennius hosquianus, Lacep. II, pi. 13, fig. 1. 



— pJiolis, Mitch. Phil. & Lit. Trans. N. Y. I, p. 374. 



Ckasmodes hoscianiis, Cuv. & Yal. XI, p. 295, pi. 327; 

 Dekay, New York Faun. Fish. p. 151, pi. 24, fig. 73. 



This peculiar fish seems to be rather common in many parts 

 of the Chesapeake Bay, in localities where oysters are found. 

 All the specimens were obtained from different oyster^bars, 

 and invariably inhabiting the dead and empty oyster-shells, 

 called "snuJSf-boxes." When taken out of their retreat, they 



