268 MALACOP. APODES. EEL FAMILY. 



name in the Memoirs of the Wernerian Society.* 

 Cuvier appears, however, to have entertained some 

 doubt as to Montagu's fish being the true Linnean 

 0. imlerbe. t Jenyns, Yarrell, and some other au- 

 thors, receive it as such, but some further informa- 

 tion on the subject seems necessary to clear away all 

 difficulties. 



The length of Colonel Montagu's fish was about 

 three inches, depth about a quarter of an inch : 

 head very obtuse ; eyes large ; body compressed 

 towards the tail ; pectoral fin rounded ; dorsal com- 

 mencing immediately above the base of the pectoral ; 

 anal commencing at the vent, and, together with the 

 dorsal, uniting with the caudal, which is wedge- 

 shaped. Colour purplish brown, disposed in minute 

 speckles. 



(Sp. 199.) 0. barbatum. Bearded Ophidium. 

 The claims of this species to be admitted into our 

 lists of native fishes, rest on very doubtful au- 

 thority. Berkenhout introduced it into his synopsis, 

 but without mentioning any of the circumstances 

 which led him to do so, and when we consider that 

 he altogether omitted O. imberbe, which had been 

 previously described, such authority does not seem 

 entitled to much weight. No subsequent zoologist 

 has met with it in our seas. It is a well known 

 rish in the Mediterranean, where it is captured with 

 nets, and used for the table, although its flesh is 



* Vol. i. p. 95, pi. 4, fig. 2. 



t Regne Animal, t. ii. p. 359 (note). 



