SYNOPSIS. 407 



and as thin as tape ; eyes large ; lateral line straight and 

 near the middle, sides marked with a double series of lines 

 which meet in the lateral line at an acute angle : dorsal 

 and anal very low, and meeting at the hinder extremity 

 when they form a pointed caudal ; colour pale white, with 

 an opalescent appearance. Pemi. Brit. Zool., iii. p. 212, 

 pi. 28 ; Yarr. Brit. Fish., ii. p. 409. 



GEN. XCIV. OPHIDIUM. Head smooth, body opaque, elon- 

 gated, and compressed ; dorsal, anal, and caudal united ; pec- 

 torals pretty large ; dorsal rays articulated ; gill-opening mo- 

 derately large. 



Sp. 1 98. 0. imberbe. Beardless Ophidium. Head short and 

 very obtuse ; teeth on both jaws, as well as on the palate 

 and pharynx ; pectorals rounded ; dorsal commencing 

 over the base of the pectorals, anal at the vent, the tail 

 oval at the extremity ; colour purplish brown disposed in 

 minute speckles ; ten small blue spots along the base of 

 the anal fin Linn., Perm. Brti. ZooL, iii. p. 208, pi. 29 ; 

 Mont. Mem. Wern. Soc. i. p. 95, pi. 4 2 ; Yarr. Brit. 

 Fish., ii. p. 412. 



Sp. 199. 0. barbatum. Bearded Ophidium. Body tapering 

 gradually to the tail from a little before the middle; 

 under jaw with four barbules which unite into one at the 

 base ; body flesh-colour with a silvery lustre, occasionally 

 slightly clouded. Linn., Jenyns Brit. Vert., p. 481 ; Yarr. 

 Brit. Fish., ii. p. 415. Donzelle commune, Cuv. Reg. An. 

 GEN. XCV. ECHIODON. Jaws with large conical curved teeth 

 in front ; dorsal and anal fins nearly as long as the body ; gill- 

 apertures large ; branchioategous membrane with seven rays ; 

 body compressed, elongated, without scales. 



Sp. 200. E. Drummondii. Drummond's Echiodon. Mouth 

 rather obliquely cleft , two large incurved teeth at each 

 extremity of the upper jaw, one on each side of the under 

 jaw ; dorsal fin commencing a short distance from the 

 head, anal a little in advance, both low at first, but gradu- 

 ally increasing in height, uniting behind to form a pointed 

 caudal ; colour of the anterior half a dull flesh tint, hinder 



