FISHES EMBIOTOCOIDAE ENNICHTHYS HEERMANNI. 



199 



List of specimens. 



2. ENNICHTHYS HEERMANNI, G- r d . 

 PLATE XXXVIII ; and, PLATE XXVI, Fig. 9. 



SPEC. CHAR. General form sub-elliptical ; snout sub-conical ; mouth moderate ; posterior extremity of maxillary even with 

 a vertical line intersecting the centre of the pupil. Eyes of medium size. Branchiostegals six. About sixty-two scales in 

 lateral line. Back olivaceous, sides and abdomen silver and golden; flank with indistinct transverse bars or bands. Fins 

 unicolor, yellowish and greyish. 



SYN. Jlmphistichus heermanni, GRD. in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. VII, 1854, 135. 

 Ennichthys heermanni, GRD. in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. VII, 1855, 323. 



The general form of the body is sub-elliptical, rather deep upon its middle. The greatest 

 depth enters about twice and a half in the total length. The back is more regularly arched 

 and the abdominal outline more regular than in E. megalops. 



The head constitutes the fourth of the total length, leaving out the furcated portion of 

 the caudal fin. Its upper surface is less depressed than in E. megalops. The mouth is also 

 much less oblique, hence the extremity of the maxillary extends more backwards, compared to 

 the eye, than in E. megalops. The teeth are somewhat stouter than in the latter species. The 

 tongue is large, broad, and thin. The eye is of medium size, sub-circular in shape ; their 

 horizontal diameter being contained about four times in the length of the side of the head, 

 exactly once in advance of the anterior rim of the eye and twice posteriorly to it. The cheeks 

 are covered with four sub-concentrical and irregular rows of scales. Six or seven oblique rows 

 may be detected on the opercle. There are six well developed branchiostegal rays on either side. 



The spinous portion of the dorsal, formed of nine rays, is rrghest upon the fourth; the ante 

 rior three are the lowest. From the fourth spine the remaining ones gradually diminish to the 

 ninth, which is a little shorter than the anterior articulated ray, thus causing a depression in 

 the upper outline of the entire fin. The base over which the articulated rays extend is not 

 twice the length of that of the spinous portion. Bifurcations of the second degree may be 

 observed upon the middle rays. The base of the anal enters four times and a half in the total 

 length. A row of small scales may be observed over its base. Its external outline is somewhat 

 concave, and anteriorly there are three spiny rays shorter than any of the articulated ones. 

 The latter exhibit traces of a subdivision of the second degree. The caudal constitutes a little 

 less than the fifth of the entire length. The scales occupying its base are proportionally larger 

 than in E. megalops. The longest rays subdivide four times. The insertion of the ventrals is 

 situated under the vertical line of the second dorsal spine. The articulated rays of these fins 

 subdivide three times, and the external spine is stout at the base and very acute upon its apex. 

 The pectorals are well developed ; their entire base is situated in advance of a vertical line 



