KOSTRATED OPHIDIUM. 



Ophidium Rostiatum 0. rostro acummato longissimo. 

 Ophidium with extremely long sharp-pointed snout. 

 Ophidium aculeatum. O. rostro acuminato. Lin. Syst. Nat. 



Gmel.p. 1147. 



Ophidium rostratum. Block. 5. p. 60. t. 15./. 2. 

 Pentopthalmos. Will Ichth. Append, t. 10. f. 1. 



THIS species is much allied to the O. Mastacem- 

 balus, having a series of dorsal spines, and two or 

 three immediately before the vent-fin. It is readily 

 distinguished by the very great elongation of the 

 upper lip, which terminates in a very sharp, slender 

 snout : the head is small, and the body very long, 

 and somewhat compressed : the gill-covers large, and 

 the gill membrane lax : the lateral line is placed 

 near the- back: the dorsal fin commences at no 

 great distance from the tail, but is not united with 

 it as in the former species : the vent-fin is about the 

 same length, and is situated in a correspondent 

 manner beneath : the tail, which is distinct from 

 both, is of an ovate form, and rather small : the 

 pectoral fins are of moderate size, and of an oval 

 shape : the number of dorsal spines is fourteen, and 

 of those before the vent-fin two : the colour of this 

 fish is rufous brown above, silvery on the sides and 

 beneath : the dorsal fin is variegated with oblique 

 dusky streaks, and is marked with from two to five 

 round, black spots, each surrounded by a pale yel- 

 lowish circle. 



