124 CLASS XIV. 



fins. Sandlaunce; a figure is to be found in YAEBELL British Fishes, u. 

 p. 322. 



The ovary is single, but divided by a partition ; the oviduct is wide, and 

 more to the left side, inserted in the ovary almost at a right angle ; an 

 appendage of the ovary extends behind the vent into the tail. See RATHKE 

 in MUELLER'S Archiv f. d. Physiol. vi. s. 597, 598. 



The position of this genus in a natural arrangement is doubtful. It has 

 no agreement however with the preceding family except in the absence of 

 ventral fins. 



Ophidium L. Body oblong, ensiform, covered with small scales 

 immersed in the skin. Small teeth in jaws, in vomer and palate. 

 Dorsal and anal fins connate with caudal. Pectoral fins. Branchial 

 aperture larger, with six or seven short rays. 



Sp. Ophidium larlatum L., BLOOH Ichth. Tab. 159, fig. i ; four barbules 

 below the under jaw. This species occurs in the Mediterranean Sea. The 

 skeleton is remarkable for a bony apparatus at the first vertebra, which 

 serves for fixing the swimming-bladder. It is figured in ROSENTHAL 

 Ichthyot. Tafeln, Tab. 22, figs. 7, 8. Pyloric appendages are wanting in 

 this genus, with the exception of Ophidium blacodes, where there are six ; 

 MUELLER iiber den Bau u. die Grenzen der Ganoiden, s. 61. The teeth in 

 the jaws are like cards, and are placed in several rows close together ; 

 those of the palate are conical, short and roundish. These fishes form the 

 transition to the Gadoidei, and in some degree to Blennius. 



The absence of barbules distinguishes the sub-genus Fierasfer Cuv. 

 (Ophidium imberle L.). Here belong the following sub-genera. 



Machcerium RICHARDSON. 



Compare Annals of Nat. Hist. xn. 1843, pp. 175178, Tab. vi. 

 Echwdon THOMPSON. 



Compare Trans, of the Zool. Society, u. 3, 1839, PP- 2O 7> 2I2 > P1 - 3 8 - 



Enchelyophis MUELL. 



NOTE. The single Species, from the Philippine Isles, Enclielyophis ver~ 

 micularis MUELL., is unknown to me. Pectoral fins none. Vent placed 

 forward, behind branchiae. MUELLER Ganoiden 1. 1. 



III. Malacopterygii subbrachn. Ventral fins placed under the 

 pectoral or in front of them. 



Family XXVI. Gadoidei. Body elongate, scaly; head sym- 

 metrical. Swimming-bladder without pneumatic duct. Pyloric 

 appendages numerous. 



