FfSHES. 



569 



and maxillary bones are rather sparingly furnished with teeth, and 

 these are long and hooked. Similar teeth. are observable on the 

 tongue. The ventral fins are placed far back, and the dorsal fin is 

 placed opposite the anal fin, on the hinder extremity of the body. 

 Only two species of this genus are known: the one of the 



F| g- 374. --Adult Green and Red varieties of Labrus communis. 



Mediterranean, Stomias boa (Fig. 378), the other of the Atlantic 

 Ocean. S. barbatus, so called from the long barbula on the chin. 

 Both species are black in colour, with numerous small silvery spots 

 on the abdomen. The body of S. boa is thin, compressed, covered 

 with little thin scales of blackish blue, much spotted on the back and 

 abdomen, a little brighter on the sides ; the head, in some respects, 

 recalling that of a serpent. 



Of the former division we have the Labrida. This family contains 



