AULOPYGE HUGELII. 127 



The ventral and pectoral fins are moderately developed ; the pectorals do not 

 reach to the ventrals, nor the ventrals to the anal. The caudal fin is evenly 

 lobed and deeply notched. The lateral line is in the middle of the body, but 

 is irregularly waved and curved ; it opens externally by simple pores, which are 

 placed iii close series. The orbital branches of the cephalic canal are very 

 distinct, but the mandibular branch is obscure. 



Tne male Aulopyge is always smaller than the female, and rather ap- 

 proaches to the shape of the Minnow, Leuciscns phoxinus. The height of body 

 is less than in the female, the curve of the back is flatter, the dorsal fin is 

 higher, the pectoral shorter, the anal fin commences farther forward, and the 

 caudal often contains two more jointed rays than are found in the tail fin of 



Fig. 54. AULOPYGE HUGELII (HECKEI.). MALE. 



the female. Fig. 55 shows the pharyngeal teeth. There is no trace of the 

 cloacal tube, the vent being in front of the anal fin, and the intestinal and 

 urogenital openings being behind each other, in the usual way. 



The young fish has a relatively longer head, the body being only three and 

 a half times as long as the head. The height of the body is relatively less, 

 the eyes are relatively larger, the frontal region is smaller, with a convex 

 frontal outline, and the dorsal fin is as high as the body is deep. 



In this fish the ground colour is silvery, becoming greenish towards the 

 sides and on the back. The sides often show brownish or blackish spots and 

 dots, which may be like scattered powder (Fig. 53) or gathered into large 

 patches or broad bands. The iris is greenish-yellow. The fins are yellowish- 

 grey, but the dorsal and caudal fins have their rays marked with more or less 

 regular transverse rows of black spots. 



The internal organs present some distinctive modifications. There is no 

 distinct stomach, and there are no pyloric appendages to the stomach. The 

 biliary duct opens, as in the genus Anableps, well above the stomach. 

 The intestine makes three convolutions as it coils down the entire length of 



