EUROPEAN FILE-FISH. 359 



body is rather less than half the whole length of the fish, the 

 tail included in both measurements : the body compressed ; 

 the surface hard ; the scales arranged in oblique lines over 

 the whole breadth ; no lateral line observable, except along 

 the middle of the fleshy portion of the tail : the mouth small 

 and narrow ; the visible teeth four on each side the centre 

 above and below, incisor-like or cutting ; the forehead wide 

 between the eyes, which are small, enclosed in well-defined 

 orbits ; the branchial orifice an elongated aperture commen- 

 cing in the front at the base of the pectoral fin, and ascending 

 obliquely backward ; pectoral fin of small size : first spine of 

 the first dorsal fin in a vertical line over the branchial orifice, 

 the second close behind and attached by a strong ligament ; 

 the third spine removed to a distance, but connected by a 

 membrane : the second dorsal fin is high anteriorly and long, 

 commencing in a vertical line before the commencement of 

 the anal fin, but both ending on the same plane, and far 

 short of the base of the caudal rays ; in advance of the anal 

 fin is a strong rough keel, which has some resemblance to 

 ventral fins : the fleshy portion of the tail free, and rather 

 long ; the rays nearly square at the end, large and strong. 

 The fin-rays in number are 



D. 3. 28 : P. 15 : A. 26 : C. 14. 



The colour in the dried specimen is nearly a uniform pale 

 brown ; rather darker on the back ; becoming lighter on the 

 belly, and particularly on the under surface of the head : 

 the naked gums smooth and dark brown. Living specimens 

 are said to be tinged and even spotted with blue ; and it is 

 probable that an individual in this state has furnished the 

 material on which B. maculatus of Bloch is founded : the 

 irides are described as green. 



The whole length of the Museum specimen is nine inches 

 and a half ; the depth four inches and three-eighths without 

 the dorsal or anal fins. 



