172 Mr. J. Y. Johnson on Fishes from Madeira. 



those of the inner row. In the lower jaw there is but a single 

 row of teeth, and these are similar in form to the teeth in the 

 outer row above. The palatines, vomer, and tongue are un- 

 armed. The mouth is white within, and the tongue is only free 

 near the tip. The chin carries a small barbel. 



The first dorsal fin is much higher than the second ; it com- 

 mences at a distance from the snout equal to a httle more than 

 the length of the head. It is highest in front, where its height 

 is about three-fourths of that of the body under it; but its 

 longest rays, when pressed to the body, do not nearly reach back 

 to the commencement of the second dorsal. The first spine is 

 not serrated. 



The second dorsal fin unites, like the anal, with the caudal. 



The pointed pectoral fins are inserted under the first dorsal 

 fin, and are about half as long as the head. 



The short ventral fins have their roots under the roots of the 

 pectoral fins. 



The vent is distant from the snout about one-fifth of the total 

 length, and the anal fin commences shortly behind it under the 

 root of the pectorals. 



The lateral line in the anterior part of the body follows the 

 curve of the back ; it descends rather rapidly behind the tip of 

 the pectoral fin, and is straight along the middle of the body 

 and tail. 



Difierences in the dentition, the scales, the configuration of 

 the sides of the head, the position of the vent, and the structure 

 of the ventral fins, distinguish this species from the preceding 

 one ; whilst both may be discriminated from M. serratus by the 

 simple, not serrated, first spine of the first dorsal fin. 



The following measurements were taken from the single spe- 

 cimen that has occurred, now in the British Museum : — 



Total length 14i 



Height under first dorsal 2 



Thickness of body near pectoral ^ 



Head, length 2^ 



„ thickness behind eyes 1^- 



SuGut, distance from tip to mouth ^ 



Eye, longer axis -f^ 



Upper jaw, length 1 y2__ 



First dorsal, distance from snout 2^ 



height ly% 



Second dorsal, distance from snout 4^ 



Pectorals, length Iy2^ 



Vent, distance from tip of under jaw 2^ 



Ventrals, distance from vent i 



Barbel j?3- 



