ICHTHYOLOGY. 



be the most numerous as well as the most perfect of 

 those n'r"l which breathe by means of gills. 



DIVISION V. 

 Osseous fishes furnished with 



693 



Fishes. 



ORDER XVII. APODAL. 



were formerly included among the Gymnoti ; but the Classics. 

 presence of pectoral fins is a sufficiently obvious line of tion of 

 distinction. The first species, N. kapirat, of La Ce- 

 pede, is a native of the seas at Amboyna. It is there 

 gill-lid and a gill- named Pengay, or Kapirat. This last has been em- 

 ployed as the trivial name in the system, in defiance of 

 the established maxims of the science. The second spe- 

 cies is the N. squamosus, a native likewise of the In- 

 dian seas. 



GENUS XXV. CECILIA. 



No fins ; opening of the gills under the neck. 



This genus was instituted by La Cepede, for the re- 

 ception of the Mura-na carca of Gmelin It is destitute 

 of eye* on the exterior, and its true place in the system 

 has not been satisfactorily determined. It is probable 

 that it has fixed branchke, and is nearly related to the 

 Gastrobrsnchus. 



GENUS XXVI. MONOPTERUS. 



A caudal fin, but destitute of all others ; gill open- 

 ion situated between the eyes. 



The only species of this genus, is described by La. 

 Cepede from the manuscripts of Commenon. It is a 

 native of the Indian seas. 



GENUS XXVII. LEPTOCEPHALUS. 



Anal and dorsal fins, but no pectoral or caudal ones ; 

 bead small, body greatly compressed. 



This groui was instituted by Gronovius, from an ex- 

 ample sent to him by Pennant This last author ob- 

 tained it from Holyhead, through the kindness of Mr 

 Morris. Donovan seems disposed to consider this as a 

 spurious genus, and to conclude that the Leptocephalus- 

 morrisii is nothing more than a young and mutilated ex- 

 ample of the Blennius gunnellus. But the late additions 

 which have been made to the history of the L. morrisy 

 in the new edition of the British Zoology, and by Mon- 

 tagu hi the Memoirs of the Wemerian Society, vol. ii. 

 p. 437, have removed all doubts on the subject. M. Ris- 

 o is inclined to add another species to this genus, term- 

 ed L. Spoilsman! ; but the shape of the body is so dis- 

 similar, being cylindrical, that we fear it does not be- 

 long to this genus. 



Gsm-s XXVIII. GVMNOTUS. 



Destitute of dorsal and caudal fins, but furnished with 

 pectoral and anal fins. 



This genus include* six species, the most remarkable 

 of which is the G. electricus, which possesses the same 

 In-numbing power a* the torpedo, and whose history 

 ha* been given in detail under the article ELECTRI- 

 < ITV, vol. viii. p. 472. 



GENUS XXIX. TRICHIUHUS. Dlade-Fiih. 



No caudal fin ; body compressed ; gill lids placed near 

 the eyes. 



This genus contain* two species. The first, T. elec- 

 tricus, is distinguished by its electrical properties. It 

 M a native of the Indian seas, and was first described 

 by Willoughby under the title Anguills Indies. The 

 second species, T. lepturus, inhabits the fresh waters, 

 and probably ought to be separated from the former, as 

 it is destitute of electrical organs. 



GE.IUS XXX. NOTOPTERUS. 



Pectoral, anal, and dorsal fins present, no caudal fin ; 

 body very short. 

 The two known specie* which constitute this genus, 



GENUS XXXI. OPHISURUS. 



N'o caudal fin ; body and tail cylindrical, and long in 

 proportion to the thickness; head small; nostrils tu- 

 bular. 



The three species of this genus have been called by 

 fishermen sea serpents, from their form and motions. 

 They twist themselves in various directions with asto- 

 nishing facility, and, when swimming, perform all their 

 evolutions like the serpents. The O. ophis is a native 

 of the European seas. The second, O. serpens, is found 

 in greatest abundance in the Mediterranean. 



GENUS XXXII. TRIURUS. 



Snout extended like a tube ; one tooth in each jaw ; 

 caudal fin very short. 



The only known species of this genus was found by 

 Commerson in the south seas, and termed by La Ce- 

 pede, T. Bougaiuvillianus. In its general aspect and 

 ,-izc it bears a considerable resemblance to the common 

 herring. He first observed them in the stomach of 

 other fishes of the genus Scomber, which he had open- 

 ed immediately upon being caught. We mention this 

 fact, for the purpose of informing the inexperience! ich- 

 thyologist, that in ?uch situations he may often meet 

 with some of the rarest objects of his pursuit, and in -a 

 condition still fit for a minute examination. 



GENUS XXXIII. APTEZIONOTUS. 



Jaws fixed ; no dorsal fin ; possessing a caudal fin. 



La Cepede formed this genus for the reception of the 

 Gymnotus albefrons of Gmelin, whose trivial name he 

 has changed for that of Passan, by which it was desig- 

 nated by Daubenton. It presents some peculiarities of 

 structure, which merit an attentive examination. From 

 the upper part of the body, between the dorsal fin and 

 the head, there issues a fleshy filament, which, after di- 

 minishing somewhat in size, and describing an arch, be- 

 comes again united with the body near the organ of the 

 caudal fin. The filament is convex above and concave 

 below, and is connected throughout its whole length by 

 twelve short oblique filaments to the subjacent furrow 

 into which it is received. 



This curious species was first described by the cele- 

 brated Pallas, from a specimen in the collection of the 

 Petersburg!! Academy. Afterwards La Cepede add- 

 ed to its history, having had an opportunity of ex- 

 amining a more perfect specimen in the museum at 

 Paris. 



GENUS XXXIV. REGALECUS. 



With pectoral, dorsal, and caudal fins ; no anal fin, 

 nor spines in place of it ; body and tail lengthened. 



There are two species belonging to this genus. The 

 one inhabits the northern seas, and in Norway is called 

 King of Herrings. It was first particularly described 

 by Ascanius. It is very nearly related to the genera 

 Ophisttrus and Trichiurus. The other species, R. lan- 

 ceolatus, has been described from a Chinese drawing ot 

 a fish in the Dutch collection. 



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