43 Mr. Peck's account of four remarlabk Tijheu 



Tlie caudal or tail ^fiii is rounded and fupported by XXII 

 branched rays, and marked with numerous black dots. 



. From the above particulars, this fifh appears to be a fpeciej 

 of Ophidinm .or Snakefiili, and approaches jnofl nearly tlie 

 Ophidium imberbe of Linnsus, which he fays, is an inhabit- 

 ant of the Baltic, and often found within the fliells of ojflers 

 He obferves alfo that the dorfal fin has ten foots :* but the 

 fpecimen above defcribed is above nineteen inches in length, 

 and the back fin of an uniform colour. It may be called for 



w 



the prefent Qphtdium {^ imberbe) maxiUh imberbibus, cauda 

 rotimdata^ phmd dorfi tinicolore. It was taken in a muddy 

 creek in the river Pifcataqua, and is tlie only individual of 

 this genus that I have .met with. 



Whetlier it is in fad: a variety of the Ophidium imberbe of 

 Linne^ or a new fpecies, time may difcover. It is fketched at 



fig. I. 



• r 



V. 



Kg. II. (Plate II) reprefents a fifh -which was brought me in. 



the month of Augufl. The body of this fifli is nearly ovate, 

 comprefled, and .its breadth is equal to jibput one third of its 

 length; thickefl in .the piiddle,; gently convex, and becom- 

 ing thinner to an t^%^y at the back and abdomen. The colour 

 of the back is dark, efpeciajly the head, wliich is nearly black 

 and deftitute of fcales. 



w 



The head is comprefTed and declining from its union with 

 the body to tlie nofe ,; of the fame thickefs with the body ; 

 and from the extremity of tjie upper lip, to the angle of the 



H' W 



opening 



• Fauna fvecica edit, zda* Stockholm, 1-761, page 114, 



