THE OPHIDIUM. 167 



Genus XVIII— !2l.^ OpUdium 



The fifiies of this genua are two ; the one has a number 

 of barbs hanging over from the lower jaw, while the o- 

 ther wants thefe, but in all other refpeds appears the 

 fame. The ophidlum has a great refemblance, in fhape, 

 to fome of the tribe of eels, but is of inferior fize. Be- 

 lonius aflerts that thofe in the Mediterranean are not a- 

 bove a handbreadth. The back is cinereous ; the fides 

 of a filver colour : There are no fcalcs, but in their place 

 a number of oblong fpots here and there difperfed over the 

 body ; the mouth is large, and exafperated with a num- 

 ber of fmall teeth round the palate and jaws ; the eyes 

 are large, covered with a pellucid membrane : There* is 

 only one pair of fins near the branchiae; the dorfal fia 

 takes its rife not far behind the head, from whence it 

 proceeds along the back, lurrounds the tall, and termi- 

 nates below at the anus. The body is exactly divided 

 by a lateral line, which extends along each fide from the 

 head to the tail f . 



Ophidion Plinii. Ophidium, Guan. 

 I Vide Guan. liift. Pifcium, p. 117. 



