17S FISHES. 



where two other species are also to be met with ; the flanks of the 

 one, Esox reticularis, Lesueur, Ac. Nat. Sc. Philad., are marked 

 with brownish lines, sometimes resembling net-work; the other, 

 Esox Estor, Id. lb. I, 413, is sprinkled with round blackish spots. 



Galaxias, Cuv. 



The Galaxies have no apparent scales on the body; the mouth is 

 slightly cleft; moderate and pointed teeth in the palatines and two jaws; 

 nearly the whole edge of the upper one being formed by the intermaxil- 

 lary; a few strong, hooked teeth on the tongue. The sides of the head 

 present some pores, and the dorsal is opposite to the anal as in a true 

 Pike, the intestines of which theirs also resemble*. 



* Alepocephalus, Risso, 



Possess the same general form, but the head only is deprived of scales, 

 the body being covered with broad ones; their mouth is small, and the 

 teeth extremely delicate and crowded ; very large eyes, and eight branchial 

 rays. 



Al. rostratus, Risso, 2nd ed. f. 27, and Mem. Acad. Turin, 



XXV, pi. x, f. 24. The only species known; it is taken in the 



depths of the Mediterranean. 



♦ Microstoma, Cuv., 



Have a very short snout; the lower jaw projecting beyond the upper one, 

 and furnished, as well as the small intermaxillaries, with very minute 

 teeth ; three broad and flat rays in the branchiae : the eye large, the body 

 elongated, and the lateral line covered with a row of stout scales; a single 

 dorsal a short distance behind the ventrals; intestines like those of a 

 Pike. 



But a single species is known, the Serge microstome, Risso, p. 

 356. It inhabits the Mediterranean. 



• Stomias, Cuv., 



Have the snout extremely short, and the mouth cleft almost to the gills; 

 the opercula reduced to little membranous laminae, and the maxillaries 

 fixed to the cheek. The intermaxillary, palatine, and mandibulary bones 

 armed with a few long and hooked teeth; similar ones on the tongue. 

 The body is elongated; the ventrals quite far back, and the dorsal oppo- 

 site to the anal on the posterior extremity of the body. 



Two species of these singular fishes were discovered by Risso in 

 the Mediterranean: they are black, and ornamented along the belly 

 with several rows of silvery points. One of them, Esox boa, Risso, 

 1st ed. pi. x, f. 34, and 2nd ed. f. 40, has no cirri; the other, Sto- 

 mias barbatus, is furnished with very long and thick ones attached to 

 the symphysis of the lower jaw. 



* Esox truttaceus, Cuv. ; — Esox alepidotus, Forst. 



