20 



VI. Leptocephahis, its Generic Characters, with a 

 Description of 07ie Species. 



LEPTOCEPHALUS. 



Leptocephalus, Gronov., Peun., Cuv., &c. 



Corpus conjpressimum, elongatum : Caput parvum ; Os 



dentibus acutissimis tenuibus di&tantibus instructum. 

 Pinnce pectorales parvae ; dorsalis et analis ad caudain 



coalitae. 



Obs. Corporis latera lineis angulatis impressis notata. 



This genus is so little kfiOwn to naturalists in general, 

 that its existence has often been questioned. It was first 

 discovered by Pennant, who sent it to Gronovius, by w hom 

 it was named Leptocephalus "*, 



Sp. 1. Leptocephalus Morrisii. 



L. ventre et lateribus utrinque linea e punctis nigris distan- 



tibus confecta notatis. 

 Leptocephalus Morrisii. Peun. Brit. Zool. 3. 158./;. 67. 



Cuv.Rcg.J/um.2.Q3S. 



Habitat in Europss mari in ajstuaria intrans. 



■* 



* Amongst the animals discovered by the zoologist to the Congo 

 expedition, two species of a genus nearly allied to Leptocephalus occur. 

 Their head is smaller and more pointed : rudiments only of the dorsal 

 and anal fins appear at the tail ; and no pectoral fins can be discovered. 

 Their bodies are more compressed, but are marked in the same mannef 

 with impressed zigzag lines, and the teeth are the same. 



