1889. ] FISH FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN. 329 
the larger specimen at its cephalic end two slight furrows run 
parallel with it above and beneath. The head is moderate, rather 
large, its length is contained about 5 times in the total exclusive of 
the caudal fin; the snout is short, nearly equal to the transverse 
diameter of the eye, its anterior contour is rounded ; there is aslight 
median gibbosity in front over the mouth. This is moderate, its 
aperture hardly reaching the vertical from the anterior margin of 
the eye. Nostrils in front and a little above the eye, the posterior 
aperture largest and oval. Eye moderate; behind it, extending 
towards the nape and downwards along the preoperculum, are two 
series of conspicuous pores. The space between the eyes is nearly flat 
and rather broader than the diameter of the eye; behind, the nape 
rises convex, presenting a median furrow in front of the first dorsal 
in the older specimen. On the nape, in the larger specimen, are a 
number of very distinct hyaline cylindrical warts, just like those of 
Bellottia except in shape ; the latter have been described by Professor 
Emery * and are nearly hemispherical. In Hretmophorus they begin 
just behind the interocular space and appear to form a double series ; 
in the older specimen I counted eight, but a few more extend towards 
the head of the lateral line ; they are evidently sense-organs allied 
to those of the lateral line. In concluding I must state that these 
warts are not to be seen on the two younger specimens, in which 
they appear to be represented by pores, more numerous and more 
distinct than in the older and larger specimen. 
The gill-openings are rather wide, the branchiostegal membranes 
are largely developed, with robust rays ; the opercular bones are 
smooth and very thin; the branchial cavities contain four complete 
arches. The specimens are so very fragile that I did not dare to 
pursue my investigations further. 
The fins are those of an Anacanthine fish, but I could not see 
any transverse articulations in the first ray of the first dorsal; they 
are not very distinct on the other median fins except on the caudal, 
the only fin with slightly bifid rays; in the other fins the rays are 
simple ; at the base of the long dorsal and anal fins the projecting 
heads of the interspinous bones give rise to a serrated appearance. 
The first dorsal is small, but quite detached from the second one in 
the two larger specimens, it rises just above the insertion of the pec- 
torals; its second ray is the longest and equals in height the 
commencement of the second dorsal fin. This is greatly developed 
and maintains a nearly equal line throughout, but as the body tapers 
towards the tail the fin increases in height in equal ratio. In size, 
shape, and development the anal is the exact counterpart of the second 
dorsal fin. The caudal fin is quite distinct, its contour is lanceolate in 
the smaller specimen, nearly oval in the older one, subtruncate with 
rounded edges in the oldest or biggest specimen. The pectorals are 
distinctly lobate, which character is more marked in the smaller 
specimens ; they are of moderate size and broadly oval in contour. 
The ventrals certainly give the most striking feature to this singular 
1 C. Emery, “Contribuzioni all’ Ittiologia,” in Mittheil. a. d. Zool. Station 
zu Neapel, vi. p. 157, tay. 10. ff. 18,19. Naples, 1885, 
