182 PISCES. 



spotted with violet. The Call, dracuncidus, Bl. 162, only differs 

 from it in the first dorsal being short and without the filament; 

 several authors consider it the female. Some others are found 

 in the Mediterranean, such as 



Call, lacerta, Cuv.j Rend. 304, and not so well, Call, pusillus, 

 Laroche, Ann. Mus. XIII, xxv, 16. First dorsal low; the se- 

 cond much elevated in the male; silvery points, and white, black- 

 edged lines on the flanks; the caudal long and pointed. (l) The 



Trichonotus, Schn. 



Appears to be a mere Callionymus, with a very elongated body, 

 whose single dorsal and anal have a corresponding length. The 

 two first rays of the dorsal, extended into long setag, represent the 

 first dorsal of the Common Callionymus. The branchiae, however, 

 are said to be well cleft. (2) 



CoMEPHORUs, Lacep. 



First dorsal very low; the muzzle oblong, broad and depressed; 



gills much cleft, with seven rays; very long pectorals, and what 



constitutes their distinguishing character, a total absence of ventrals. 



But one species is known, from lake Baikal, the Callionymus 



baicalensis, Pall. Nov. Act. Petrop. I, ix, 1; a foot long, of a soft 



fatty substance, from Avhich oil is obtained by compression. It 



is only to be had when dead, after a storm. 



Platypterusj Kuhl and Van Hassel. 



The broad and separated ventrals of a Callionymus; a short de- 

 pressed head; the mouth small, and branchiae open; scales broad; 

 the two dorsals short and separated. (3) 



It is with some hesitation that I close this family with a ge- 

 nus which will one day probably form the type of a separate 

 family; I mean the 



(1) The Call, diacanthus, Carmich., Lin. Trans. XII, pi. xxvi, does not appear 

 to me to belong to this genus. The Call, tndicus, Lin. is nothing more than the 

 Platycephalus spatula, Bl. 424. Add, Call, cithara, Cuv.; — C. jaculus, and other 

 new MediteiTanean specie?; and of species foreign to Europe, the C. onentalis, 

 Schn., pi. vi; C. ocellatus, Pall. VIII, pi. iv, f. 13;— C. sagitta, Id. lb., f. 4, 5; and 

 some others to be described in our Icthyology. 



(2) Trichonotus setigerus, Bl., Schn., pi. 39. 



(3) Platyptera melanocephala, K., and V. H.; Fl. trigonocepkala. Id., two fishes 

 from India to be described in our Icthyology. 



