1889.] FISH FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN. 329 



the larger specimen at its cephalic end two slight furrows run 

 parallel with it ahove 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 a slight 

 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 Eretmophorus 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 gilI-ope7iings 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 



^ C. Emery, " Contribuzioni all' Ittiologia," in Mittheil. a. d. Zool. Station 

 zu Neapel, vi. p. 157, tav. 10. ff. 18, 19. Naples, 1885. 



