584 MR. G. A. BOULKNGER ON A NEW BLENNIOID FISH. [NoV. 1.5, 



Gill-membranes broadly connected, but free from isthmus ; branchio- 

 stegals four. Dorsal fin very long, extending from the nape to the 

 caudal, with which it is subcoiitinuous ; a few of the posterior rays 

 are stiff spines, the rest being soft, though not articulate ; anal fin 

 extending from the anus, which is a little nearer the anterior than 

 the posterior extremity, to the caudal, formed exclusively of soft 

 rays; caudal distinct, rounded. Pectorals well developed, with 21 

 rays. No ventrals. No lateral line. No prominent anal papillae. 

 Pyloric appendages present. 



As the name 1 have chosen for this genus indicates, this is one of 

 those numerous forms which might almost equally well be referred 

 to the Blenniidce or to the OphidiidcB. The presence of pyloric 

 appendages and the absence of prominent anal papillae might induce 

 us to include it among the Gadoids, as defined by Giinther, whilst 



BUnnio'phidium petropauli. f . 



the presence of spines in the dorsal fin, together with the un- 

 mistakable affinity it bears to Cebedichthys, indicate its correct place 

 to be among the Blenniidce, 



Blenniophidium petropauli, sp. n. 



Depth of body 65 times in total length (without caudal) ; length 

 of head same as depth of body. Diameter of eye equal to length of 

 snout, \ length of head, and a little more than interorbital width ; 

 maxillary extending to below anterior fourth of eye ; some wide 

 pores on the head ; cheeks, opercles, and occiput closely scaled ; 

 strips of small scales on the brauchiostegal membrane, between the 

 rays. Dorsal 41 XI, continuous and subequal in depth, about \ as 

 deep as the body. Anal 37. Pectoral | length of head, about as 

 long as caudal. Anus twice as far from caudal as from base of 

 pectoral. Yellowish brown, with ill-defined darker marblings ; a 

 crescentic black line on the top of the head, from eye to eye ; a 

 black line, obliquely directed forwards, below the eye, and another, 

 in opposite direction, from the eye to the opercle ; two dark brown 

 streaks across the nape, the second crossing the origin of the dorsal 

 fin and extending to the base of the pectoral ; dorsal and caudal 

 fins greyish olive, lighter at the base, the dorsal with five large black 

 spots at regular intervals : pectorals and anal colourless. 



Total length 140 millira. 



The single specimen, which is represented above, two thirds 



