drummond's echiodon. 233 



of the dorsal fin opposite being three times the length of the body ; the 

 first and second anterior rays flexible and simple (?), remainder articu- 

 lated. Pectoral fins originate 1 line behind the head, and are equal to 

 half its length ; central rays longest, all very flexible, jjlaced beloAV the 

 middle of the sides. Caudal fin, central rays longest. Articulations very 

 long on the rays of all the fins ; no branched rays in any of them. 



D. 180? A. 180? P 16? C. 12?— Br. 7. 



Although the numbers of these fin-rays be marked with doubt, they were 

 reckoned with the greatest care ; but without injury to the specimen they 

 could not be ascertained with certainty to a single ray. Vertehrce, which 

 distinctly seen through the skin can be reckoned with accuracy, 98. 

 Colours, anterior half a dull fiesh-colour, similar to specimens of Cepola 

 ruhescens preserved in spirits, hence it is presumed to have been origin- 

 ally red ; behind this portion reddish-brown markings appear on the 

 body at the base of the dorsal and anal fins, and suddenly increase in 

 number, until, from an inch behind the middle, the whole sides are closely 

 marked and spotted over ; the entire top and the sides of the head before 

 the hinder line of the eye are similarly spotted ; just behind the cranium a 

 few spots also appear : the posterior rays of the dorsal and anal, and the 

 entire caudal fin blackish. Iris, operculum, and under surface, a short 

 way beyond the vent, bright silver. 



The two large teeth, resembling serpents' fangs, which terminate the 

 upper jaw on each side, have suggested the generic appellation of Echio- 

 don (f'x'C? fi viper, and o^ovq, a teoth) ; and the specific name of Drum- 

 mondii is proposed in honour of the discoverer. * 



Although when this Jish first came into my possession I saw that it 

 might be classed under the Malacopterygii AjxxJcs, and be placed near 

 OpJiidium, I considered that in a natural arrangement it would best con- 

 stitute a new genus of the family Tcenioidea. In being apodal it Avas not 

 excluded from this family, as two genera belonging to it are destitute of 

 ventral fins. I did not hesitate to place it under the Acaniliopiery(iii, as 

 some genera which are included in this order are, like it, strictly Mala- 

 copterygian, their natural connexion with genera having fins with spinous 

 rays being considered — and in my opinion most philosophically — to out- 



* In Mr. Templeton's Catalogue of Irish Vertebrate Animals, published in 

 the Magazine of Natural History (new series) for ^1837, we find the following 

 remarks in reference to Ophidium ind>erhe. " The only specimen I have ob- 

 served was thrown on the shores of Belfast Lough, near the White House Point, 

 on January 9, 1809. It was a large specimen, not less than a foot long, and 

 agreed so exactly with the figure in the British Zoology, and differed so nmch 

 from that of Mr. Montagu (Wern. Mem. p. 95, pi. 4), that I am led to believe 

 there are two distinct species, of which Pennant has described the one and Mon- 

 tagu the other." New series, vol. i. p. 4T2. 



In endeavouring to gain further information on this subject from the late Mr. 

 Templeton's papers (all of which, through the kindness and liberality of his 

 i^tmily, are accessible to me), I have been only able to find the following note, 

 which appears in his Journal, under date January 10, 1809. "Went to the 

 White House to look for Fuci ; found a fish about 18 niches long, more taper 

 than an eel, at the thickest part about an inch and a half diameter. I tliink it 

 was the Ophidium imherbc. Brit. Zool. iii. 398, t. 93, in vol. iv." It is nmch 

 to be regretted that the information is not more precise, as it is not improbable 

 that the species alluded to may have been identical with that wliich forms the 

 subject of the present article. The White House Point and Carnlougli Bay are 

 hi a direct line about twenty miles distant. 



