84 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE. 



1. Blennechis fasciatus. Jen. 



Plate XVII. Fig. 1. 

 B. Jlavescens, fusco-variatus ; maculis tribus infra pinnam dorsalem, et una in pinna 

 ipsins anlicam partem, nigris, subocellatis : dentibus maxillaribus supra circiter 

 viginti quatuor, subtus triginta ; caninis nnllis : tenlaculis palpebralibas duobus, 

 parvis, subpalmatis : pinna anali hand ultra dorsalem externa. 

 D. 13/16; A. 20; C. 13, &c. ; P. 14; V. 2. 

 Long, unc. 2. lin. 4. 

 Form. — Body much compressed behind : the depth one-fifth of the entire length : head rather less 

 than one-fourth of the same. Snout blunt and truncated ; the profile nearly vertical ; the eye 

 placed just within the angle formed by this last with the line of the crown. Diameter of the 

 eye one-fourth the length of the head ; distance between the eyes half a diameter ; the inter- 

 ocular space very slightly concave, with a double row of mucous pores rather widely separate, 

 but without any lines or sculpture. Similar mucous pores are thinly scattered over the occiput 

 and the front of the snout, as well as beneath each eye. Above each eye is a short slightly 

 palmated filament not exceeding in length the diameter of the eye : also an extremely minute 

 one at each nostril. Mouth reaching to beneath the eyes. Teeth not extending the whole 

 length of the jaws ; fine and close-set, with the points of those at the sides, more especially in 

 the lower jaw, reclining backwards ; the number above twenty-four, below thirty : no canines. 

 Gill membrane fastened at bottom, the slit at the sides not descending below the pectorals. 



The dorsal commences at the nape, and extends nearly to the caudal, with which, however, 

 it is not connected : it is slightly depressed or notched above the twelfth and thirteenth rays, 

 beyond which it is again elevated to the height of the anterior portion. The anal does not 

 approach quite so near the caudal as the dorsal, but the difference is trifling : the last ray in 

 both fins is united by the membrane to the fleshy part of the tail. Caudal rounded, with the 

 greater p rt of the principal rays slightly divided at the tips. Pectorals broad, and not quite 

 equal to the head in length. Ventrals short, not more than half the length of the head, or a 

 little less than one-eighth of the entire length : they appear to consist of only two rays, but on 

 dissection there will be found three soft rays with a short spine closely adhering to the first of 

 them ; the third soft ray is slender, and also adheres to the second. 



The anterior portion of the lateral line takes a sweep over the pectoral, and is very dis- 

 tinctly marked by a close series of short elevated mucous tubes between two rows of pores ; but 

 the rest of the line is only faintly traced out by nine or ten slender depressed tubes at long inter- 

 vals, without any accompanying pores. 

 Colour. — {In spirits.) Yellowish ground ; the upper half of the sides very much mottled, and 

 clouded with fuscous ; three spots darker than the rest, arranged longitudinally beneath the 

 posterior half of the dorsal, and having a subocellated appearance, the last the largest, and also 

 the most distinct of the three : from the median line there are eight or nine descending fasciae, 

 alternating with the same number of oblong lanceolate spots : the throat is marked with three 

 angulated transverse dark fascia?: cheeks and gill-covers with small spots. A large black spot 

 on the first three rays of the dorsal fin, which is covered all over with smaller spots, as are also 



