FISH. 167 



row on each palatine. Pharynx also armed with strong teeth ; but the tongue, which is free at 

 the tip, and rounded, smooth. Eyes large and prominent, and elevated rather above the line 

 of the profile : their diameter one-fourth the length of the head ; their distance from the end 

 of the snout one diameter ; the interocular space reduced to a narrow channel, and scarcely 

 equalling half a diameter. 



Opercle of a triangular form ; subopercle lanceolate, projecting further than the opercle, 

 and passing upwards and backwards to form the terminating angle of the gill cover. Gill- 

 opening of very moderate extent; the branchial membrane fastened down underneath, with 

 five rays. Skin smooth and naked, loose, and probably very mucous in the living fish. Ap- 

 parently no lateral line. The edges of both jaws curiously fringed each with a row of 

 tubipores, or cutaneous appendages in the form of tubes, having pores at their terminal ex- 

 tremities for the exudation of mucus. The row on the upper jaw is continued along the 

 margin of the suborbital on to the cheek ; that on the lower is carried upwards to form an 

 edging to the preopercle. There is also one of these tubipores at each nostril, another behind 

 each eye, and a third on each side of the nape. 



The dorsal commences above the terminating angle of the gill-cover, and extends the 

 whole length of the body : its height nearly uniform throughout, equalling half the depth : the 

 rays slender ; all articulated, except the third, which is spinous, and shorter than those which 

 precede and follow it ; mostly simple, but some of the posterior ones slightly divided at their 

 tips. Vent situate beneath the termination of the first quarter of the dorsal. The anal begins 

 immediately behind it, and, like the dorsal, is carried on to the end of the body, to unite with 

 it in forming a pointed caudal ; all the rays soft and delicate. Pectorals rather pointed, with 

 the middle rays longest, and about two-thirds the length of the head. Ventrals very minute and 

 narrow, of only three rays, and appearing like one filament, about one- third the length of the 

 pectorals ; attached in front of the pectorals, and nearly in a line with the gill-opening. 

 B. 5 ; D. about 80 ; A. about 60 ; C. about 15 ; P. 16 ; V. 3. 

 Length 5 inc. 9 lin. 

 Colour. — Not noticed in the recent state. In spirits it is nearly colourless, with the exception of 

 a dark bluish line along the base of the dorsal ; upper part of the head, and nape, also stained 

 with the same dark tint. 

 Habitat, Archipelago of Chiloe. 



This species was taken by Mr. Darwin under stones. There is but one spe- 

 cimen in the collection, and it would be very desirable to see others, in order to 

 ascertain whether the circumstance of the third dorsal ray alone being spinous, 

 (those that precede as well as follow being articulated), is merely accidental in the 

 one above described, or really characteristic of the species. If the latter, it is an 

 anomaly, — a single spine thus occurring in the middle of a soft fin, — of which I 

 know no other example. 



