168 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE. 



Genus.— PHUCOCCETES.* Jen. 



Corpus elongatum, compression, nudum, alepidotum, porosissimum. Rostrum breve, 



obtusum. Dentes acuti, subconici, in maxilla superiore uniseriati, in iuferiore 



bi-vel tri-seriati; supra canini duofortiores, antici, etprce serie exstantes : in vomere 



dentes duo vel tres acuti, quorum unusfortis ; in utroque palatini) uniseriati. Lingua 



IcBvis. Oculi parvi. Apertura brancldalis arctissima, membrand sex-radiatd. 



Maxillarum margines poris conspicuis longitudinaliter dispositis, simplicibus, hand 



in tubos productis. Pinnce ventrales, dorsalis et analis, ut in genere prcecedenti. 



This genus differs from Iluocoztes, in having the head and eyes smaller, the 



snout scarcely at all produced, the teeth in front of the lower jaw in two or three 



rows, and especially in the contracted gill-opening, which is reduced to a small 



hole, relatively not much larger than in the Eels, and in the branchial membrane 



having six rays. It wants also the tubal cutaneous appendages on the jaws and 



cheeks, in the place of which are rows of simple pores. It may be added that 



the whole skin is every where studded with pores; smaller, however, than those 



which form the maxillary series. The fins are similar, including the minute ven- 



trals ; but the tail and caudal are more rounded, and the membrane investing the 



rays of the dorsal and anal is more fleshy, so as hardly to allow of the rays being 



counted. 



This genus is yet more eel-like, and more malacopterygian in general 

 appearance than the last, serving to make the passage from the Blennida to the 

 apodal division of the soft-finned fishes, still more gradual and evident. Mr. 

 Darwin obtained it at the Falkland Islands. There is but one species in the 

 collection referable to it. 



Phucoccetes latitans. Jen. 



Plate XXIX. Fig. 3. 

 Form. — Still more elongated than the Ihwemtes fimbriates, but not tapering so much to a point 

 posteriorly, the tail being blunter and more rounded. Greatest depth about one-eleventh of 

 the entire length : head one-seventh. Head more compressed, its thickness being only three- 

 fourths of its depth. Nape rather more elevated, and the profile more sloping, its descent 

 commencing at a more backward point. Snout equally short and rounded, but much less 

 projecting over the lower jaw. Gape, intermaxillary, and maxillary, similar : also the teeth ; 

 only the pair of canines above, standing in front of the series, are smaller ; and below, the teeth 

 in front are in two or more rows. On the fore part of the vomer is one strong tooth, and 

 apparently one or two other smaller teeth with it ; on each palatine a row, one or two of the 

 anterior ones being stronger than the others. Eyes very much smaller; their diameter scarcely 

 more than one-seventh the length of the head ; not sufficiently high in the cheeks to cut the 

 line of the profile : interocular space slightly convex. 



* A (ttvKos fucus, et koltij cubile. 



