3IICR0LEPTES. SCOMBERID^. 237 



Anabus Cuv. General form of the last ; head and hody 

 cylindrical, and covered with strong scales ; lateral 

 line interrupted as in Labrus ; hinder fins covered 

 with small scales ; spines of the dorsal and anal fins 

 numerous, and both these fins emarginate, the soft 

 rays forming a lobe ; outer margin of the operculum 

 strongly serrated ; preoperculum smooth ; anal fin 

 shorter than the dorsal. 



A. scan dens. Cuv. pi. 193. 



Ophicephalus.* The whole of the fins destitute of 

 spinal rays ; lateral line nearly straight. 



Ophicephalus Bl. Body lengthened, nearly cylindrical, 

 having the form of a blenny ; snout short and ob- 

 tuse ; head broad, a little depressed, and covered 

 with bony plates; eyes near the muzzle; mouth 

 large, lower jaw rather longest; dorsal fin narrow, 

 extending the whole length of the back ; ventral 

 shorter ; caudal, pectoral, and ventral rounded ; gills 

 smooth, and covered wdth scales. 

 O striatus Bl Cuv. 202, limbatus. Cuv. 201. 



Tribe II. MICROLEPTES. 



Scales small or none. 



Family 1. SCOMBERID^. Mackerel 



Body oblong, lengthened, smooth, covered with very 

 small scales ; caudal fin deeply forked, large, and 

 powerful ; tail often bearing spurious fins or finlets ; 

 no fleshy Ups. 



* It is by this genus, intimately connected as it is with Anabus, that the 

 two great tribes of Blennides and ,MacToleptes appear blended into each 

 other. The SpirobranchicUe , as a whole, are analogous also to the eels, in 

 their power of passing by land from one piece of water to another. 



