APPENDIX. 395 



with reddish bands and spots ; three first dorsal 



spines equal. 



Dorsal 6, 14, the last ray double ; anal 12, the last double. 



Inhabits Sicily. 



Description. — Habit and size of G. cruentatus. Scales rather large and 

 very rough, which seems to be caused by their not laying close upon each 

 other; those on the crown small. On each side of the head, behind the 

 cheeks, are two punctures. First dorsal commencing just behind the base 

 of the pectoral ; the three first rays equal, and rather higher than those of 

 the second dorsal ; the three next graduated ; the membrane of the sixth 

 reaching to the base of the first ray of the next fin ; second dorsal com- 

 mencing just before the vent, and of equal breadth throughout ; pectoral 

 fin as long as the first dorsal ; second dorsal almost twice as long as the first, 

 commencing rather before, but terminating even with the anal, and both 

 of the same breadth ; caudal fin ovate; ventral fin rather longer than the 

 pectoral, but not reaching the ventral aperture, which is immediately under 

 the second ray of the second dorsal ; ventrals united at the base by a slight 

 membrane. Colour. — Entirely pale rufous, with irregular darker spots on 

 the middle of the sides placed longitudinally; sides of the head spotted, and 

 the body clouded with whitish ; dorsal fins, with the membrane, very deli- 

 cate ; the first is dark red, with four transverse undulated lines of whitish, 

 which lines are sometimes a little confluent ; the second dorsal has merely 

 four rows of darker reddish spots on a whitish ground ; ventral and anal 

 fins immaculate, and covered with a milk-white skin, which easily comes 

 oflF; pectoral and caudal fins with small, faint, red spots ; irides yellowish, 

 with four brown spots ; mouth low ; jaws equal. Palermo, 1817. 



OPHISURUS i}^c^w5. 



Light fulvous brown^ with white spots scattered on the 

 nape^ before the dorsal fin^ and white irregular bands 

 on the head and muzzle ; hinder portion of the dor- 

 sal and anal fins margined with black : belly white. 



Inhabits Sicily. 



The general form is like that of the conger eel, and the branchial aper- 

 ture is similarly placed, but the nostrils are much more tubular; and 

 although the dorsal and anal fins reach to the tip of the tail, they do not 

 pass round it, so as to unite. All the bands on the head are transverse 

 before the eye, but two or three of those behind are longitudinal, yet 

 broken and irregular : the round white spots are scattered in front of the 

 dorsal fin, which commences immediately above the end of the pectoral; 

 and there are three or four above the latter fin on the lateral line : the anal 

 fin is about two-thirds the total length of the fish, which measured 1 foot 

 9 inches: the ground tint is fawn colour, the pectoral fin and the snout 

 tinged with pink. 



OPHISOMA ohtusa. 



Snout rounded^ obtuse ; dorsal fin commencing much 

 behind the end of the pectoral ; fins white, margined 

 by a black line. 



Inhabits Sicily, 

 In the specimen here described, which measured 70 inches, the dorsal fin 



