Putnam.] ' 368 [April 1, 



species, differing only in the extent of the snout, there is no evidence 

 to show that the fishes described by Ruppell [? Russell], Kaup, and 

 Bleeker, are specifically distinct. He makes this observation on 

 account of Col. Playfair having described as a fourth species a 

 Xiphogadus madagascariensis, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1868, p. 11. Having 

 examined the typical specimen (which is in a very bad state), the 

 Recorder may add that it cannot be made the type of a distinct 

 species." 



To this history I have the opportunity of adding a few remarks 

 and lines of description made after examining two small specimens 

 contained in the Agassiz Collection, one of which was collected in 

 the China Sea, and the other from an unknown locality. 



It will, from the foregoing, be seen that the name of Xiphogadus 

 must, as Dr. Gunther himself admits, at least give way to Nemophis, 

 and, if the strict law of priority is to be followed, that of Xiphasia, 

 proposed by Swainson and adopted by Bleeker, must take precedence 

 of both, and as it would add still further to the very great confusion 

 in the names of fishes if every name not perfectly constructed is to 

 be given up, I prefer, with Dr. Bleeker, to adopt the name proposed 

 by Swainson. 



That the family is allied to the JBlenniidas, especially. to the genus 

 Petroscirtes, is probable, but the very singular structure of the closely 

 united intermaxillary and maxillary bones, the latter being the seat 

 of the canine teeth when they are present, taken in connection with 

 the elongated and scaleless body, the simple rays to the long dorsal 

 and anal fins, with the rudimentary character and forward position, or 

 entire absence of the ventral fins, indicate a well-marked family, as 

 proposed by Dr. Kaup and adopted by Prof. Gill. 



NEMOPIHD^. 



NeinophidcB Kaup, 1858. Nemojihidce, subfamily Plagiotrematince 

 Gill, 1865. 



Body long, slender; abdominal portion short. Dorsal and anal 

 fins long. Pectorals normal. Ventrals, when present, forward of 

 the pectorals, and connected with the humeral arch. Branchiostegal 

 membranes united, and leaving but a small gill-opening. Maxillaries 

 closely united to the posterior edges of the intermaxillaries, and 

 forming an even border to the mouth above. 



