OF BRITISH FISHES. 8l 



these are now in my museum, and the following 

 are correct descriptions of them. 



The first is of the Apodal order, but not suf- 

 ficiently connected with any genus at present 

 formed, to find a place : I have, therefore, been 

 induced to constitute a new genus for the pur- 

 pose. The head and forepart very much resemble 

 the figure given of Trichiurus Lepturus ; but this 

 being destitute of the caudal fin forbids our ar- 

 ranging them together. In the fins it comes 

 nearest to Ammodytes Tobianus, or Sand-lance ; but 

 the head, shape of the body, and other particulars, 

 materially differ. Upon the whole, it comes near- 

 est to Ophidiurn aculeatam, which differs from the 

 rest of that genus in having a distinct caudal 

 fin. 



Under these circumstances I have thought pro- 

 per to affix to it the following generic characters, 

 together with the title of 



ZIPHOTHECA. 



Head lengthened : teeth surrounding the jaws- 

 in one row, the foreteeth longest, semi- 

 sagittate : eyes large, lateral : body compres- 

 sed, carinated, ensiform : dorsal, anal, and 

 caudal fins distinct : two small scales on the 

 abdomen in the place of ventral fins. 



