ACCOUNT OF FIVE RARE SPECIES 



in Tab. xxiii. of the " British Zoology," and the 

 Snake Pipe-fish of the " General Zoology," V. tab. 

 179., both given for the Linnean ophidian. The 

 former has, I believe, been generally considered 

 by the ichthyologists of our own country, as the 

 true ophidion, and is the most common species on 

 our coasts ; and, as Mr Pennant justly remarks, 

 seldom exceeds rive inches in length, and is re- 

 markably short in the snout. The latter has not 

 only a long snout, but the dorsal fin is not situated, 

 with respect to the vent, as in the generally ac- 

 cepted ophidion of our shores, and as properly de- 

 fined in the " British Zoology," but more like what 

 I have described to be in the csquoreus ; that is, 

 the vent is more nearly opposite the posterior part 

 of the dorsal fin, whereas, in the ophidion, it is, 

 vice versa, nearest the anterior end. These cir- 

 cumstances cannot well be ' reconciled, without 

 concluding, that the larger specimens, described 

 as ophidion, are, in reality, that variety of aquo- 

 reus above mentioned, in which the angles are 

 less defined, and the caudal fin inconspicuous, in 

 which state it pretty well accords with the Lin- 

 nean specific definition of ophidion, — "pinnis caudce 

 ani pectoralibusque nullis, corpore tereti" 



