8 



FOUR-EYED ANABLEPS, 



but when viewed from above, it appears of a much 

 more compressed form. It is every where covered 

 with moderately large, rounded scales, propor- 

 tionally smaller on the head than on other parts. 

 Its colour is a pale yellowish brown, marked 

 on each side by four or five longitudinal blackish 

 stripes; thus resem.bling in the disposition of its 

 pattern the Cobitis fossilis or great Loche. The 

 most striking particularity in the animal is the 

 extraordinary structure of its eyes, which differ 

 from those of every other known fish : they are ex- 

 tremely protuberant, situated on the upper part of 

 the head, and seem each divided into two distinct 

 eyes united in a common case or tubular recep- 

 tacle : it appears however, on dissection, that though 

 the anterior half of each eye may be said to be 

 double, or furnished with two pupils, yet the 

 crystalline is in reality single ; the appearance of a 

 double eye on each side resulting merely from the 

 deep division of the anterior region. Another par- 

 ticularity in this animal is that the anal fin, accord- 

 ing to Gronovius, varies in its structure in different 

 individuals; being in some of a. simple or regular 

 form, and furnished with nine soft rays, while in 

 others it is formed into a tube which is either 

 solitary, or accompanied by a small additional fin. 

 This curious fish is a native of South America, and 

 is said principally to inhabit the rivers of Surinam, 

 near the sea-coasts. It appears, on dissection, to 

 be viviparous, 



* This is probably peculiar to the female fish : its structure is 

 described by Gronovius as internally cartilaginous. 



