73 



ROSTRATED OPHIDIUM. 



Ophidium Rostratum 0. rostro acuminato hrigissimo. 

 Ophidium with extremely long sharp-pointed snout. 

 Ophidium aculeatum. O. rostro acuminato. Lin. Syst. Nat. 

 Gmelp. 1147. 

 .. Ophidium rostratum. Block. 5. p. 60. t. l5Q.f. 2. 

 Pentopthalmos. Will. Ichth. Append, t. 10. f. I. 



This species is much allied to the O. Mastacem- 

 bains, having a series of dorsal spines, and two or- 

 three immediately before the vent-fin. It is readily 

 distinguished by the very^great elongation of the 

 upper lip, which terminates in a very sharp, slender 

 snout : the head is small, and the body very long, 

 and somewhat compressed : the gill-covers large, and 

 the gill membrane lax : the lateral line is placed 

 near the back : the dorsal fin commences at no 

 great distance from the tail, but is not united with 

 it as in the former species : the vent-fin is about the 

 same length, and is situated in a correspondent 

 manner beneath : the tail, which is distinct from 

 both, is of an ovate form, and rather small : the 

 pectoral fins are of moderate size, and of an oval 

 shape : the number of dorsal spines is fourteen, and 

 of those before the vent-fin two : the colour of this 

 fish is rufous brown above, silvery on the sides and 

 beneath : the dorsal fin is variegated with oblique 

 dusky streaks, and is marked with from two to five 

 round, black spots, each surrounded by a pale yel- 

 lowish circle. 



