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XXVII. An Account of the Ophidium barbatum linnet. By 
P. M. Augufcus Brouflonet, M, D. ; communicated by Sir 
jofeph Banks, Bart. P. R. S. 
Read July 5, 1781. 
T HIS fpecies of fifh feems not to have been unknown to 
the ancients, though probably they confounded it with 
the Conger , to which it bears fome resemblance. Perhaps the 
early Greek and Latin writers on natural hiftory have men- 
tioned it under thi name of Tragus, or Catlarlas ; but for want 
of defcriptions, they left us much in the dark concerning it. 
pliny indeed fpeaks of a fifh which appears to be of this fpe- 
cies : he calls it Ophidion and as that is the name given to it 
by all the modern writers, we are obliged to accept his fyno- 
nymy without further inquiry. 
The firft author to whom we are indebted for a defcription 
and figure of the Ophidium Is bellonius ; yet it appears, that 
he was not certain of the name of this fifh, fince he calls it 
Grylius, jalfo congrus , tragus, afelli fpecies : nor was he lefs 
doubtful of the clafs to which he fhould refer it, and there- 
fore placed it among the Afelli, or Gadi, though very dif- 
ferent from the fpecies of that family, rondeletius, who 
wrote foon after bellonius, has given us a better defcription, 
and a more accurate figure of this fifh, which he calls Ophidion , 
* Ophidion or Ophidium, though the belt is Ophidium, is not a good generic 
name, fince it is a diminutive from Off. 
a with 
