t 436 J 
XXVII. An Account of the Ophidium barbatum linnei. By 
P. M, Auguftus Brouflbnet, M. D. ; communicated by Sir 
Jofeph Banks, Bart . P . R . 8 . 
Read July 5, 1 y 8 1 . 
^ f^HlS fpecies of fifh feems not to have been unknown to 
A the ancients, though probably they confounded it with 
the Conger , to which it bears fome refemblance. Perhaps the 
early Greek and Latin writers on natural hiftory have men- 
tioned it under the name of Tragus, or Callarias ; 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 modem 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 
Gryllus , jalfo congrus , tragus , afeiii fpecies : nor was he lefs 
doubtful of the clafs to which he fihould refer it, and there- 
fore placed it among the Afeiii , or Gadi , though very dif- 
ferent from jthe 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 Ophidian, 
* Ophidion or Ophidium, though the beft is Ophidium, is not a good generic 
name, iince it is a diminutive from 
3 with 
