the Ophidium barbatum. 447 
meats of the apophyfis of the fecond and third vertebras, bi ' 
which we fpoke before, and which are of a great tenuity. In 
the fame point are faftened alfo two ligaments each of which 
belongs to an oblong mufcle parallel to ' each other, and fixed 
to the bones of the lowed: and pofterior part of the head (fig. 
4 -)- 
All this appaiatus is certainly fubfervient to the purpofe of 
fwimming, I fuppofe, by the cavity of the bladder being made 
larger or lefs by the motions of the cartilagineous bone; but it is 
very remarkable* that if thefe parts are neceffary to fome anithaf 
function, they fhould not be found in all the individuals ; for I 
have feen two, of which the vertebrae were not different from 
s t /* esc \ (\ nf l i ^rriVnil P3i * : 
the vertebra of the other fpecies : which difference depends* 
perhaps, on the difference of fex. I am inclined to believe fo ; 
but the generation in this fifh feems to be no lefs myfterious 
than that of the eel : I could netfpr diflirfguim a male from a 
female in this fpecies. I do not know if the other fpecies of 
Ophidium have the fame ftru&ure; I could not perceive if in 
fome fpeclmens of Majlacembelus. Willoughby mentions that 
lingular ftru&ure, but without any particular defeription. 
This fifh commonly grows to the fize of eight of nine 
inches. It is to be found iii all the Mediterranean Sea, and 
in great plenty in the Adriatic. It is taken by nets in Provencd _ 
and Languedoc, together with many other fmall fpecies, which 
are not efteemed, that is, what they call Ravailld . It is often 
confounded with the Cepola by the fifhermen, though they have 
different names for each fpecies. In Languedoc the Ophidium is 
called Donzella , and the Cepola , jlammd . In Provence tjie for- 
mer has the name of Corrudgiab, and the latter that of Rougebl/d . 
But the name of Dmzelld , very common on all the coaft of the , 
Mediterranean, is alfo applied to the Cepola , and th<i Spar us pills 
N n n s' ' y - ' v ‘ 1.1NN. ‘ 
