BLEKNOID FORKBEABD. 
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not in. either instance counted, as Dr. Gunther lays much stress 
on their number in determining the species, and of which he 
observes that five or six series of scales are between the first 
dorsal fin and the lateral line. The ventral fins did not reach 
quite to the vent, and it may have been the mark of age that 
the barb at the point of the jaw was reduced to a stumpj 
and while the tail was nearly even, a few of its upper rays 
were extended into a point. Visible scales covered the cheeks 
as well as the body, and the second dorsal and anal fins did 
not approach close to the tail. Colour generally light grey. 
The young specimen, with the length of four inches, was not 
an inch in depth; snout much in front of the mouth, gape 
wide, opening back behind the front of the iris of the eye. 
Eve large, the two closer together than the breadth of either; 
scales rather large, vent a little nearer the head than to the 
root of the tail. Pectoral fin long and narrow, reaching to 
the origin of the second dorsal. First dorsal fin high, triangular, 
pointed, having ten rays, of which the first was single for a 
third of its length beyond the membrane. Second dorsal long, 
slender, pointed behind, the end of its rays reaching to the 
root of the tail; anal fin beginning close to the vent, and 
ending at some nearer distance from the tail than the dorsal. 
Caudal fin narrow and lancet-shaped. Ventrals a slender thread, 
reaching beyond the vent, and divided into two branches behind 
the half of its length. Colour of the fish light grey; anterior 
portion and end of the first dorsal black, its hindward border 
bright white, border of the second dorsal and tail black. 
It has been already hinted that the Eocklings may have 
been the Asellus of ancient writers; but we shall only be doing 
VOJL. in. ® 
