OPHIDIUM. 
16 
7 
Genus XVIII. — T’he Ophidium * 
-* He fifhes of tills genus are two ; the one has a number 
°* barbs hanging over from the lower jaw, while the o. 
^ber wants thefe, but in all other refpe&s appears the 
btrne. The ophidium has a great refemblance, in lliape, 
lome of the tribe of eels, but is of inferior fize. Be~ 
°mus afferts that thofe in the Mediterranean are not a- 
° Ve a handbreadth. The back is cinereous ; the lides 
°f a filver colour : There are no fcales, but in their place 
^ number of oblong fpots here and there difperfed over the 
°dy ; the mouth is large, and exafperated with a num- 
Jer of fmall teeth round the palate and jaws ; the eyes 
are large, covered with a pellucid membrane : There is 
°nly 
one pair of fins near the branchiae ; the dorfal fin 
fi kes its rife not far behind the head, from whence it 
£ r °ceeds along the back, furronnds the tail, and termi- 
^ ates bel °w at the anus. The body is exaftly divided 
y a lateral line, which extends along each fide from the 
■ le ad to the tail f. 
Ophidion Plinii. Ophidium, Guan. 
i Fide Guan. Hift. Pifciuro, p. 117. 
