BLADE-EELS. 
271 
Family X. Ophidiad^e. 
{Blade-eels,') 
A small number of Fishes, by most naturalists 
arranged with the Eels, the Prince of Canino 
elevates to the rank of a Family under the above 
name. They resemble the Eels in having the 
intestine carried far backwards, the anal orifice 
being removed to a considerable distance from the 
head ; and in the dorsal and anal fins meeting at 
the point of the tail ; the skin also is covered 
with minute scales almost concealed by being 
imbedded in its substance. The gill-openings, 
however, are large, and the gill-covers have free 
motion : the rays of the dorsal are jointed, but 
not branched; the body is long, and generally 
much compressed, so that these fishes have been 
compared to sword-blades. Some of the species 
are furnished with cirri or beards, of which others 
are destitute. Some are opaque and of dark 
colours ; others are delicately pellucid, tinged 
with carnation or rose-colour, with black fins. 
About five and twenty species are known, all 
of which are marine, inhabiting the Mediter- 
ranean and the Atlantic. Some three or four are 
marked as British. 
Genus Ophibium. (Linn.) 
The body in this genus is eel-shaped, com- 
pressed and opaque; the head is smooth; the 
eyes very large ; the throat furnished with cirri ; 
there are teeth in both jaws, as well as in the 
palate wA 'pharynx. 
