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Show 1889.] FISH F R O M T H E MEDITERRANEAN. 329 the larger specimen at its cephalic end two slight furrows run parallel with it above and beneath. The head is moderate, rather large, its length is contained about 5 times in the total exclusive of the caudal fin; the snout is short, nearly equal to the transverse diameter of the eye, its anterior contour is rounded ; there is a slight median gibbosity in front over the mouth. This is moderate, its aperture hardly reaching the vertical from the anterior margin of the eye. Nostrils in front and a little above the eye, the posterior aperture largest and oval. Eye moderate; behind it, extending towards the nape and downwards along the preoperculum, are two series of conspicuous pores. The space between the eyes is nearly flat and rather broader than the diameter of the eye ; behind, the nape rises convex, presenting a median furrow in front of the first dorsal in the older specimen. On the nape, in the larger specimen, are a number of very distinct hyaline cylindrical warts, just like those of Bellottia except in shape ; the latter have been described by Professor Emery1 and are nearly hemispherical. In Eretmophorus they begin-just behind the interocular space and appear to form a double series ; in the older specimen I counted eight, but a few more extend towards the head of the lateral line ; they are evidently sense-organs allied to those of the lateral line. In concluding I must state that these warts are not to be seen on the two younger specimens, in which they appear to be represented by pores, more numerous and more distinct than in the older and larger specimen. The gill-openings are rather wide, the branchiostegal membranes are largely developed, with robust rays ; the opercular bones are smooth and very thin; the branchial cavities contain four complete arches. The specimens are so very fragile that I did not dare to pursue my investigations further. The fins are those of an Anacanthine fish, but I could not see any transverse articulations in the first ray of the first dorsal; they are not very distinct on the other median fins except on the caudal, the only fin with slightly bifid rays; in the other fins the rays are simple ; at the base of the long dorsal and anal fins the projecting heads of the interspinous bones give rise to a serrated appearance. The first dorsal is small, but quite detached from the second one in the two larger specimens, it rises just above the insertion of the pectorals ; its second ray is the longest and equals in height the commencement of the second dorsal fin. This is greatly developed and maintains a nearly equal line throughout, but as the body tapers towards the tail the fin increases in height in equal ratio. In size, shape, and development the anal is the exact counterpart of the second dorsal fin. The caudal fin is quite distinct, its contour is lanceolate in the smaller specimen, nearly oval in the older one, subtruncate with rounded edges in the oldest or biggest specimen. The pectorals are distinctly lobate, which character is more marked in the smaller specimens ; they are of moderate size and broadly oval in contour. The ventrals certainly give the most striking feature to this singular 1 C. Emery, " Contribuzioni all' Ittiologia," in Mittheil. a. d. Zool. Station zu Neapel, vi. p. 157, tav. 10. ff. 18, 19. Naples, 1885. |