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Show 98 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF TIIE BEAGLE. · d · · d half times in the entire length. The space between the it is contame not qmte SIX an -a- . . d h d l · · hth of the same and one and a half times the depth of the tatl at anal an t e can a 1s onc-etg • that part. The usual papilla appears behind the vent. . . Sk .m apparent 1y qm' te n aked everywhere ' and witho.u t any scales th. at are VlS.l blc, even · h d · d t d lens 'The lateral line runs stratght along the m1ddle, and 1s marked tn t e riC sta e, un cr a . . . by a sen·e s of g1 a n d u1 a r d ot s placed in threes or fours together vert!Cally at mod.e rate mtcrvals. Several lines of dots about the head, but the dots arc here closer together, and m some places so salient as to appear like short filamentous processes : on the cheeks, about the eyes, and on the front of the snout, these lines undulate in an irregular manner: there arc also two or th:ee short lines of dots on the gill-cover, and a double row on each side of the lower jaw, passmg obliquely upwards posteriorly,' as a boundary to the cheek., . . . CoLOun.-" Pale lead-colour, coarsely reticulated with brown. -D.-Thts 1s nearly as 1t ~p~ears also in spirits. The reticulations are finer on the head, where they are also most dtstmct: they are likewise very visible at the base of the pectorals. Habitat, Chonos Archipelago, South of Chiloe. Cuvier and Valenciennes seem to have doubted* whether there were really any species in this genus absolutely without scales, thou~h they hav~ establish.ed a section, in which the scales are very minute, and as 1t were lost m the skm. The present one, however, appears to be thus characterized: at least there are no scales which can be detected, even with the assistance of a lens, and when the skin is suffered to become dry, in which state they are generally visible, if really present. In fact, the skin is as smooth and naked as in any of the true Blennies. This character, combined with others, clearly indicates it to be a new species ; neither will it assimilate with any of the sections in the "Histoire des Poissons ;" but requires to be placed in one by itself, in which the absence of scales is coupled with an elongated body, and a caudal, not strictly pointed, but approaching to that form, when the rays are close. This species was obtained by Mr. Darwin in the Chonos Archipelago, in Lowe's Harbour, S. of Chiloe. It appears to be the first of this genus brought from the West Coast of America; at least, there are none, amongst the very numerous species described by Cuvier and Valenciennes, which are mentioned as belonging to those shores. ELEOTRIS GOBIOIDES. Cuv. et Val. Eleotris gobioides, Ouv. et Val. Ilist. des Poiss. tom. xii. p. 186. This species was taken by Mr. Darwin in fresh-water, in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. It so well accords with the description of the E. gobioides in the "Histoire des Poissons," that I conceive there can be no doubt of their identity. ., See " !list. des Poise.'' tom, xii. p. 72, under the species Gobius Boscii. FISH. 99 The profile slopes very ~ent.ly. !he lower jaw is longest, ascending to meet the upper. There are three or ~our longttu.dmal hoes on the sides of the head, especially a very well marked one (not particularly noticed by Valenciennes) extending backwards from the posterior an~le of ~he eye to the upper ~ngle of the gill-opening. No appearance of any lateral line. This specimen has a ray more m the anal than Valenciennes gives. The :fin-ray formula is as follows:- B. G; D. 6-1/10, the last double; A. lj10, the last double; C. 16, &c.; P. 18; V. 1/5. Length 4 inches I line. . This species, except in respect of its separate ventrals, has very much the habit and general appearance of the Gobius niger of the European seas. FAMILY.-LOPHIDJE. BATRACHUS POROSISSIMUS. Cuv. et Val.? Ba.trachus porosissimus, Ouv. et Val. llist. des Poiss. tom. xii. p. 373. Fonl\r.-IIead very large, broad and depressed, exactly one-fourth of the entire length; its breadth two-thirds of its own length. Body compressed posteriorly, with its greatest depth about one-sixth of the entire length. Snout blunt and rounded, the lower jaw projecting; gape wide. The teeth above form but a single row along the intermaxillary, mostly small, but sharp, and the posterior ones much curved : along each palatine there is a row of much stronger ones, and at each angle of the vomer are two very long hooked ones, resembling true canines. In the lower jaw the teeth are in a single row at the sides, but in two or three rows in front, and are unequally sized, some of the lateral ones being as strong as those on each side of the vomer, and much hooked, as well as partially reclining backwards. Tongue smooth, and free at the tip, which is bluntish. Pharynx armed with two patches of velutinc teeth above and below. No regular barbule at the chin, but a row of minute cutaneous cirri running all round the edge of the lower jaw; a similar row along the anterior edge of the upper jaw, behind the intermaxillary, with two thicker and more conspicuous appendages of the skin in the middle. Eyes far apart, and not very large. Operclc armed with one very strong spine, but only just the point appearing through the skin. Two small spines in front of the dorsal, a little more backward than the insertion of the pectorals, the first very minute, and hardly appearing through the skin. Second or true dorsal very long, reaching to the base of the caudal, and of nearly uniform height throughout, equalling about one-third of the greatest depth of the body; the rays branched, and the membrane notched between their tips. Anal commencing under the :fifth dorsal ray, similar to that fin, but with the membrane more notched between the rays: both fins are fastened down at their extremities to the fleshy part of the tail by a membrane. Caudal slightly rounded, when spread. Pectorals broad and large, but, from the middle rays being longest, appearing somewhat wedge-shaped, not quite equalling the length of the },ead. Ventrals much smaller, only half their length, and cut nearly square . |