OCR Text |
Show 168 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE. GENUs.-PHUCOC<ETES.• Jen. Corpus elongatum, compressum, nud1tm, alepidotum, po1·osissimum. Rostrum breve, obtusum. .Dentes acuti, subconici, in maxilla supe1·iore uniseriati, in iuferim·e bi -vel t1·i- seriati; supra canini duo fortiores, antici, et prm serie exstantes: in vomere dentes duo vel tres acuti, quorum unus fortis ; in utroque palatino uniseriati. Lingua lmvis. Oculi parvi. Apertura brancltialis arctissima, membrana sex-1·adiatd. Maxillarum margines poris conspicuis longitudinaliter dispositis, simplicibus, ltaud in tubos productis. Pinnce ventrales, dorsalis et analis, ut in genere prcecedenti. This genus differs from Iluocmtes, in having the head and eyes smaller, the snout scarcely at all produced, the teeth in front of the lower jaw in two or three rows, and especially in the contracted gill-opening, which is reduced to a small hole, relatively not much larger than in the Eels, and in the branchial rnem brane having six rays. It wants also the tubal cutaneous appendages on the jaws and cheeks, in the place of which are rows of simple pores. It may be added that the whole skin is every where studded with pores; smaller, however, than those which form the maxillary series. The fins are similar, including the minute ventrals ; but the tail and caudal are more rounded, and the membrane investing the rays of the dorsal and anal is more fleshy, so as hardly to allow of the rays being counted. This genus is yet more eel-like, and more malacopterygian in general appearance than the last, serving to make the passage from the Blennidce to the apodal division of the soft-finned fishes, still more gradual and evident. Mr. Darwin obtained it at the Falkland Islands. There is but one species in the collection referable to it. PHUCOC<ETES LATITANS. Jen. PLATE xxrx. Fig. a. Fon11r.-Still more elongated than the Iluocates fimbriatus, but not tapering so much to a point posteriorly, the tail being blunter and more rounded. Greatest depth about one-eleventh of the entire length: head one-seventh. llead more compressed, its thickness being only threefourths of its depth. Nape rather more elevated, and the profile more sloping, its descent co~me~cing at a more backward point. Snout equally short and rounded, but much less proJectmg ~ver the_ lower jaw. Gape, intermaxillary, and maxillary, similar: also the teeth; ~nly the pa1r of canmes above, standing in front of the series, are smaller; and below, the teeth m front are in two or more rows. On the fore part of the vomer is one strong tooth, and appa~endy one ~r two other smaller teeth with it ; on each palatine a row, one or two of the antenor ones bemg stronger than the others. Eyes very much smaller; their diameter scarcely ~ore than one-scve~th the length of the head; not sufficiently high in the cheeks to cut the line of the profile: m,terocular space slightly convex. • A 'IJvtos fucus, et Kotr'l cubile. FISH 169 Pieces of the gill-cover on the whole similar but th b . fissure not descendin,. below the level of th ' e ranchJal aperture much smaller, the . h . 0 e upper part of the pectoral· b h · 1 b wit SIX rays. Skin quite naked and thick! t dd d 11 . • ranc Ja mem rant! 1 ' Y 5 u e a over with mucous pores AI very arge and conspicuous pores in rows on th . d . so some neous tubes, excepting the nostrl'ls wh' l be Jlaws an checks, but not elevated into cuta- ' tc 1 arc tu u ar. Dorsal and anal with all the rays articulated and th some toward the tail a little branched at th . t' , C de greater part of them simple, but P eir IpS. au al not SO pointed . fl ectorals and ventrals similar but the lattc t . fl 1 as m uoc(Eles. ' r a rl e onger and broader in proportion. Length 4 inc. 7 lines. CoLOUR:~(Jn spirits.)-Brown, with the jaws, under part of the head, and lower half of the whltlsh; also a whitish fascia extending longitudinally from b h' d h cheeks, angle of the opercle. e m eac eye to the upper A second specimen in the collection is smaller than h b . and a half i 1 h I · · . . t e a ove, measurmg only two inches . n .engt · t IS lll bad con<htwn, but does not appear to differ, exce t in h · CP the anterwr canmes above but very little developed. p avmo Habitat, Falkland Islands. Both individuals of this species were taken by Mr. Darwin in the Falkland Islands. "Caught amongst kelp.''-D. z |