Part 42

The dorsal commences a little beyond the middle of the entire length, and leaves a space between it and the caudal; the rays nearly equal, except the first, which is short. The anal begins under the fourth or fifth dorsal ray, and extends a trifle further than that fin. Caudal slightly rounded.

COLOUR.—(In spirits.) Back and sides light brown, reticulated with black: the reticulations have a tendency to form three or four broad fasciæ across the back. Under parts yellowish.

Habitat, Archipelago of Chiloe.

This and the following species appear to belong to the genus Gobiesox of Cuvier’s “Regne Animal,” and are probably new. Two specimens of the one above described were found by Mr. Darwin under stones off the island of Lemuy, in the Archipelago of Chiloe.

2. GOBIESOX PŒCILOPHTHALMOS. Jen. PLATE XXVII. Fig. 2.

G. fuscescenti-albidas, immaculatus: dentibus anterioribus majoribus, supra et subtus incisivis: operculo posticè spinâ acutâ armato; membranâ, operculari margine, supra spinam, cirris paucis filamentosis fimbriato; membranâ branchiali spinâ nullâ,: pinnis dorsali et anali septem-radiatis.

B. 6; D. 7; A. 7; C. 12; P. 23; LONG. unc. 1. lin. 10.

FORM.—General form the same as that of the last species, including the proportion of head to body. Snout equally rounded. Teeth on the whole similar, but the upper ones in front, as well as the lower, incisor-like. Eyes rather larger, closer together, less than a diameter apart. Differs essentially from the G. marmoratus in the form of the opercular spine, which is much sharper, as well as somewhat longer and slenderer; also in having no spine concealed in the branchial membrane: the lower part of the opercular membrane, just above the spine, is fringed with a few thread-like filaments. The number of branchial rays is the same.

The dorsal and anal are both shorter, and appear to have only seven rays each: the anal reaches a little nearer the caudal. The pectorals on the contrary have rather more rays.

COLOUR.—(In spirits.) Every where of a uniform very pale brown, or brownish white, without any markings whatever. The eyes were probably very brilliant in the living fish, the irides still showing traces of what seems to have been blue and golden pink.

Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago.

A single individual of this species was obtained by Mr. Darwin in tidal pools at Chatham Island, in the Galapagos Archipelago.

FAMILY.—ECHENEIDIDÆ.

ECHENEIS REMORA. Linn.

Mr. Darwin took a small specimen of this fish from off a shark in the Atlantic Ocean, near St. Paul’s Rocks. It is not four inches long. It has eighteen pairs of laminæ on the head; and a rough disk on the middle of the tongue: caudal lunate.

FAMILY.—ANGUILLIDÆ.

ANGUILLA AUSTRALIS. Richards.

Anguilla australis, Richardson, Proceed. of Zool. Soc. 1841, p. 22.

FORM.—Very similar to the A. latirostris, Yarr., but the upper jaw rather shorter and broader, making the gape, which reaches to a vertical line from the posterior part of the orbit, wider. Teeth rather stronger. Dorsal commencing considerably beyond the first third, and not much in advance of the middle point, of the entire length; much less elevated than in the A. latirostris, its height scarcely exceeding one-fifth of the depth, which last is about one-seventeenth of the entire length. Vent a little posterior to the commencement of the dorsal.

The distance from the end of the snout to the insertion of the pectorals is rather less than one-eighth of the entire length: the form of the pectorals is lanceolate. The tail is rounded, much as in the A. latirostris.

in. lin. Length (entire) 17 3 From end of snout to commencement of dorsal 7 6 From the same to insertion of pectoral 2 2 From the same to vent 7 9

COLOUR—(In spirits.) Appears similar to that of the common eel.

Habitat, New Zealand.

The above eel was procured by Mr. Darwin in fresh water in the month of December, in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. It so nearly accords with the A. australis of Dr. Richardson from Van Dieman’s Land, that I can hardly suppose it to be a distinct species. The vent, however, would seem to be a trifle backwarder, and the body deeper in proportion to its length. Without seeing more specimens, it is impossible to say what importance is to be attached to these points of discrepancy.

CONGER PUNCTUS. Jen.

C. lateribus fasciis transversis fuscescenti-rubris, interstitiis angustis griseis: rostro brevi, obtuso; maxillis subæqualibus: pinnâ dorsali initium supra pectoralem capienti: cute corporis puncturis parvis creberrimè aggregatis impressâ.

FORM.—Body much compressed, except at the anterior extremity. Depth less than one-eleventh of the entire length. Head contained about seven and a half times in the same. Snout short and rounded. Jaws nearly equal, the upper scarcely longer than the lower. Gape scarcely reaching beyond a vertical from the anterior part of the eye. Teeth velutine. A row of very conspicuous pores round the edges of both jaws. The whole body, but not the head, thickly studded all over with small pores, much crowded, and appearing like pin-holes.

The pectorals are rather more than half the length of the head. The dorsal commences immediately above them, and has a moderate elevation of about one-third of the depth. The vent is a little posterior to the termination of the first third of the length, and the anal is immediately behind it. The dorsal and anal unite to form a moderately pointed caudal.