Part 51

This genus differs from Iluocœtes, 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 membrane 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 Blennidæ 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.

PHUCOCŒTES LATITANS. Jen.

PLATE XXIX. Fig. 3.

FORM.—Still more elongated than the Iluocœtes 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. Head more compressed, its thickness being only three-fourths of its depth. Nape rather more elevated, and the profile more sloping, its descent commencing at a more backward point. Snout equally short and rounded, but much less projecting over the lower jaw. Gape, intermaxillary, and maxillary, similar: also the teeth; only the pair of canines above, standing in front of the series, are smaller; and below, the teeth in front are in two or more rows. On the fore part of the vomer is one strong tooth, and apparently one or two other smaller teeth with it; on each palatine a row, one or two of the anterior ones being stronger than the others. Eyes very much smaller; their diameter scarcely more than one-seventh the length of the head; not sufficiently high in the cheeks to cut the line of the profile: interocular space slightly convex.

Pieces of the gill-cover on the whole similar, but the branchial aperture much smaller, the fissure not descending below the level of the upper part of the pectoral: branchial membrane with six rays. Skin quite naked, and thickly studded all over with mucous pores. Also some very large and conspicuous pores in rows on the jaws and cheeks, but not elevated into cutaneous tubes, excepting the nostrils, which are tubular.

Dorsal and anal with all the rays articulated, and the greater part of them simple, but some toward the tail a little branched at their tips. Caudal not so pointed as in Iluocœtes. Pectorals and ventrals similar, but the latter a trifle longer and broader in proportion.

Length 4 inc. 7 lines.

COLOUR.—(In spirits.)—Brown, with the jaws, under part of the head, and lower half of the cheeks, whitish; also a whitish fascia extending longitudinally from behind each eye to the upper angle of the opercle.

A second specimen in the collection is smaller than the above, measuring only two inches and a half in length. It is in bad condition, but does not appear to differ, except in having the anterior canines above but very little developed.

Habitat, Falkland Islands.

Both individuals of this species were taken by Mr. Darwin in the Falkland Islands. “Caught amongst kelp.”—D.

ERRATA.

Page 6, line 2, from the bottom, for versus apicem read apicem versus.

9, — 7, ——, for versum angulum read angulum versus.

13, — 4, ——, for ciliatis read ciliatæ.

18, — 17, from the top, for duobus read duabus.

INDEX.

Acanthoclinus fuscus, Page 92, Pl. XVIII. f. 2.

Acanthurus humeralis, 76

—— triostegus, 75

Achirus lineatus, 139

Agriopus hispidus, 38, 163, Pl. VII. f. 2.

Aleuteres maculosus, 156

—— velutinus, 157

Alosa pectinata, 135, Pl. XXV.

Anguilla australis, 142

Aphritis porosus, 162