PLATE XVII. Fig. 2.
_B. cinereo-griseus; maculis, vel lituris paucis, infrà pinnam
dorsalem obsoletis, pallidè nigricantibus: dentibus caninis nullis:
tentaculis palpebralibus duobus, parvis, subfurcatis: pinnâ anali
haud ultrâ dorsalem extensâ._
D. 12/17; A. 20; &c.—
LONG. unc. 2. lin. 2.
FORM.—Closely resembling the last species, but rather deeper in
proportion to its length, less compressed in front, with the head
more inflated about the throat and gills. Snout, profile, and
position of the eye, similar. Superciliary filaments scarcely
longer, but rather broader and more conspicuous, and cleft at the
extremity. Filaments at the nostrils a little longer, but very
slender and delicate. Teeth similar, both in number and form. Fins
and lateral line exactly similar. Behind the vent a papilla not
present in the last species.
COLOUR.—Different from that of the _B. fasciatus_, but with traces of
the same markings. The ground colour is cinereous grey, which almost
every where prevails: there are faint traces of the angulated fasciæ
beneath the chin, as well as of three dark stains beneath the
dorsal, but these last no longer deserve the name of ocellated
spots. Fins, cheeks, and gill-covers, dotted in like manner: also
some indication of the larger spot on the first three rays of the
dorsal: anal with the same dusky edging.
_Obs._ Of this species there are five specimens in the collection. The
next in size to the one described above, measures one inch seven
lines in length, and resembles it in every respect, excepting that
the superciliary filaments are broader and longer, equalling at
least one diameter and a half of the eye. The colours and markings
are exactly the same, only the fasciæ on the throat can hardly be
discerned.
_No. 3_ is exactly similar in size, as well as in all its other
characters, to No. 2. Has the superciliary filaments equally
developed.
_No. 4_ resembles Nos. 2 and 3, but is smaller, measuring one inch
five lines in length.
_No. 5_, the smallest of all the specimens, and measuring only one
inch three lines, has the dark markings more developed, especially
the angulated fasciæ on the throat, which are almost as distinct as
in the _B. fasciatus_: the spots beneath the dorsal assume the
appearance of abbreviated transverse fasciæ reaching from the base
of the fin to the median line; and besides the three faintly
indicated in the other specimens, there are two others nearer the
head, forming altogether a series of five. In this specimen the
superciliary filaments are shorter, not exceeding the diameter of
the eye.
Habitat, Coquimbo, Chile.
This species differs but slightly from the last, and both may hereafter
prove to be mere varieties of the _B. biocellatus_; but it is desirable
for the present to keep them distinct, as, though all found on the same
coast, they are from distinct localities on that coast. Also the above
five specimens, though varying in the intensity of the markings, have
all a ground colour quite different from that of the _B. fasciatus_, and
a peculiarity of aspect immediately noticeable to the eye. Had they been
found mixed with that species, the presence of the anal papilla might
lead to the suspicion of their being the other sex; but, under the
circumstances, this seems hardly probable. They were all taken at
Coquimbo.