BY J. DOUGLAS OGILBY. 247 



Myropterura, gen.nov. 



Body rather shorj^ subterete in front, compressed Ijeliintl. 

 Head rather long and narrow. Mouth moderate, the cleft 

 scarcely extending beyond the eye; lower jaw not much shorter 

 than the upper. Teeth conical, in one or two series in the jaws; 

 canines present; vomerine teeth present. Nostrils pierced in the 

 upper lip; the anterior tubular, well behind the tip of the snout, 

 and directed downwards, the posterior on the inner edge of the 

 lip, elongate. Gill-openings rather wide and oblique. Vertical 

 fins well developed, expanded posteriorly, the dorsal originating 

 behind the vent; pectorals absent. Vent close in front of the 

 anal fin. Skin scaleless, lateral line present, forming an incon- 

 spicuous band along the middle of the side. 



Etymology: — fxvpos, Myrus, the ancient name of a Medi- 

 terranean eel; Trrepv^, a fin; ovpd, tail, 



Myropterura laticaudata, sp.nov. 



Body slender, with the throat somewhat saccate, its depth ^ of 

 the length of the head, which is 3 to 3i in that of the trunk. Snout 

 obtusely pointed, with the upper profile gently .convex anteriorly 

 and forming behind with the interorbital region a shallow con. 

 cavity in front of the occiput, not projecting greatly beyond tlie 

 lower jaw, its length 51 to 5J in the head and 2| times the 

 diameter of the eye. Cleft of mouth extending to or a trifle 

 beyond the vertical from the posterior border of the eye, its 

 length, from the tip of the snout, 3| to 34 in the head. Both 

 jaws with a double series of about six strong curved caniniform 

 teeth anteriorly; lateral maxillary teeth biserial; the mandible 

 with a single series of strong sharp lanceolate teeth inclined Iju^k- 

 wards; vomerine teeth uniserial, similar to those of the jaws and 

 posteriorly concealed in a deep groove. Gill-opening directed 

 obliquely backwards and downwards, its width equal to H 

 diameters of the eye. Vent well in advance of the middle of tlie 

 length, its distance from the extremity of the snout 1:- to l.\ in 

 the leny;th of the tail. Dorsal fin low, commencing well behind 



lu , l i b r a r y 

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