203 



level of the tips of the pectorals when laid full back. The anal begins immedi- 

 ately behind the vent. Pectorals small, pointed, equal in length to the rostr- 

 orbital portion of the head. 



Stomach with a cul-de-sac of moderate size ; intestine wide, little convolu- 

 ted; liver large, indistinctly lobated, embracing the oesophagus. Air-bladder 

 very large, with very thick spongy walls and a small central cavity. 



Colours in the fresh state : — body and fins uniform purple-black. 



A mature female is 17 inches long. 



Arabian Sea, off the Laccadive islands, 1000 fathoms. 



Kegd. No. 12878. 



Morjinesocina, Giinther. 

 Sauromur&nesox, Alcock. 



Sauromur&nesox, Alcock, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Dec. 1889, p. 457. 



The branchial openings into the pharynx are wide slits. The heart is 

 situated between the gills. The tail is nearly as long as the head and trunk 

 combined, and is much lower than the trunk. The snout is pointed, is of good 

 length and overhangs the mouth and lower jaw, but is not specially prolonged. 

 Byes large. Nostrils lateral. Cleft of the mouth wide. Sharp teeth in a single 

 row in the maxilla and mandible : some enlarged teeth in the premaxilla and at 

 the anterior end of the mandible : a row of fangs on the vomer. Tongue free. 



Gill-openings separate. No scales. Lateral line distinct but not conspicu- 

 ous : each pore at the end of a small branch. 



Vertical fins ill-developed confluent, the dorsal beginning a little in advance 

 of the gill-opening. Pectorals well developed. 



164. Sauromurcenesox vorctx, Alcock. 



Sauromurmnesox vorax, Alcock, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Dec. 1889, p. 458 : Illustrations of the Zoology op 

 the Investigator, Fishes, pl. VI., fig. 3. 



Form of the body lizard-like, especially in the adult female, the body being 

 high with an arched back, and the tail being low, even at its junction with the 

 trunk, and tapering. 



Length of the head, measured to the gill-opening rather over two-thirds 

 the distance between the gill-opening and the vent, or about two-ninths of the 

 total. 



The length of the snout is twice the width of the interorbital space and 

 more than twice the diameter of the large circular eye ; it tapers to a fine point, 

 which is slightly hooked. Nostrils large, the anterior subtubular, at some 



