OPHIDIIDAE 113 



probable that the examination of a larger series of examples will show that G. micro- 

 stomas, Regan, cannot be maintained as a distinct species, but, if it should prove to be 

 distinct, this form occurs also in the Argentina-Patagonian-Falklands region. McCulloch 

 (1914) has pointed out that the size of the mouth as measured by the position of the 

 hinder edge of the maxillary in relation to the eye is not a reliable character, and, apart 

 from the very slightly larger scales and the coloration, there appear to be no essential 

 differences between the two forms. 



Fig. 60. Genypterus blacodes. x §. 



Genypterus blacodes is very close to G. capensis, and, as suggested by Barnard, the 

 two species may eventually have to be united. If examples of similar size are compared, 

 however, G. capensis seems to have a larger eye, the diameter of which is 5I to 6 (in 

 specimens of 440-480 mm.) or 7 or more (in large specimens) in the length of the 

 head ; the interorbital width is somewhat narrower, being 7^ to 8| in the length of the 

 head ; the markings on the body are much less conspicuous, and the brown band on 

 the vertical fins is rather broader and more diffuse. 



Genypterus chilensis (Guichenot). " Congrio Colorado." 



Conger chilensis, Guichenot, 1848-9, in Gay, Hist. Chile, Zool. 11, p. 339. 

 Genypterus blacodes, Gunther, 1862, Cat. Fish., iv, p. 380; Delfin, 1903, Revist. Chil, vu, p. 37, 

 pi. xiii, fig. 2; Thompson, 1916, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., l, p. 469; Evermann and Radcliffe, 

 1917, Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus., xcv, p. 149. 

 Genypterus chilensis, Gunther, 1862, Cat. Fish., iv, p. 380; Gunther, 1880, Shore Fish. 

 'Challenger', p. 25; Regan, 1903, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (7) xi, p. 600. 

 Depth of body 6| to 7I in the length, length of head 4J to 4! . Snout longer than 

 eye, diameter of which is 7 to 7! in length of head ; interorbital width about 7. Maxillary 

 extending to well beyond eye. Length of pectoral about z\ in that of head. Back and 

 upper parts of sides blackish, with some rather small and irregularly arranged white 

 spots ; lower parts abruptly yellowish. 

 Hob. Coasts of Chile and Peru. 



There are 3 specimens (355-580 mm.) in the British Museum collection: 2 from 

 Concepcion, received from Mr Cavendish Bentinck; and 1 from Valparaiso, collected 

 by the 'Challenger' Expedition. A young specimen (130 mm.), also from Valparaiso, 

 seems to belong here. 



This species is closely related to G. blacodes, but the body is deeper, the eye smaller, 

 and the coloration different. 



Genypterus maculatus (Tschudi). " Congrio negro." 



Ophidium blancodes, Tschudi, 1846, Fauna Peru., Ichth., p. 29. 



Ophidium maculatum, Tschudi, 1846, t.c, p. 29, pi. v. 



15 



DXVI 



