1884.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 43 



Pectorals very minute. This specimen agrees equally well with 

 the description of Coecula scuticaris and Coecula teres^ nor is it 

 evident, from the published accounts, how the two are to be dis- 

 tinguished from each other. 



5. Coeoula bascanium s-p. nov. (S26 [J.].) 



This species belongs to the same group as Coecula scuticaris 

 and C teres^ but is distinguished from either by the shorter head 

 and better developed pectoral fin. The type is 31 inches long, in 

 fair condition. 



Body extremely slender, subterete, its greatest depth little 

 more than two-fifths length of head; head short; snout short, 

 7 times in head; mouth very small; lower jaw thin, included, , 

 not extending forward to the anterior nostril, which is in a short 

 tube ; teeth short, subconic, bluntish, a little unequal ; their points 

 directed backward ; lower teeth nearly in one series ; upper teeth 

 uniserial laterally, partly biserial anteriorly ; vomerine teeth in 

 a rhombic patch, some of them a little enlarged. Eye moderate, 

 its length rather more than half snout, its centre scarcely behind 

 middle of upper jaw. Cleft of mouth 3| in length of head. Gill- 

 opening vertical, about as wide as isthmus, its upper edge about 

 on level of upper edge of pectoral ; pectoral small, but larger 

 than in related species, a little broader than long and about as 

 long as snout. Dorsal fin very low, beginning at a point about 

 midway between front of eye and gill-opening ; anal similar to 

 dorsal. Head 11^ times in distance from snout to vent. Trunk 

 a little longer than tail. Total length 31 inches ; head If inches; 

 trunk 14| ; tail 14^. Color in spirits, dark-brown, nearly or quite 

 uniform ; fins paler. 



6. Ophichthys intertinotus (R cbardsou) Giiather. (803»,- 825 [J].) 



Dark brown above, paler below ; sides and back with about 

 three rows of large, ovate, brown spots, somewhat irregular in 

 size and position, those of the upper row smallest, the large and 

 small ones of the lower row somewhat alternating; spots on head 

 small and numerous. Dorsal with an interrupted dark margin ; 

 anal with a darker edge ; pectorals blackish. Head 3^ in trunk ; 

 cleft of mouth nearly half length of head ; pectoral about 5 in 

 head. Dorsal commencing a little behind end of pectoi'aT. Tail 

 rather longer than rest of bod3\ The dentition is well described 

 by Dr. Giinther (viii, 5t). 



