44 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1884. 



Two large specimens. This species has not been previously 

 recorded from the waters of the United States. 



7. Myrophis egmontis sp. nov. (802; 827* [J.]-) 



Two specimens in fair condition. 



Head small, slender, moderately pointed ; anterior nostril in a 

 short tube ; posterior nostril large, with a raised rim, placed 

 directly behind the anterior ; cleft of mouth rather short, extend- 

 ing to beyond the rather large eye, which is more than half the 

 length of the snout ; cleft of mouth 3J in head ; teeth in both 

 jaws subequal, pointed, slightly compressed, arranged in single 

 series, those of both jaws directed backward, the lower teeth 

 being more oblique than the upper ; upper jaw with about 4 small 

 fixed canines. No teeth on vomer in either of the typical speci- 

 mens. Tongue not free. Lower jaw considerably shorter than 

 upper, its edge considerabl}- curved, concave in profile. Nape 

 somewhat elevated. Top of head with large pores. 



Head 5^ times in distance from snout to vent ; head and trunk 

 a little shorter than tail. Body slender, its greatest depth a little 

 more than length of gape. Pectoral fin short and broad, slightly 

 longer than snout ; gill-opening short, oblique, extending down- 

 ward and backward from near the middle of the base of the 

 pectoral. Dorsal fin beginning behind vent, in one specimen at a 

 distance about equal to length of gape; in the other specimen, a 

 little farther forward ; dorsal fin very low in front, becoming 

 gradually higher toward the tip of tail ; anal fin low, but well 

 developed, considerably higher than dorsal, highest anteriorl}'^. 

 Uniting with the dorsal around the tail. 



Color in spirits, dark-brown, apparently uniform, somewhat 

 paler below. 



Length of specimen about 15 inches. 



We refer this species to Myrophis, although its dorsal is 

 inserted very much farther back than in any of the known 

 species of that genus. The absence of vomerine teeth, if normal, 

 still farther separates it from the other species, and it is not 

 unlikely that it should be regarded as the type of a distinct 

 genus. 



One of the types {S2^) has been presented to the U. S. National 

 Museum. 



