209 



dorsal is long and ends a short distance (3 mm.) from the 

 commencement of the caudal rays. The anal commences in 

 the vertical from the first ray of the second dorsal and ends 

 slightly in advance of its last ray, being at a distance 

 (4 mm.) from the commencement of the caudal rather greater 

 than the endmg of the second dorsal. The ventral commence- 

 ment of the caudal is somewhat anterior to that of the dorsal. 

 Locality : The single specimen was obtained by shrimp trawl 

 at a depth of 300 to 400 fathoms, Bashee River beacon (on East 

 Coast) bearing N. ^ E., distant 15 miles. 



Fam. OPHIDIDAE. 

 SELAOHOPHIDIUM, n.g-. 



Body compressed. Head somewhat depressed anteriorly. 

 Body, snout (including anterior portion) and base of dorsal 

 covered with small scales. Lateral line distinct and uninter- 

 rupted. Snout swollen, produced beyond jaws. Mouth large, 

 inferior and horizontal ; eyes large ; nostrils large, far apart, 

 the posterior in front of the eye, the anterior midway between 

 the posterior and end of snout. Opercuknn with a spine. No 

 barbels. Band of villiform teeth in jaws, on vomer and 

 palatines. No enlarged teeth. Vertical fins confluent. 

 Ventrals close together, each consisting of one undivided ray 

 inserted in front of posterior edge of preoperculum. Gills 4 

 with long and short gill rakers. Branchiostegals 8. Pseudo- 

 branchiae present and small. 



This genus appears to be most closely allied to Cntactyx, but 

 differs from it in following particulars. — Snout scaly on 

 anterior part ; eyes very large ; lateral line distinct and 

 uninterrupted ; anterior nostril not at extremity of snout ; no 

 wide muciferous openings on suborbital, and only one on 

 preoperculum ; snout swollen ; no series of larger teeth along 

 sides of lower jaw ; pseudobranchiae present. 



Selachophidium guentheri, n.sp. 



(Plate XVII.) 



Br. 8. D. 115. A. 88. C. 9. P. 26. 



Greatest height of body 4^ to 6 times its length. Length of 

 head over 5^. Longitudinal diameter of eye contained 3 times 

 in length of head, vertical diameter 4^ times, equals length 

 of snout, slightly more than interorbital space and i length of 

 ventral ray, which is a little shorter than pectoral, 



