cancrivoriis, that it might readily be confounded with it. 

 The following differences, however, appear to exist, if the 

 notes I made at Cambridge be correct, for I have not com- 

 pared the specimens. The dorsal and anal lower more 

 posteriorly before they swell out gradually, and contract 

 again as gradually for an inch anterior to their termination, 

 close to the apex of the tail. The bands of teeth on the 

 several bones are narrower. 



Length 19^ inches. To anus 7f inches. To gill-open- 

 ing 205 inches. 



Hab. Canton. 



Without further examination, I cannot confidently pro- 

 pose this as a species distinct from cancrirorits or the 

 varieties noticed above as inhabiting the seas of the Mo- 

 luccas and Straits of Sincapore. 



Another species resembling cancrivoriis in its dentition, 

 pectorals and general form, is the 



Ophisukus semicinctus. Richardson. 



The nasal teeth, about thirty-three in number, are dis- 

 posed in a convex oblong-oval disk, which is not separated 

 by a distinct line liom the vomerine teeth. The latter run 

 far back, and are placed two deep anteriorly, four in the 

 middle parts, and two again posteriorly. The palatine 

 teeth form two or three irregular rows, and the teeth of the 

 mandible are mostly ranged in three rows, which increase 

 to four near the symphysis. The dorsal commences about 

 an inch before the gill-opening, and, together with the 

 anal, carries most of its breadth to near the tip of the tail, 

 where both fins slope suddenly away. The extreme tip of 

 the tail is roundish, conical and rigid, but not pungent. 

 Pectoral fin moderately large, sustained by twelve rays, 

 and tipped with brown. 



Colours much faded. A black spot, flanked by two 

 others, marks the hind head, and the top and sides of the 

 jaws are covered with brown dots of the size of swan-shot. 

 The body is banded by eighteen large deep purplish-brown 

 spots or bars, that fade away a little below the lateral line, 

 except the three last, which encircle the tail. The dorsal 

 and anal are edged with blackish-brown. 



Length 2875 inches. To anus 12'25 inches. To gill- 

 opening 312 inches. 



The origin of this specimen is unknown. It was sent 

 from the College of Surgeons to the British Museum, and 

 is labelled 813, and 2, 45, 29, 15. Some verdigris in 

 the spirit in which ihe specimen has been kept has tinged 

 the teeth a rich green. Another specimen, which is dried, 

 was brought by one of the Earl of Derby's collector* from 

 Western Africa, and presented by his lordship to the 

 British Museum. Its teeth are white, and its length 28 

 inches. 



This species differs from pardalis in having considerably 

 larger pectorals ; and from maciilosus, intertinctiis and 

 siigillatiis in having blunt teeth. In its markings it bears 

 a more or less close resemblance to all these. 



Hab. Western Africa, north of the Equator. 



Ophisuri's boro. Buchanan-Hamilton 



Ophisurus boro, Buchanan - Hamilton, Fish of Ganges, p. 20, 363. 

 Gray, 111. Inil. Zoul. i. PI. 95, f. 1. Haidw. Icon. ined. 301 in Museo 

 Brit. serv. 



This Ojiliisiiriis agrees with cnncrirortis in having a 

 conspicuous pectoral and blunt teeth, but it is a more 

 slender species, with a smaller head. The specimen 

 described below is certainly the one figured in the ' Illus- 

 trations of Indian Zoology,' and agrees with Hardwicke's 

 drawing above quoted, which is probably a copy of one of 

 Hamilton-Buchanan's, being marked M. H. B. 335, but 

 its pectoral, though small, cannot be said to be " minute," 

 as stated in the specific character given by the latter 

 author. It is probable, however, that he had not observed 

 the rudimentary pectorals of the Ophisuri of the next 

 group, and by the word ' minute' meant merely to denote 

 the comparatively small size of the pectorals, as contrasted 

 with those of some others of the Aii(juillidai. 



Its dentition is similar to that of caiicrivorns, but the 

 bands are narrower, and the teeth smaller and more uniform 

 in size, except the centi'al nasal ones, which are a little 

 larger. The nasal cluster contains in one specimen only 

 three teeth, and there are generally about three irregular 

 rows in the vomer, palatines and mandible. The dorsal 

 commences nearly an inch behind the gill-opening, and, 

 together with the anal, gradually narrows, until it can no 

 longer be traced very near the tip of the tail, which is 

 edged to the apex by a cutaneous fold above and below. 



This specimen, which has been long immersed in spirits, 

 is pale brown. The belly is lighter, and the fins whitish. 

 The drawing is coloured dark green, with minute specks. 



Length 24-6 inches. To anus 99 inches. To gill- 

 opening 2'1 inches. 



Hab. Indian Ocean. JDstuaries of rivers and salt-water 

 lakes. 



Ophisurus breviceps. Richardson. 



An Opiiisiiriis in the British Museum, remarkable for 

 its short blunt head, but having the lower jaw, as usual, 

 shorter than the upper one ; may be considered as inter- 

 mediate between the preceding species and the group 

 mentioned below, — agreeing with the former in dentition 

 and general aspect, and with the latter in its very small 

 pectoral, attached like a valve to the lip of the gill-open- 

 ing. This pectoral contains twelve rays. The dorsal 

 commences near the occiput before the gill-opening, and 

 tapers gradually away, so as to become nearly impercepti- 

 ble before it actually terminates, about five lines from the 

 tip of the tail, which is more compressed than it usually 

 is in this genus. The anal vanishes in a similar way op- 

 posite to the end of the dorsal. Head short and thick, with 

 a comparatively wide snout. Eye and gape both small. 



Group of bluntish teeth on the nasal bone circular, se- 

 parated from the triserial vomerine ones, which run far 

 back and end in a single row. The palatine teeth are 



R 2 



