62 Direclor s Aiinual Report. 



Family OPHICHTHYDID^.— Snake Eels. 



Genus OPKICTHUS Thunbekg & Ahl. 



43. Ophicthus colubrinus (Ahl). 



Head 9 into distance ironi snout to vent ; cleft of mouth of 

 median width ; lips fringed. Teeth in jaws and on vomer obtuse, 

 with rounded crowns, in 2 rows ; dorsal fin commencing in front of 

 gill openings; pectorals rudimentary. Color in spirits : Grayish, 

 with about 35 brownish rings over back and sides ; the older speci- 

 mens have round spots in the interspaces between the rings, or the 

 rings mav become more or less broken up into roundish spots. 

 Two specimens 6-13 inches. Guam, June 2, 1900. Hab. Red Sea, 

 Andaman to Malay Archipelago, Marianas. 



Family MUR^NID^.— ^Iorays. 



Genus MTJR.^NA (Aktedi) Linn.^jus. 



44. Mursena nigra Day. 



Head about 4.50 into the distance from tip of snout to anal 

 opening. Body elongate ; the trunk and tail of about equal length ; 

 Teeth biserial ; mandible with about 20 teeth on each side ; dorsal 

 and anal moderately developed. Color in spirits: Uniform black, no 

 light edge to fins. One specimen in poor condition. Length 8.50 

 inches. Guam, July 14, 1900. Hab. Andamans, Western Pacific, 

 Marianas. 



45. Mursena tile Ham. 



Young: Hefid about 6 times from tip of snout to anal opening; 

 the tail and trunk of about equal length. Body elongate. Teeth 

 pointed ; eye 2 into snout. Color in spirits : Brownish yellow, 

 slightl\' lighter below. Two specimens. Length about 4 inches. 

 Guam, June 2, 1900. Hab. Seas of Bengal to Malay Archipelago, 

 Marianas. 



Genus ECHIDNA Forstek. 



46-48. Bchidna uniformis sp. nov. 



Head, from gill openings to tip of snout, 3.20 into length an- 

 terior of vent ; snout 5.20 into head. Body elongate, cylindrical; 

 branchial openings small ; tail much longer than trunk ; nostrils 

 lateral. Teeth blunt, in double rows in jaws and on the palate ; 

 dorsal beginning about the length of head posterior of the gill 

 openings ; the anal beginning just posterior of vent. Color in life: 

 A uniform yellowish white, with a slight tint of pea green. Speci- 



