64 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



= Saccopharyngidie, Gill, Arrangement Fam. Fishes, p. 21, (Not characterized; 

 placed with " Apodes incerta^; sedis.") 1872. 



= SaccopharyngidtE, Holder, Museum Nat. Hist., Am. Fauna, p. cc. 1877. 

 = Saccoi>haryugidie, Jordan i^^ Gilbert, Syu. Fislies N. Am., p. 36.'). 1883. 



There is still doubt as to whether the fishes examined by Mitchill 

 and Harwood belong to the same species, or even genus. There are 

 several notable discrepancies between the descriptions of the two observ- 

 ers, and while it is quite possible that they are the result of imperfect 

 examinations, it is premature to assume that they are such. A careful 

 study of the specimens in the British Museum may resolve the ques- 

 tion. Meanwhile, without the expression of opinion as to the probabil- 

 ities of the dilemmas, we formulate, under the respective names of Mitch- 

 ill and Harwood, the most salient characters alleged to distinguish the 

 two from each other. In case such diflt'erences are confirmed, the two 

 fishes will probably be generically separable. 



Saccopharynx. 



Saccopharynx, Mitchill, Ann. Lyceum Nat. Hist. N. Y., v. 1, p. 86, 1824, 



Saccopharyngids with the dorsal and anal fins continued backwards 

 and confluent with a slightly developed caudal fin [?], and with the lower 

 jaw toothless. 



Ophiognathus. 



Ophiognathus, Harwood, Phil. Trans, Royal Soc, 1827, p. 52, 

 Saccopharynx sp. auct, 



Saccopharyngids with the dorsal and anal fins obsolete backwards, 

 and without a caudal fin, the extremity of the caudal portion simply 

 flagelliform, and with the lower jaw armed with teeth like those of the 

 upper. 



Saccopharynx flagellum. 



SYNONYMY. 



1824. Saccopharynx [ = Stylephorns chordatus"], Mitchill, Annals Lyceum 



Nat. Hist. N. Y., v. 1, p, 86. 

 1829. Saccopharynx flagellum, "Mitchill," Cuvier, Regne Animal, 2. ed., t. 2, 



p. 355, (ed. de luxe, t. 4, p. 321.) 

 1836. Saccopharynx ampullaceus, Bichardsov, Fauna Bor. -Americana, v. 3, p. 



271. 

 1836. Der Geisselaal,* Olten, Allgemeine Naturgeschichte, v. 6 (Thierreich. 

 V. 3), p. 126. (In part: abstract of Mitchill's description.) 



1845. Saccopharynx, Mitchilli, Anon. (Stephens?), Encyclopasdia Metropoli- 

 tana, v. 24, p. 250. 



1846, Saccopharynx chordatus, Stover, Mem. Am. Acad. Arts and Sc, (2,) v, 

 2, p. 489 ; Syn. Fishes N. Am., p. 237. 



1862. Saccopharynx flagellum, Johnson, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., (3,) v. 10, 



p, 279. 

 1870, Saccopharynx flagellum, Giinther, Cat, Fishes in Brit. Mus., v. 8, p. 22 



(in part). 



' Geisselaal, anglice Whip-eel. 



