372 Bulletin ^7, United States National Museum. 



609. MIROPHIS TAFEB, Jordan k Gilbert. 



Base of pectoral fiu as wide as the gill opening; snout almost as broad 

 as long: width at the nostrils greater than the iuterorbital width; dorsal 

 commencing nearer the vent than the gill openings ; teeth uniserial on 

 vomer and mandible, biserial on maxillary ; head a little less than 3 in 

 the trunk, 5^ in the tail; de^ith of body at the gill openings '6\ to 4 in 

 head ; upper jaw projecting. Color light brown ; sides and back with 

 minute brown specks, smaller than \xx ininciatus; belly and throat plain. 

 Pacific Coast of Tropical America, from Guaymas to Panama; common. 

 Similar to M. punctatus, but the pectorals longer, {vafer, sly.) 



Ml'-ophis vafer, Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Kat. Mus., 1882, 645, Panama. (Type, No. 

 29681. Coll. Gilbert.) Jordan, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1885, 370 ; Jordan & Davis, 1. c, G41. 



174. CHILORHINUS, Liitken. 



CliilorJiinus, LI'tken, Tidensk. Meddel. Naturg. Foreu. KjubenhaTn, 1, 1851, (siiens<mii). 



Body short, much compressed ; mouth narrow ; no teeth on vomer; snout 

 depressed, obtuse; pectoral fins very small; vertical fins well developed, 

 the dorsal commencing behind the gill opening. One species known. 

 C\;«Aof, lip ; fi/v, nostril.) 



610. CHILORHIXrS SUEXSOXII, LUtkeu. 



Head and trunk forming s of the total length ; dorsal fin commencing 

 at a iJoint half way between vent and snout ; depth 9 times in the total 

 length ; eye 2^ in iuterorbital width, the latter equaling the muzzle ; teeth 

 on palatines biserial ; ten teeth in two transverse rows on the nasals ; 

 teeth on lower jaw triserial. Color uniform dark brown ; throat paler; 

 fins darker margined. (Cope.) St. Croix, West Indies, not known else- 

 where. (A personal name.) 



Chilorhimts suensonii, LfiTKEN, Vid.Med. Naturg. Foren., 1, 1851, St. Croix ; Gvntiier, Cat., viii, 

 52, 1870; Cope, Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc, 1870,482 ; Jordan ct Davis, ;.c.,e39. 



Family LII. OPHICHTHYID^. 

 (The Snake Eels.) 

 This family includes those Enchelycephalous eels which are scaleless, 

 and have the end of the tail projecting beyond the dorsal and anal fins, 

 and without the rudiment of a caudal fin. Anterior nostrils placed in 

 the upper lip, opening downwards ; gill openings not confluent; tongue 

 more or less fully adnate to the floor of the mouth. The species are, for 

 the most part, moderate or small in size, and they are very abundant in 

 the tropical seas, especially about the coral reefs. The eggs are numerous, 

 of moderate size, similar to those of ordinary fishes. Genera about 12. 

 Species nearly 100. Most of the known genera are found in America, but 

 less than half the species. Many of the species are singularly colored, the 

 bands or spots heightening the analogy between them and the serpents. 

 (Murankla', part Ojiliichthyitia, Giinther, Cat., viii, 51-90, 1870.) 

 a. Body without traces of fins anywhere ; teetli all small, conical ; gill openings near together, 

 subinferior ; anterior nostril tubular ; tongue scarcely free in front ; mouth small. 

 6. Gill-slits inferior, converging forward. Sphagebrancuis, 175. 



bb. Gill-slits small, lateral, placed vertically. Verma, 176. 



