374 Bulletin 4J, United States National Museum. 



Jchlhi/apiis, Brisout de Barneville, Bevue Zoiilogique, 219, 1847, (aaUirostris). 

 Ophisuraphis, Kaup, Apodes, 29, 1856, {gracilis). 



This genus contains several little-known species of small eels remarka- 

 ble for showing no trace of fins in the adult stage. The snout projects 

 beyond the small month, giving a shark-like profile, and the small teeth 

 are mostly uniserial. The gill-slits are inferior and converging. The 

 name Sphafiehranchus was based on a species which evidently belongs to the 

 genus. It has, therefore, clear priority over Ichthyajms and Apterichthya. 



This genus is the most simple in structure among the genera of Ophich- 

 thi/ida', as Ophichthus is jirobably the most specialized. Its loss of fins is 

 doubtless due to degeneration, but it seems nearer the primitive type than 

 Brachyaomopliis or Op>luchthus. {a<pu^, throat; [ipayxia, gills.) 



a. Eyes visible. Tail nearly half longer than head and trunk ; gill slits inferior, converging. 

 h. Head fi times in trunk. anguiformis, fill. 



6!). Head little more than 4 times in trunk. selachops, G12. 



611. SPHAGEBRANCHUS ANGUIFORMIS (Peters). 



Eyes externally visible. Tail nearly one-half longer than head and 

 trunk. Head 6 in trunk, 17 in total length. Flesh-colored, with small 

 black spots. (Peters.) Open Atlantic, near the West Indies ; a small eel, 

 once taken, {anguis, the slow worm; forma, form.) 



(ypliichlhys (Sphariebfanchus) angni-' rmis, Peters, Berliu Monatsabor., 1876, 849, Atlantic Ocean, 



15° 40' N., 23° 5' W. 

 Spliagehranclttis anguiformin, Jordan it Davi.s, i. c. .Glii, 



61'2. SPHAGEBRANCHUS.SELACHOPS (Jordan & Gilbert). 



Eyes well developed. Tail nearly half longer than head and trunk. 

 Head a little more than 4 times in trunk; tail sharp-pointed; snout sharp; 

 cleft of mouth 2i to 3 in head; gill slits almost horizontal, converging for- 

 wards, as in S. rostratus, the isthmus equal to eye, which is 2 in snout. 

 General color light brown, slightly dusky on the back and more dusky 

 along the lateral line ; head mottled with dusky spots. Rocks about 

 Cape San Lucas ; not rare. {atXaxoc, shark ; (i)i}i, face,) 



Apterichlhijit sehichopa^ J0UTIAN & GILBERT, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1882, 356, Cape San Lucas. 



(Type, No. 4391. Coll. Xantus.) 

 IMhyaums selachops, Jordan, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1885, 309. 

 Sphagcbranclms selachops, Jordan & Davis, I. c, G15. 



176, VERM A, Jordan &. Evermann. 



Vemia, Jordan & Evermann, new genus, {I:c»ihtlli). 



Body greatly elongate. Anterior nostrils in a short tube ; posterior 

 without tube. Teeth on head of vomer in a /^-sliaped patch : none on 

 shaft. Closely allied to S})]uujehranchu.i, but diftering from that genus in 

 the transverse position of its gill-slits, which are as in the European 

 genus Ccccula. (vermis, worm.) 



a. Tail but little longer than head and trunk. Ilead ly^ in trunk ; gillslitssmall, transverse. 



KENDALLI, 613. 



