352 DESCRIPTIONS OF APODAL FISHES — GILBERT. 



on head aud shaft of vomer contiimoas. Xo lips. Tongue little de- 

 veloped, with narrow, free margin. Branehiostegal rays fifteen in 

 number (as determined without dissection), not shortened, some of 



them curved around and above the opercle. 



Dorsal, anal, and caudal confluent, rather high, the rays clearly visi- 

 ble through the skin. Dorsal beginning well forward, its origin imme- 

 diately behind the base of pectorals. Origin of anal near end of an- 

 terior end of body. 



This eel combines the general physiognomy of Synaphobranchus with 

 the separate gill-slits and long, bowed branehiostegal rays of Simen- 

 chelys. It may be considered provisionally the type of a family dis- 

 tinct from either. 



(Type, Uyophis hruruieus, sp. no v.) 



Ilyophis bruiineus, sp. nov. 



Body narrow, compressed throughout. Snout and jaws slender, the 

 gape half the length of the head, and extending beyond the eye for a 

 distance less than the diameter of the latter. Maxillary teeth small, 

 bluntly conic, in a narrowband. Teeth on vomer large, conic, those 

 on shaft of vomer in a single row, not continued backwards beyond 

 middle of orbit. Teeth in mandibles in a narrow series similar to those 

 in maxillaries, but those of the inner series enlarged aud retrorse, 

 though less than half the size of vomerine teeth. 



A series of pores near margin of upper aud lower jaws. Front of 

 pupil over end of second third of length of jaw. Lower jaw strong, 

 not flexible, the coronoid process apparently strong (not dissected out). 



Gill-slits narrow, inferior, horizontal, crescentshaj)ed, about equal 

 to horizontal diameter of eye; their lower (anterior) ends separated 

 by a distance equal to their own length, their upper (posterior) ends 

 by li times that distance. 



Head one-half length of trunk. Body 3;^ in total. Pectorals small, 

 one-sixth of head, the rays evident. Scales very fine, arranged in 

 grouj)S at right angles to each other. Lateral line running high an- 

 teriorly, its pores white aud conspicuous ; the lateral line ceases before 

 it reaches the end of the tail, which is scaleless. 



Color brown ; the fi.us, lower side of head, and branchial region 

 darker. 



A single specimen, 15 inches long, from Station 2808, G34 fathoms, 

 (near Chatham Island, Galapagos;. 



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