OPHISUBID.E. 23 



breadth to near the tip of the tail, where both fins slope suddenly 

 away. At its extreme tip, the tail is roundish, conical, and rigid ; 

 but not pungent. Pectoral fin moderately large, sustained by 12 

 rays, and edged at the tip with brown. 



Length, 2875 in. To anus, 12-25; to gill-opening, 3-12 iu. 

 (Bichanhon.) 



The British Museum possesses three specimens from the Rivor 

 Gambia ; the Paris one, two from Goree. 



44. PiSOODOXOPHIS FASCIATUS. 



Ophisurus fasciatus, Eich., Ereb. d Terr. 



Mursena fasciata, Thunherc/, L;j. Ichth. t. 2. f. 1. 



Gymnothorax fasciatus, Bl. ScJni. 529. 



Ophisurus alternaus, Quoij S Gaim. Voy. de Frey. pi. 45, f. 2. 



Bluish-grey, varied by 31-33 chestnut-brown rings, having fre- 

 quently one or two round spots between them, placed one over the 

 other. 



This is a very slender fish, with the rudiments of pectorals 

 scarcely visible. Mandibular teeth uniserial, or sub-biserial. 

 Vomerine teeth biserial. Tail a little longer than the body. 



Malayan Archipelago. Many specimens in the British and 

 French Museums. 



Sub-Family 2. SPHAGEBRANCHIN^. 



Genus 16. LAJMNOSTOMA, Kaup. 



Dalophis, Cantor et Bleekcr nee Eaffinesque.* 



Foremost nostril situated on the under border of the broad, com- 

 pressed, sharp-pointed snout ; it has no tube ; but is ear-shaped, 

 with a cutaneous tag on its inner edge. The dorsal and anal do 

 not go round the point of the tail. 



45. Lamnostoma pictum, fig. 11. 



Manti-bukaropaum, Riis. i. t. 37., 

 Dalophis orientalis, McClell. 



A handsome, and lively, and variously- coloured species. Head 

 gray, with fine brown points ; lighter round the eyes and on the 

 lips. A band of round spots crosses the occiput, and is connected 

 with two short longitudinal bars, which run backwards from the 



• The genus Dalophis of Raffinesque contains two known species, imherbis 

 {hiynaculata, Raff.) and Aj^tericklhys ccecus (Dalophis seiya, Raff.), which have 

 been brought together by fictitious characters. If the name of Dalophis is to be 

 retained it must be applied to imberhis. 



