ophistjridj:. 29 



57. ichthyapus acdtirostris. 



Icththyapus acutirostris, Barnarille, Oner. Eev. Zool. Ju'dl. 1847. 



A very small thin vermiform fish, of a brownish colour. Five 

 pores in a row, which crosses the occiput ; 4 between the point of 

 the snout and the eyes; 3 behind the eye, running up from the 

 border of the lip; one on the middle of the forehead; and on 

 each limb of the mandible. 



Length, from the tip of the snout to the gill-opening, 0'79 in. ; 

 to the anus, 4- 14 in. Length of tail, 4-92 in. 



Equatorial ocean, far from land. (Paris Mus., M. Rang.) 



Genus 22. OPHISUEAPHIS, Kaup. 



This resembles the preceding genus ; but the fore nostril tubes 

 have the customary short form. The hinder nostrils, placed before 

 the eyes in the inner lip, are not visible ; but may be detected by 

 the help of a needle. The punctiform eyes ai'e situated nearer to 

 the point of the snout. All the teeth are small, pointed, and re- 

 curved. The nasal teeth stand between the lips of a cleft in the 

 rostral integument. These few mesial teeth end near the begin- 

 ning of the palatines. I could detect no vomerine teeth. 



58. Ophisurapus gracilis. 



Still thinner and more elongated than the preceding. 

 Length, to the angle of the mouth, 024 in. ; to the gill-opening, 

 067 in. ; to the anus, 402 in. Length of the tail, 5-81 in. 



Allied to this is the 



59. Sphagebranchtjs quadratus. 



Sphagebrauchus quadratus. Puck., Toy. of the Sidph., pi. 52, f. 



8-15. 



Which is less elongated, and has two rows of vomerine teeth. On 

 a further examination, this species may prove to be the type of 

 a proper group. 



Sdb-Family 3. MYROPHIN^. 

 Anguilliform. Dorsal and anal encircling the tail. 



Genus 23. MYROPHIS, Lntken. 



Two long irregular rows of teeth on the closely-approximated 

 vomerine and palatine bones ; also on the mandible. Three pairs 

 of teeth on the nasal bone. Dor&al fin commencing at four lengths 



