16 SYMBHANCHID^. 



Mursena lumbricus, Gronov. Si/st. ed. Gfai/, p. 18. 



Synbranchus vittatus, Castehi. An. Amer. Sud, p. 84, pi. 44. fig. 3. 



Snout short, rounded or obtusely pointed ; eyes small, rather 

 close to the end of the snout. GiU-opening narrow, not extending 

 to the side of the ventral surface, generally transverse, arched, 

 frequently appearing as a longitudinal slit unless stretched out. 

 Vert. 79/57. 



Tropical America. 



The varieties of this widely distributed species are numerous, 

 especially with regard to the width of the snout and head, form of 

 the gill-opening, width of the palatine band of teeth, and coloration ; 

 ])ut it is evident, from an examination of a long series of examples, 

 that the differences are not speciiic. 



a, b-c, d-e. Adult, half-grown, and young. Bahia. From Dr. 



Wucherer's CoUectiou. 

 f. Adult. Para. Presented by Pt. Graham, Esq. 

 r/-/i. Adult. Pebas. From Mr. HauxweU's Collection. 

 {. Young. Chyavetas (Upper Amazons), From Mr. Bartlctt's 



Collection. 

 Jc-m. Half-grown. Pernambuco. Presented by J. P. G. Smith, 



Esq. '^ 



n. Adult. Surinam. From the Collection of Dr. van Lidth de Jcude. 



0. Half-grown. Caj^cnne. 



p, q, r. Adidt, half-grown, and young. British Guyana. 



s-t. Adult and half-grown (in bad state). Berbice. 



u. Half-grown. Bogota. Purchased of Mr. Cutter. 



V. Adult. Trinidad. Purchased of Mr. Cutter. 



w. Adidt. Vera Cruz. Purchased of Mr. Cuming. 



.r. Adult. Guatemala. From Mr. Salvin's Collection. 



y. Adult. Lake Peten. From Mr. Salvin's Collection. 



z. Half-grown, Huamuchal. From Mr. SaMn's Collection. 



a. Adult. Rio Chisoy. From the Collection of Messrs. Godman 

 and Salvin. 



/3, y, l-e. Adidt and half-grown. Mexico. From M. Salle's Col- 

 lection. 



i:,. Half-grown. Santa Lucia. Presented by Mr. Smith. 



■q. Adidt. From the Collection of the Zoological Society. 



ti. Several specimens. Boero?? Purchased of Mr, Cuming, Al- 

 though these examples were received at the same time as 

 numerous others from Ceylon and Booro, I do not believe that 

 the statement regarding the habitat is correct. 



1. Adult : skeleton, Rio Chisoy, From the Collection of Messrs, 



Godman and Salvin. 



2. Symbranchus bengalensis. 



Opliisternon bengalensis, M'Clell. Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. v. pp. 197, 

 200, tab. 11. figs. 1 & 2; Kaiq), Apod. p. 121, tab. 15. fig. 76 

 (head). 



? Opliisternon hepaticus, APClcll. /. r. p. 198, figs. ?> & 4. 



