21. ornicHTnYs. 57 



which is well developed. Tail somewhat longer than the body, 

 lirownisli, with numerous small roundish or ovate black spots. 

 Puerto Cabello ; Cuba. 



3. Ophichthys adspersus. 



The length of the head is contained twice and two-thirds in the 

 distance between the gill-opening and vent. Snout short, depressed, 

 with tlie jaws even in front. Eye of moderate size, two-thirds of 

 the length of the snout, situated in the anterior fifth of the length of 

 the head. Cleft of the mouth very wide, one-half of the length 

 of the head ; lips not fringed. Teeth pointed, fixed, unequal in size ; 

 those of the intermaxillary stand in an arched series, behind which 

 a large canine tooth ; the other teeth biserial, the outer series of the 

 maxillary and mandible containing canine teeth. Gill-openings of 

 moderate width, close together. Vertical fins moderately developed ; 

 the distance between the origin of the dorsal fin and gill-opening is 

 about two-fifths of the length of the head ; pectoral fin one-fourth 

 of the length of the head. Tail longer than the body. Body with 

 numerous blackish-brown specks. 



China. 



«. Eighteen inches long. 



4. Ophichthys intertinctus. 



Ophisurus intertinctus, Richards. Ereh. c^ Terr. Fish. p. 102. 

 Echiopsis intertinctus, Kaup, Apud. p. 13. 



Two series of large ovate brown spots along each side of the body, 

 one above, the other below the lateral line ; the spots of the lower 

 series arc less in number, and placed alternately with the spots of 

 the upper series ; upperside of the head with small brown spots ; 

 dorsal fin with an interrupted brown margin ; anal fin with a brown 

 edge. Gill-openings wide, more nearly a])proaclung to each other 

 than is usual in this genus. The length of the head is two-sevenths 

 of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent. Cleft of the 

 mouth very wide, nearly one-half of the length of the head. Teeth 

 sharply pointed, with canines ; posterior part of the maxillary teeth 

 and the mandibulary teeth in a double series, some of the anterior 

 and lateral teeth being canines ; the teeth of the inner maxillary 

 series are depressible. Intermaxillary with some smaller teeth in 

 front in a transverse scries, and with a large canine tooth behind 

 the scries. Vomer with a double series, confiuent into one poste- 

 riorly. Eye small, two-thirds of the length of the pointed snout, 

 and situated in the anterior fifth of the length of the head. The 

 length of the pectoral fin is one-fifth of that of the head. Dorsal 

 commencing at a short distance behind tlie end of the pectoral. 

 Tail ratlier longer than the body. 

 West Indies. 



o. Type of the species, 1 2^ inches long. Purchased of Mr. !5crivener. 

 b. t?ixteen inches long. 



