21. OPHUIITIIVS. ().) 



liistory. Uufortunately these valuable specimens, which were the 

 types of the species, are now missing. 



Avhirophivhthtis typus, Bleek. Ned. Tjdschr. Dierk. ii. p. 42, and 

 Atl. Ichthyol. Jlurasn. p. 8t), tab. 47. fig. 3, is founded on a single 

 example from Celebes, 8 inches long. It is apimrently distinguished 

 by the absence of pectoral fins, which induced Dr. Bleeker to create 

 a distinct genus for it. However, its similarity to 0. crocodUinas 

 is so great that I cannot help thinking that it will eventually prove 

 to be merely the 3'oung of that species. Young Murajnoids have 

 the fins generally less developed than adult ; and although there is 

 certainly not a pectoral developed, yet distinct traces of it may be 

 seen on one side of the typical specimen. Dr. Bleeker mentions as 

 a second principal character the e(iuality of the jaws ; but in reality 

 the lower jaw is a little prominent, and in other undoubted ex- 

 amples of 0. crocodilinus, which are not full-grown, the lower jaw 

 is much less prominent than in adult specimens ; so that also this 

 character appears to be dubious, and is altogether useless for the 

 creation of a genus. 



21. Ophichthys cirrochilus. 



OphisuruscirrhocheiluSj^fceA-. Act. Soc. Sc. Indo-Nederl. li. Amhoyna, 



viii. p. 89. 

 Braclivsomopliis cirrhochiliis, Bleek. Atl. Ichthyol. Murmi. p. ".8, 



tab.' 9. 



The length of the head is about one-third of the distance between 

 tlie giU-opening and the vent. Snout short and rather flattened, 

 at least thrice as long as the eye, which is situated in the anterior 

 fifth of the length of the head. Teeth as in 0. crocodiUnus. Lij)s 

 fringed. GUI-openings rather wide. Vertical fins well developed ; 

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

 about two-thirds of the length rff the head ; the length of the pec- 

 toral is one-fourth of that of the head. Body and tail of nearly the 

 same length. Brownish, with large, irregular, dark, transverse 

 spots ; fins yellowish, (^Iged with brown. 



Amboyna ; Formosa. 



a. Head and tail of a very large example. Formosa. From Consul 



Swinhoe's Collection. 



b. Type of the species. Amboyna. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. 



b. Lips not frinf/cd. 

 a. Snmit much produced : lar-gc canine teeth. 



22. Ophichthys serpens. 



Serpens mnrinus, Sah'ian. fob 57 & 58; Bellon. De Aquat. p. loO; 



Rondel, p. 4()'.»; inili/t/hhi/, p. 107, tab. G. 4. 

 MuriBua, sp. no. 4, Artedi, (ien. 24: Syn. 41. 

 MuriBna serpeu.s, L. Si/.it. Nat. i. p. A2^). 

 Ophisuriis .serpens. Lacep. ii. p. 19f< : Hchley. Fann.Japutt. Poiss. p. »'04, 



VOL. VIII 



