2\. OPUICHTHYS. 67 



fourth of the length of the head. Teeth sharply pointed ; maxillary 

 and anterior vomerine teeth in a double, the others in single series ; 

 the teeth of the inner maxillary series, of the vomer, and mandible 

 depressible. The length of the pectoral is one-sixth of that of the 

 head ; dorsal commencing at a short distauce behind the end of the 

 pectoral. Tail rather shorter than the body. 



St. Helena. 

 a. Type of the species, bleached. Old Collection. 

 b-c. Fine specimens, 32 inches long. 8t. Helena. Presented bv 



J. C. Melliss, Esq. 

 (I. Young. St. Helena. Presented by J. C. Melliss, Esq. — Body witii 



broad brown cross bauds. 



24. Ophichthys ornatissimus. 



Herpetoichthys ornatissimus, Kaup, Apud. p. 7, fig. 4 (not 5). 



Sixteen or seventeen large round black spots along the lateral 

 line, which are parted by another band of spots of ditferent sizes. 

 Irregular dark spots on the head ; a transverse and two longitudinal 

 series of white spots on the occiput ; curved whitish lines between 

 the eyes. Dorsal wath black marginal spots and stripes. The 

 length of the head is two-sevenths of the distance of the gill-opening 

 from the vent. Cleft of the mouth very wide. Teeth pointed; 

 maxillary and anterior vomerine teeth in a double, the others in a 

 single series. The length of the pectoral is one-fourth of that of 

 the head ; dorsal commencing behind the end of the pectoral. Tail 

 shorter than the body. {Kemp.') 



Malabar. 



25. Ophichthys havannensis. 



Ptirra, p. HG, lam. 37. fig. 2 (bad). 



Mmv-ena havannensis, HI. Schn. p. 491. 



Herpetoichthys sulcatus, Kaup, Apod. p. 8, fig. 5 (not (1). 



Ophisurus havaneusis, Poey, Mem. ii. p. 320. 



I'rauichthys havanensis, Pooj, Ihpert. Fk.-nat. Cuba, ii. p. 257. 



brachycephalus. Poet/, I. r. 



Head with numerous brown longitudinal folds ; body covered 

 with dark lines, which may easily be taken for folds. Brown ; head 

 with mmierous small dark spots. A series of large round dark spots 

 along the side, the intei'spaees being as wide as the spots. Another 

 series of alternate smaller spots along the back, and along the sides 

 of the abdomen. Fins yellowish ; dorsal with a series of brown 

 spots along the edge. Cleft of the mouth -n-idc. Eye large, its dia- 

 meter being contained once and two-thirds in the length of the 

 snout. Ma.villary teeth in a double, the others in a single series. 

 Pectoral fin well developed, its extremity nearly opposite to the 

 origin of the dorsal. Tail longer than the body. 



Cuba. 



This fish appears to be most closely allied to 0. trimrialix, j). 58. 



f2 



