68 MUR^NID.E. 



20. Ophichthys versicolor. 



Ophisivrus versicolor, liichards. Ereb. i<f Terr. Fish. p. 103. 

 Elapsopsis versicolor, Kanp, Apod. p. 10. 



Body encircled by 27 brown rings, twice as broad as the inter- 

 spaces between them ; each ring divided into two by a narrow 

 circular white line ; dorsal fin coloured as the body underneath. 

 The length of the head is one-fifth of the distance of the gill-opening 

 from the vent. Upper jaw much projecting bej'ond the lower ; cleft 

 of the mouth extending somewhat behind the eye, which is small, 

 one-third of the length of the snout, and situated in the anterior 

 third of that of the head. Teeth pointed, all immoveable ; those of 

 the intermaxillary in a double longitudinal series ; maxillary teeth 

 in a single series anteriorly, and in a double posteriori}- ; vomerine 

 and mandibulary teeth in a single series. Pectoral fin small, shorter 

 than the snout ; dorsal fin commencing at a short distance behind 

 the root of the pectoral. Tail and body subequal in length. 



East-Indian archipelago. 



a. Type of the species, 21 inches hmg. Purchased of Mr. Frank. 



27. Ophichthys ocellatus. 

 Muraenopais ocellata, Lesueur, Juurn. Ac. Nat. Sc. I'Jiilad. v. p. lOS, 



pi. 4. fig. 3. 

 Opliisurus reniiger, Videnc. injyOrh. Vui/. Amer. Merid. Pohs. pi. 1^. 



fig. 2. ^ 

 ocellatus, Richards. Voy. Ereb. 4' Terr. Fish. p. 104. 



A series of round wliite spots along the middle of the side of the 

 body and tail ; dorsal fin with a black edge : some white dots on 

 the back behind the head, and a white line across the occiput. The 

 lenr/th of the head is rather less than one-third of the distance of the 

 ciiJl-opening from the vent. Snout pointed, the upper jaw projecting 

 beyond the lower ; cleft of the mouth wide, two-fifths of the length 

 of the head. Eye of moderate size, two-thirds of the length of the 

 snout, and situated in the nnterior third of that of the head. Teeth 

 pointed, fixed, unequal in size* ; the intermaxillary teeth are the 

 largest, arranged in a curved transverse series ; maxillary teeth in 

 a double, vomerine and mandibidary teeth in a single series ; only 

 the anterior mandibulary teeth form a short double series. Length 

 of the pectoral fin rather more than one-third of that of the head ; 

 dorsal fin commencing opposite to the posterior third of the pectoral. 

 Tail longer than the body. 



Atlantic coast of Tropical America. 



a-h. Half-grown. Mexico. Presented by Sir J. Puchardson. 

 28. Ophichthys ater. 



Ophichthvs (Herpetoiclitliys) ater, Peters, Monatsber. Ak. Wiss. 

 Berl. 18f)(), p. 525. 



The length of the head is contained twice and one-third in the 



* Prof. Kaup's statement, that tlie trotli are of equal lenptli, is erroneous. 



