70 



MUR^NIDJi. 



lower. Eye of moderate size, one-half of tlie length of the snout, 

 situated in the anterior third of the length of the head. Posterior 

 nostril in advance of the eye; anterior with a broad tube. The 

 iutermaxiUary teeth are stout, forming an irregular group ; they, 

 and a pair in front of the lower jaw, are stouter than the others, 

 which are pointed, fixed, uniserial. The length of the pectoral fin 

 is rather more than one-fourth of that of the head ; dorsal com- 

 mencing above the end of the pectoral. Tail sometimes rather longer, 

 sometimes shorter than the body. 



East-Inchan archipelago ; Japan ; N^orth Australia. 



(I. T}i">o of the species. Amboyna. From Dr. Bleeker's Col- 

 lection. 



h. Half-grown. East-Indian archipelago. From the Collection of 

 Dr. van Lidth de Jeude. 



C: Half-grown. Cape York, X. Australia. Collected by Hr. Damel. 



Varktii. — The nuchal band is less distinct ; the body and fins 

 marked with irregular dark-brown blotches ; dorsal fin without 

 white margin. 



<(. Adult. Japan. Purchased of Mr. Jamrach. 

 e. Half-grown. Zebu, Philippine Islands. Purchased of Mr. Jam- 

 rach. 

 /. Half-grown. Cape York. Collected by Hr. Darnel. 



31. Ophichthys apicalis. 



Ophisurus apicalis, Bciinctf, in Life nf liajflv^^, p. 602. 



s\mdiceus, liichca-ds. Ichf/ti/i)l. Vliiit. p. ol.3 ; Toy. Ereb.l^- Terr. 



Ichthijol. p. 103. 



conipar, Richards. Vui/. Ercb. S,- Terr. Ichthyul. p. 105. 



baogko, Bleek. Verh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Murcen. p. 07. 



Centrarophis spadiceus, Kemp, Apod. p. 2 (not fig.). 



bangko, Kaup, Apod. p. 3. 



Coecilophis compar, Kaup, Apod. p. C<. 



Ophisurus diepenhorsti, Bleek. Act. Soc. Sc. Indo-Xederl. viii. Sumatra, 



viii. p. 85. 

 Ophichthys banko, Bleek. Atl. Iclithyol. Muran. p. 51, tab. 14. fig. 1. 

 diepenhorsti, Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Muran. p. 52, tab. 15. fig. 4. 



Coloration uniform brown. The length of the head is two-fifths 

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

 mouth extending somewhat behiiid the eye — which is of moderate 

 size, and one-half of the length of the snout. Intermaxillary and 

 anterior part of the vomerine teeth in a double series, maxillary and 

 mandibulary teeth in a single series ; sometimes the foremost man- 

 dibulary teeth form an irregular double series. The length of the 

 pectoral is one-third, or rather more than one-third, of that of the 

 head. Dorsal commencing above the middle or the posterior third 

 of the pectoral. Tail not twice as long as the body. 



Indian and Chinese Seas. 



rt. Type of 0. .yjudiceus. China. Presented by J. R. Beeves, Esq. 

 h, c. Half-grown and young. Cliina. 



