16 SYMBHANCHID^ 



Mursena luflibricus, Gronov. Syst. ed. Gray, p. 18. 



Synbranclius vittatus, Casteln. An. A?ner. Svd, p. 84, pi. 44. fig. 3. 



Snout short, rounded or obtusely pointed ; eyes small, rather 

 close to the end of the snout. GiU-opening narrow, not extending 

 to the side of the ventral surface, generally transverse, arched, 

 frequently appearing as a longitudinal slit unless stretched out. 

 Vert. 79/57. 



Tropical America. 



The varieties of this widely distributed species are numerous, 

 especially with regard to the width of the snout and head, form of 

 the gill-opening, width of the palatine band of teeth, and coloration ; 

 but it is evident, from an examination of a long scries of examples, 

 that the differences are not specific. 



a, b-c, d-e. Adult, half-grown, and young. Bahia. From Dr. 

 Wucherer's Collection. 



/, Adult. Para. Presented by R. Graham, Esq. 



g-h. Adult. Pebas. From Mr. HauxweU's Collection. 



i. -Young. Chyavetas (Upper Amazons). From Mr. Bartlett's 

 Collection. 



7c-m. Half-grown. Pernambuco. Presented by J. P. G. Smith, 

 Esq. 



n. Adult. Surinam. From the Collection of Dr. van Lidth de Jcudc. 



0. Half-grown. Cayenne. 



]j, q, r. Adult, half-grown, and young. British Guyana. 



s-t. Adult and half-grown (in bad state). Berbice. 



n. Half-grown. Bogota. Purchased of Mr. Cutter. 



V. Adult. Trinidad, 'Purchased of Mr. Cutter. 



tv. Adult. Vera Cruz. Pm-chased of Mr. Cuming. 



x. Adult. Guatemala. From Mr. Salvin's Collection. 



y. Adult. Lake Peten. From Mr. Salvin's Collection. 



z. Half-grown. Huamuchal. From Mr. Salvin's Collection. 



a. Adult. Rio Chisoy. From the Collection of Messrs. Godman 

 and Salvin. 



ft, y, d-e. Adult and half-grown. Mexico. From M. SaUe's Col- 

 lection. 



^. Half-grown. Santa Lucia. Presented by Mr. Smith. 



r). Adult. From the Collection of the Zoological Society. 



6. Several specimens. Bocro?? Purchased of Mr Cuming. Al- 

 though these examples were received at the same time as 

 nii.merous others fx'om Ceylon and Booro, 1 do not believe that 

 the statement regarding the habitat is correct. 



t. Adult : skeleton. Bio Chisoy. From the Collection of Messrs. 

 Godman and Salvin. 



2. Symbranchus bengalensis. 



Ophisternon bengalensis, M'Clell. Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist, v, pp. 197, 

 200, tab. 11. tigs. 1 & 2; Kanp, Apod. p. 121, tab. 15. fig. 76 

 (head). 



? Ophisternon hepaticus, M'Clell. J. c. p. 198, figs. .S & 4. 



