21. oPHicnTHYs. 65 



history. Unfortunately these valuable specimens, which were the 

 types of the species, are now missing. 



AcMrophichthiis typus, Bleek. Ned. Tydschr. Dierk. ii. p. 42, and 

 A.tl. lehthyol. Mursen. p. 39, tab. 47. fig. 3, is founded on a single 

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

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

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

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

 to be merely the young of that species. Young Mura^uoids 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 equality 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. 



Ophisurus cirrhocheilus,^/ee^. Act. Soc. Sc. Indo-Nederl. ii.Amhoyna, 



\m. p. 89. 

 Brachysomophis cirrhochilus, Bleek. Atl. lehthyol. Murcen. p. 38, 



tab. 9. 



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

 the gill-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. crocodilinus. Lips 

 fringed. Gill-oijenings 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 of 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, edged 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. Blocker's Collection. 



b. Lips not fringed, 

 a. Snout much produced ; large canine teeth. 



22. Ophichthys serpens. 



Serpens marinus, Salvian. fol. 67 &; 58; Bcllon. Dc Aquat. p. 150; 



Rondel, p. 409 ; Willitf/Jdn/, p. 107, tab. G. 4. 

 Murisua, sp. no. 4, Artcdi, Gen. 24: Syn. 44. 

 IMurfena serpens, L. Si/st. Not. i. p. 4"2o. 

 Ophi.«uriis .^crppiis. Lacp'/). ii. p. irts ; SrJi/rg. Fann.Jopon. Poix^. p. 20-1, 



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