21. OPHICHXHYS. 87 



or Atl. Ickthyol. Murcen. p. 71, pi. 44. fig. 4 (not Opliichthys lum- 

 bricoides, Blkr,). 



The length of the head is nearly one-sixth of the distance between 

 the gill-opening and the vent. Tail at least as long as the body (if 

 not longer). Cleft of the mouth of moderate width, the eye being 

 above its middle. Snout pointed. Teeth pointed ; those of the 

 intermaxillary and anterior part of the vomer biserial, the others 

 uniserial. Pectoral fin none ; dorsal and anal fins rudimentary, the 

 former commencing above the giU-opening ; the latter begins to be 

 distinct at some distance behind the vent. Coloration uniform. 



Timor. 



a. Type of the species, 9 inches long. From Dr. Bleeker'^' Col- 

 lection. 



69. OpMchthys orientalis. 



RusseU, i. no. 37. 



Dalophis orientalis, M'Clell. Calc. Joum. Nat. Hist. 1845, p. 213. 

 Lamnostoma pictum, Kaup, Apod. p. 23, fig. 11. 

 Sphagebranchus orientalis, Ejfier, Novara, Msche, p. 380. 



The gill-openings are longitudinal slits, placed side by side on the 

 ventral surface, the membrane forming a broad double fold. Snout 

 mu^h pointed, the projecting part being longer than broad, having the 

 anterior nostrils at its loiuer surface. The length of the head is 

 scarcely less than one-third of the distance between the giU-opening 

 and the vent. Tail as long as the body. Cleft of the mouth of 

 moderate width, the small eye being nearly abov^ its middle. Teeth 

 pointed, uniserial. Dorsal and anal fins low, the former commencing 

 at a very short distance behind the gill-opening. A series of round 

 whitish spots across the occiput, with a short bar on each side 

 directed forwards. 



Southern India ; Ceylon. 



a. Adult. Madras. Presented by Cc pt. Mitchell. 



C. The dorsal Jim, comrmnces conspicuously in advance of the gill-opening. 



70. Ophichthys melanotania. 



Callechelys melanotaenia, Bleek. Atl. Ichthyol. Murcen. p. 66, tab. 49. 

 fig. 2. 



The length of the head is one-tenth of the distance between the 

 gill-opening and the vent, the length of the tail being one-third of 

 that of the body. Cleft of the mouth narrow, extending behind the 

 eye. Snout pointed. Teeth pointed ; those of the intermaxillary 

 strong, recurved, biserial ; the others uniserial. Pectoral fin none ; 

 the dorsal fin commences at the vertical from the angle of the 

 mouth. Whitish ; a broad, weU-defined, deep-black band along the 

 upper ptirt of each side ; head blackish, marbled with whitish. 

 Dorsal fin with a black margin. 



Amboyna. 

 a. Type of the species, 19 inches long. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection, 



