21. OPHICHTHTS. 89 



about midway between the gill-opening and angle of the mouth. 

 Coloration uniform. 

 Habitat ? 



a-c. Twenty-one inches long. — These specimens were named S. 

 bicolor by Dr. Kaup, but are evidently different from the type 

 of that species, which is in the Leyden M«seum. 



74. Ophichthys Mrkii. 



The length of the head is one-eighth or one-ninth of the distance 

 between the gill-opening and vent ; tail somewhat longer than the 

 body. Cleft of the mouth of moderate widtl}, extending to some 

 distance behind the eye, which is small, situated above the middle 

 of the mouth. Snout pointed, about twice a'S long as the eye, pro- 

 jecting beyond the mouth. Anterior nostril with a small tube, 

 posterior on the inner side of the lip, below the front margin of 

 the eye. Teeth pointed, uniserial. Pectoral fin none ; the dorsal is 

 rather low, and commences about midway between the giU-opening 

 and the angle of the mouth. Coloration uniform. 



Kovuma Bay (East Africa). 



a, b. Several specimens (14 inches long). Presented by Dr. Kirk. 



D. Dorsal and aiialjins absetit. 



75. Ophichthys quadratus. 



Sphagebranchus quadratus, Hichards. Voy. Sidph. Ihh. p. 115, 

 pi. 52. figs. 8-15. 



Tail tetrahedral, not rounded. Fins none. The length of the 

 head is one-seventh of the distance between the gill-opening and 

 vent. Cleft of the mouth of moderate Madth, the eye being situated 

 above its middle. Snout projecting far beyond the mouth. Teeth 

 uniserial, those on the vomer partly biserial. 



China. 



a. Type of the species, 6^ inches long, not in good state. From the 

 Collection of Vice- Admiral Sir E. Belcher. 



76. Ophichthys caecus. 



Murseua caeca, L. Si/st. Nat i. p. 426. 



Sphagebranchus coecus, Bl. Schn. p. 505. 



Coecilia branderiana, Lac4p. ii. p. 135. 



Apterichthys caecus, {Dumeril) De la Roche, Ann, Mus. xiii. p. 325. 



fig. 6. 

 Sphagebranchus spaUanzani, Costa, Faun. Nap. Peso. tav. 32. fig. 1. 



Body elongate, slender ; tail longer than the body. Fins none. 

 Snout acutely pointed, with the upper jaw projecting much beyond 

 the loAVcr. Eyes not externally visible. Gill-openings ventral, ap- 

 proximate. Teeth of the jaws uniserial. Coloration reddish, with 

 dark dots. {Be la Roche.) 



Mediterranean. 



