372 ophidiid.t:. 



ventral filament composed of two rays, enveloped in one common 

 membrane. The dorsal commences above the axil of the pectoral. 

 Brownish, 



Japan, Celebes, Amboyna, Booroo. 



? a. Young. East Indian Archipelago. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. 



3. Brotula ensiformis. 

 B. 8. D. 127. A. 103. 



The height of the body is one-sixth or one-seventh of the total 

 length, the length of the head one-sixth or somewhat more than one- 

 sixth. The width of the intcrorbital space is less than the horizontal 

 diameter of the orbit. Snout longer than the eye, with twelve barbels. 

 The lower jaw- is received within the upper, the maxillary extending 

 to below the posterior margin of the orbit. Teeth viUiform, of equal 

 size : in a broad band anteriorly in the upper jaw and on the palatine 

 bones, in a narrow band on the side of the upper jaw, in the lower, and 

 on the vomer; the vomerine band is bent at an acute angle. Oper- 

 culum terminating in a small spine. The dorsal fin commences above 

 the middle of the pectoral, and the distance of the vent from the head 

 is more than the length of the latter. Pectoral roimded, one-half of 

 the length of the head. Ventral filaments inserted at th(^ humoral 

 symphysis, not bifid at the extremity, two-thirds of the length of the; 

 head. Scales small, biit very distinct ; lateral line inconspicuous. 

 Brown ; vertical fins with darker margins. 



Aneiteum. 



a-b. Fifteen inches long : stuffed. From Mr.Macgillivray'sCoUection. 



4. Brotula burbonensis. 



Kaup in Wiegni. Arch. 1858, p. 92. 



Upper jaw with six barbels, the lower with four. The dorsal fin 

 commences behind the end of the pectoral. Head compressed, with 

 narrow forehead, and with the eye situated high up the sides. The 

 length of the head is contained five times and a half in the total 

 (without head and caudal). {Kaup.) 



Bourbon. 



From a skin in the Paris Museum. 



2. LUCIPUGA. 



Lucifuga, Poey, Mem. Cub. ii. p. 95. 



Body moderately elongate, covered with minute scales. Eye ab- 

 sent, or quite rudimentary and covered by skin. Verti(;al fins united ; 

 ventral reduced to a simple short and thin filament. Teeth in the 

 jaws and on tlie vomer, sometimes on the palatines. Head without 

 barbels, but with iiumerous minute eiHa or tubercles. Two nostrils 

 on each side. Eight or seven branchiostegals ; the gill-oj)ei)ing ex- 



