382 oPHiDirDjE. 



rather wide, the united gill-membranes leaving the greater portion 

 of the isthmus uncovered. Teeth cardiform : a pair in front of the 

 upper jaw, a series on the side of the lower, and several others on 

 the vomer larger than the rest. Dorsal fin low, but very distinct. 

 The length of the pectoral nearly one-half of that of the head. 

 Hab. ? 



a. Eight inches long. Old Collection. 



3. Fierasfer homei. 



Oxybeles homei, Bichards. Voy. Ereb. Sf Tet'r. Fishes, p. 74. pi. 44. 



figs. 7-18. 

 brandesji, Bleek. Verhand. Batav. Genootsch. xxiv. Chiroc. 8^c. 



p. 24, and Natuurk. Tydschr. Nederl. Lid. i. p. 276. figs. 1-3 ; vii. 



pp. 162, 495. 

 Fierasfer homei, Kmtp, Ajwd. Fish. p. 158. 



The length of the head is contained seven times and a half or eight 

 times in the total length ; its width is one-half of its length. Gill- 

 openings of moderate width, the united gill-membranes leaving one- 

 half of the isthmus uncovered. Vent a little in advance of the 

 vertical from the root of the pectoral. Teeth small, cardiform : two 

 larger ones anteriorly in the upper jaw and on the vomer ; an outer 

 series of stronger teeth along the side of the lower jaw. Dorsal fin 

 very low, but distinct. Yellowish, .with some scattered darker dots 

 on the back. 



Vertebrce 99. 



Seas of Australia. East Indian Archipelago. Feejee Islands, 

 (Martinique ?) Entering the respiratory cavities of Star-fishes and 

 Holothuriae. 



a. Adult. Tasmania. Presented by Sir J. Richardson. — Type of 



the species. 

 b-c. Fine specimens. Amboyna. Purchased of Mr. Frank. 

 d. Half-grown. Feejee Islands. Voyage of the ' Herald.' 



4. Fierasfer neglectus. 



Peters in Wiegm. Arch. 1855, p. 260. 



The length of the head is one-tenth of the total, or two-fifths of 

 the distance of the snout from^ the origin of the dorsal fin. Teeth in 

 the jaws and on the palatines in a narrow band, those of the outer 

 series being stronger and curved ; vomer with three very long, com- 

 pressed, curved teeth. {Pet.} 



Island of Ibo (Mozambique). 



5. Fierasfer gracilis. 



Oxybeles gracilis, Bleek. Batula, v. p. 105. 



The height of the body is one-half of the length of the head, which 

 is one-eleventh of the total ; the width of the head is one-third of 



