OPHI3URID.E. 7 



between the eye and the tip of the snout inconspicuous, without 

 a tube; and the hinder one more on the outer side of the thin lip. 

 The elongated pectoral is about half as long as the jaws. 



On the nasal bone, there are 5 marginal teeth, and 9 longer ones 

 on the mesial line; 13 short, pointed ones on the vomer; 00 pala- 

 tine ones, anteriorly ranged in a single row, but from under the 

 eye two-rowed ; they commence at the 0th medial nasal tooth. 



11. Ophisurus serpens. 



Ophisurus serpens, Lac, Cuv., Eich., Ereb. d Terr. p. 106. 



The border of the jaw is straight, being curved at the tip of the 

 snout only. Colour above brown, beneath silvery white. Four 

 pairs of pores on the snout ; one in the middle of the snout ; 2 be- 

 hind the eyes ; 3 behind the mandible ; 3 under the eyes ; and 5 

 or 6 pairs on the mandible itself. There are also 3 pores on the 

 occiput, with which the beginning of the lateral line is con- 

 nected. 



This species attains the length of 5 or 6 feet. The British 

 Museum obtained its specimens from Naples ; the Leyden Museum 

 theirs from the Cape of Good Hope and Japan. Dr. Bleeker names 

 the Japanese fish Oph.macrorhynchiis ; but as I have not examined 

 the Oph. serpens of the Fauna JajJonica, I can offer no opinion 

 thereon. The Ophisure long-museau of Quoy and Gaimard, Voij. du 

 Freijc, pi. 51, f. 1, is based upon a mutilated specimen of Mura:- 

 nssox haffio [Concjer bar/to), and has no relation to Oj^hisurus serpens. 



Genus 7. HERPETOICHTHYS, Kaup. 



Jaws nearly equally long. Snout short. Gullet wide. Eyes 

 near the end of the snout. Head depressed, so that the eyes are 

 nearer the upper surface than they are distant from each other late- 

 rally. Anterior tubular nostril at the extremity of the snout, and 

 the hinder one at the commencement of the outer row of palatine 

 teeth. Between the two, on the border of the upper lip, there is a 

 small cutaneous tag. Pectoral fins moderately short. Six or 

 seven nasal teeth, and from 9 to 13 vomerine ones. 



12. Herpetoichthys ornatissimus, fig. 5. 



Nasal teeth 6 ; 3 of them on the mesial line, and the foremost 

 two of these standing abreast. Vomerine teeth 9, standing irregu- 

 larly to the right and left. Exterior palatine teeth 16, inner row 20. 

 Mandibular teeth 24. Pectoral fin supported by 16 rays. Irregular 

 dark spots on the head. On the occiput, there is a transverse line 

 of white spots, and two longitudinal ones ; while between the eyes 

 there are curved whitish lines. Along the lateral line there are 16 

 or ] 7 large, round, black spots, which are parted by another band 

 of spots of different sizes. The dorsal fin, which begins 0-50 in. 



