OPHISURIDJG. 9 



Along the white belly, there are two rows, together with still smaller 

 round spots, irregularly scattered. 



Seven teeth on the nasal bone, whereof the foremost 3 are small, 

 the hinder ones large and hatchet-shaped ; three stand on the mesial 

 line. Vomerine teeth, 12. Outer row of palatine teeth, 14, inner 

 row, 15, and going further forwards than the outer row. Mandi- 

 bular teeth, 18. 



Total length, 32 in., whereof the tail measures 19 in. 



Genus 8. BRACHYSOMOPHIS, Kaup. 



Eyes placed over the anterior fifth part of the gape. Foremost 

 nostril tube uncommonly short ; the hinder one situated in a cleft 

 of the inner surface of the lip, under the eye. Gill-openings very 

 large, and approaching near to one another. Pectoral fin small 

 in proportion to the length of the face. Borders of the lips 

 Avarty. 



15. Brachysomophis horridus, fig. 6. 



Nasal teeth, 5 ; 3 teeth on the mesial line, followed by vomerine 

 ones in the same row. Palatine teeth numbering 27 in the outer 

 row, and 13 longer ones in the inner row. Each limb of the 

 mandible is armed by 12 long teeth, which partly fall out in old 

 individuals. 



Upper surface black, under one whitish. The distinctly out- 

 standing dorsal is yellowish, and marbled by brownish points and 

 stripes. Anal fin yellowish. Pectoral dotted. 



A young example in the Leyden Museum has a cross occipital 

 bar, composed of 5 black spots, and black spots extending along 

 the lateral line, down almost to the end of the tail. In the Paris 

 Museum, a larger individual exhibits whiter cross lines anteriorly, 

 a wavy, white, cross line, as well as a longitudinal white one, on the 

 occiput, and traces of 5 white specks on the mandible. 



The Paris specimen was obtained by Lesson and Gaimard at 

 Otaheite. The specimens in the British Museum were sent 

 thither from the Zoological Society, but without any indication of 

 their origin. 



Genus 9. ELAPSOPIS, Kaup. 



Gape short; snout elongated, obtuse, extending beyond the man- 

 dible. Nostril tube short, wider at its extremity than at its com- 

 mencement. Eye approximating to the gape. Pectoral very small ; 

 but sufficiently visible. Body and tail equal in length. Nasal 

 disk armed by 9 slender reflex teeth, 4 in each row, with the odd 

 one in front. Vomerine teeth irregularly uniserial. Palatine teeth 



c 



