10 CATALOGUE OF FISH. 



uniserial posteriorly, but standing alternately a little to the riglit 

 and left; anteriorly, biserial and subtriserial. All the teeth small, 

 and differing very little from each other in size. 



IG. El^PSOPSIS VERSICOLOr.. 



Opliisurus versicolor, Rich., Ereh. S Terr. p. 103. 



When the mouth is closed, the 9 teeth of the nasal disk over- 

 reach the point of the mandible. Body varied by i27 brown rings, 

 considerably wider than the pale interspaces. The low dorsal 

 begins immediately behind the gill-opening. A white spot ia 

 placed on the forehead, and the tip of the snout and the end of the 

 tail also are white. This species approaches to fasciatus and colu,- 

 hrinus. (Richardson.) 



Length, 20-8 in. From tip of snout to anus, lOT in. 



Moluccas. In the French and British Museums. 



f. Two rows of palatine and mandihular teeth ; one row of vomerine 



teeth. 



Genus 10. MYSTRIOPHIS, AVa/p. 



End of the snout dilated to a spoon shape. Foremost nostril 

 tube rudimentary, and placed in the middle of the rostral dilata- 

 tion. Eyes over the middle of the length of the gape, and, 

 owing to the depression of the head, they are directed somewhat 

 more upwards than laterally. Gill-openings large, and near one 

 another. 



17. MYSTraoPHis rostellatus. 

 Ophisurus rostellatus. Rich., Ereh. d Terr. p. 105. 



The colour of this large species is hazel-brown, with black longi- 

 tudinal stripes, and finely spotted ones near the head. 



Nasal disk bordered anteriorly by 5 small, acutely subulate teeth, 

 with a stout and very acute tooth implanted in the mesial line, a 

 little further back, and having, in front of it, two small subulate 

 ones. The vomerine teeth are wriserial ; 2 long, subulate teeth, like 

 the mesial vomerine one, standing at the commencement of the 

 row, witli a small interval between them, and followed by 7 closer- 

 set, recurved, subulate teeth. Fcdatine teeth biserial ; the outer 

 row consisting of about 18 widely-set, subulate ones, which are 

 tallest near the middle of the gape, and become shorter and stand 

 closer towards the angle of tlie mouth ; while the inner row is 

 formed of 28 more slender and very acute teeth that are much in- 

 clined towards the mesial line, as well as somewhat backwards. 

 This row goes forwards to the nasal disk, but does not extend so 

 far backwards as the outer row. Mandibular teeth biserial ; the 



