18 CATALOGUE OF FISH. 



teeth blserial, meeting the vomerine ones immediately behind the 

 nasal disk. Mandibular teeth biserial in front, uniserial poste- 

 riorly. All the teeth short and conico-subulate, or conic and 

 acute ; the nasal and front mandibular ones being stouter and more 

 prominent than the others. Dorsal and anal fins ending opposite 

 to each other, and within two lines of the tip of the tail. 



The general appearance of this species is like that of hijala. 

 Its lateral line is similar ; but the pectoral is considerably smaller. 

 The vertical fins are low, and taper gradually away. A pale honey- 

 yellow, or faint wood-brown, is the colour of the upper parts, and 

 tlie belly is lighter. There are no spots. The specimen in the 

 British Museum was brought from China by John Reeves, Esq., 

 and has been immersed in spirits for many years. Its length is 

 11 9 in. To aims, 4-4 in. To gill-openings, 085. Length of 

 pectoral, 0'40 in. Length of gape, 035 in. (Richardson.) 



China. 



30. PiSOODONOPHIS RDTIDODERMA. 



Ophisurus rutidoderma, Blkr. Muranoiden, 28. 



Pectoral rounded at the tip, having about one-third of the length 

 of the head, and commencing twice its own length behind the gill- 

 openings. Two small cutaneous tags on the upper lip. Five or 

 nasal teeth placed in two cross rows. Palatine teeth biserial, 

 the inner row containing 7, and the outer one, 16. Vomerine teeth 

 24, standing in two rows. Exterior row of mandibular teeth con- 

 taining 20 ; inner row, 12. Skin smooth, with longitudinal fur- 

 rows. Colour of the upper parts olivaceous, of the lower ones 

 pale green. Pectorals orange-green ; anal yellowish-green. 



Rays: Br. 26; D. 472; A. 311; P. 13. 



Malay Archipelago. 



31. PiSOODONOPHIS EUTIDF.RMATOIDES. 



Ophisurus rutidermatoides, Blkr. Mur. 



According to Bleeker this is a different species, having a more 

 slender body and a considerably shorter head, also more numerous 

 teeth, and the dorsal originating more anteriorly, or only one-third 

 of the length of the head from the gill-opening. 



Nasal teeth 4, in two rows. Palatine teeth numbering 15 on 

 the inner row, and 25 in the exterior one. Vomerine teeth, 30, 

 biserial anteriorly. Mandibular teeth, 30 in the outer row, and 20 

 in the inner one. 



Tlie body and fins are green, the back darkly nebulous, and the 

 dorsal and anal fins brown, with blackish margins. 



Rays: Br. 26; D. 475 ; A. 310; P. 13. 



Java. The specimen measured 24 in. (Bleeker). 



