BY J. DOUGLAS OGILBY. 3 
The Synaphobranchide, mentioned above, form a 
small group of deep-sea eels from the Atlantic and Pacific 
Oceans. They agree with the symbranchiids superficially 
in having inferior, externally confluent gill-openings, but 
may always be recognised by the presence of a rayed dorsal 
and anal fin, well developed pectorals, and an anteriorly 
situated vent. 
Appended is an analysis of the families of the 
Symbranchia :— 
a. Body scaleless; no accessory branchial apparatus; shoulder-girdle 
connected with the skull by an osseous bifureate post-temporal 
(Ichthyocephalt). 
b. Gill-membranes free from the isthmus; gill-arches four, the fringes 
well developed. 
c. No palatine teeth ; vent in the anterior half of the length. Mono- 
typic. ae oi i, CHILOBRANCHID 2. 
cc. Palatine teeth present; vent in the posterior half of the length. 
Monotpyic. a .. ll, SYMBRANCHID 2%. 
bb. Gill-membranes almost wholly cishited to the isthmus; gill-arches 
three, the fringes rudimentary ; palatine teeth small, in a narrow 
band; vent in the posterior half of the length. Monotypic. 
Ms iii. MONOPTERID 2. 
aa. Body scaly; an accessory franciial apparatus; ‘shoulder-girdle 
without osseous connection with the skull. (Holostomi). 
d, Gill-membranes almost wholly united to the ‘isthmus; gill-arches 
three, separated by narrow slits, the fringes rudimentary ; palatine 
teeth stout, uniserial:; vent in the posterior half of the length. 
Monotypic. as sé .. iv. AMPHIPNOID. 
AMPHIPNOID &. 
Body anguilliform, covered with minute scales, which 
are arranged in longitudinal series. Head moderate, the 
snout very short and blunt. Mouth anterior, with wide, 
oblique cleft. Upper jaw with several transverse series of 
small teeth anteriorly, the lateral teeth uniserial ; palatine 
teeth in a single row, stout, blunt, recurved, and com- 
pressed ; mandibular teeth similar to but rather larger 
than those of the maxillary. Anterior nostril minute, 
above athe front margin of the eye; posterior valvular, 
behind its middle. Eye very small, superolateral. Gill- 
membranes united, almost wholly attached to the isthmus ; 
gill-openings reduced to a confluent slit, situated on the 
ventral surface ; gill-arches three, separated by narrow slits, 
