458 Mr. A. Alcock on the Batliybial Fishes 



complete row of teeth in each jaw and a second incomplete 

 row in the maxilla ; premaxillary teeth and those at the man- 

 dibulary symphysis fang-like ; a single row of large fangs in 

 the vomer. 



Sauromurcenesox vorax^ sp, nov. 



General form of the body much like that of a chameleon. 

 The length of the head measured to the gill-opening is about 

 4|- in the total ; its brancliiostegal region is extremely deep 

 and wide, its anterior half is contracted and tapers to the long, 

 narrow, sharp-pointed snout. The trunk, the length of which 

 is two thirds that of the tail, is high and compressed, with a 

 nearly straight abdominal and a very strongly convex dorsal 

 profile ; it is conspicuously constricted off from both head and 

 tail, its height at the middle being more than twice its height 

 at the anal level and about one ninth of the total length. The 

 tail is sliglitly compressed, tapers to a fine point, and has the 

 appearance of a mere appendage of the trunk; its length is 

 one half the total, excluding the snout and eye. The length 

 of the snout is twice the width of the interorbital space and 

 more than twice tlie diameter of the large circular eye ; it 

 tapers to a fine point, which is slightly hooked. Nostrils 

 large, the anterior subtubular, at some distance from the tip 

 of the snout ; the posterior in front of the middle of the eye. 

 Cleft of mouth wide, extending an eye-length behind the 

 posterior border of the orbit; the upper jaw overlapping the 

 lower. Tongue free, bicylindrical, truncated. In maxillae 

 and mandibles a single row of close-set, equal, acute teeth of 

 moderate size ; also in the former an inner incomplete series 

 of similar teeth, and in the latter at their symphysis three 

 pairs of canine teeth, the middle of which are very large, and 

 fit when the mouth is closed into a notch between the max- 

 illaries and premaxillaries ; four large equal canines in a row 

 in the vomer ; premaxilla3 with three smaller canines, which 

 project_ when the mouth is closed. Gill-openings wide, 

 extending obliquely from the upper border of the base of the 

 pectoral fins to near the middle line of the abdomen ; a broad 

 fiap of skin connects their anterior margin with the base of 

 the pectoral fin ; gill-lamina broad. Integument thin, with- 

 out scales. Lateral line follows the dorsal curve and ends in 

 the posterior half of the tail ; it is perforated throughout with 

 pores. Vertical fins, especially the anal, feebly developed, 

 confluent; the dorsal begins considerably in advance of the 

 gill-opening, the anal behind a very large abdominal pore. 

 Pectorals longer than the snout. 



