STMBRANCIIID^E. 71 



the palatine band resembles that in the jaw. Fins dorsal com- 

 mencing above or a little before the vertical from the vent. Colour 

 light greenish, with or without dark spots ; or else the whole body 

 nearly black. 



" This eel is numerous at Chusan, in streamlets, canals, and 

 estuaries. As it is a favourite article of food it is kept by the 

 inhabitants of Cbusan in large jars, with fresh water. But it is 

 capable of living a considerable time out of water. It is of 

 voracious habits, feeding on smaller fishes, and it takes hooks baited 

 with earthworms/' (Cantor, I. c.) 



Hab. This fish is confined to the fresh or brackish waters of 

 Burmah, the Malay Archipelago, and China. 



3. Genus SYMBRANCHUS, Block 



Syn. Unibranchapertura, Lace"pede ; Pneumabranchus and Ophisternon, 

 McClelland ; Tetrabranchus, Bleeker. 



Branchiostegals six. Gill -membranes not attached to the isthmus, 

 having a single transverse opening. Four branchial arches with 

 well-developed gills. Palatine teeth in a band. Scales absent. 

 No accessory breathing-sac. 



Geographical Distribution. Fresh and brackish waters of India to 

 the Malay Archipelago and Australia : also tropical America. 



72. (1.) Symbranchus bengalensis. (Fig. 29.) 



Ophisternon bengalensis, McClelland, Calc. Jour. N. H. v, pp. 197, 



220, pi. xi, tigs. 1, 2. 

 Symbranclius bengalensis, Day, Fish. India, p. 657, pi. clxvii, tig. 2 



(see synon.). 



Length of bead contained 9 to 12 times in the distance between 

 end of snout and anus. Eyes diameter about one twentieth of 



Fig. 29. Symbranchus bevyalensis and upper teeth. 



length of head. The girth of the body is equal to about three times 

 its height. Snout anteriorly rounded, lips fleshy, the upper jaw 

 rather the longer; cleft of mouth extending to some distance 

 behind the orbits. Teetli in upper jaw fine and pointed, not 

 continuous at the symphysis ; those on either side terminating in 



