94 TELEOSTKI. PHYSOSTOMI. 



9. Genus OPHICHTHYS, Ahl. 



Syn. Ophisurus, Fcccilocephahis, and Gzcilia, Lace"p. ; Cacula, Vahl ; 

 Siikar/ebranchus, Bl. Schn. ; Mwtenopsis, Lesueur ; Dalophi*, Kaf. ; Li'p- 

 tognafhus, Swainson ; Apterichthys, Dumeril ; Leptorkyncnut, Smith ; 

 Ichthi/apus, Bris. de Barneville ; Centrurophis , Pcecilocephalui, Micrndo- 

 nop/iis, Coscilopis, Herpetoichthys, Brachysomophia, Elapsopis, Myttriophis, 

 Echiophis, Scytalophis, Leptorhinophis, Pisoodunophis, Lamnostoma, Anr/ui- 



Echiophis, Scytalophis, Leptorhinophis, Pisoodunophi 



mtrits, Cirt'himurcena, Callechelys, Ichthyctpus, Opsuraps, i'oaopsx, 



Kaup ; Achirophichthys, Bleeder ;. Mucrodonophis and Urnnichthys, Poey. 



The gill-openings may be close together. Snout greatly or mode- 

 rately produced. Cleft of mouth wide or of medium width ; lips 

 may or may not be fringed. Teeth in jaws and on vomer, either 

 pointed and granular, or small and conical ; in the maxilla they may 

 be in from one to four rows or in bands, while in the mandibles they 

 may be in one or two rows ; canines present or absent, Dorsal fin, 

 when present, commences either in advance of or nearly above the 

 gill-opening, or behind the root of the pectoral ; the pectorals, when 

 present, may be rudimentary, or only developed in the adult, or else 

 of moderate size ; anal present or absent. Extremity of tail 

 free. 



This genus has been regarded by some authors as a Family ; 

 in all the species the extremity of the tail is free, and there are 

 vomerine teeth. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



A.. Teeth obtuse or granular. Pectorals present 



or absent. 

 Head 3| to 4 times in length of trunk ; body 



nearly two thirds of total length ...... 1. O. boro, p. 94. 



Head 7^ to 8 times in length of trunk ; body 



rather above a third of the total length . . 2. O. inicroccphalus, p. 9o. 

 Head 8 to 9 times in length of trunk; body 



about half of total length. Body sur- 



rounded by brown rings, between which 



are sometimes spots .................. 3. O. colubnnus, p. 90. 



B. Teeth pointed and in a single row. Pec- 



torals absent. 

 Head 3| to 4 times in length of trunk ; body 



half of total length ................. 4. O. orientalis, p. 90. 



Head 7 in length of trunk ; body about as 



long as tail. 10 to 17 large dark spots 



along the lateral line ................ 5. O. ornati^hnxs, p. 97. 



105. (1.) Ophichthys boro. (Fig. 41.) 



Ophisurus boro, Ham. Bitch. Fish. Gang. p. 20, t. v, fig. 5. 

 Ophichthys boro, Day, Fish. India, p. 664, pi. clxxi, fig. 2 (see 

 synon.). 



B. xxix-xxxi. D. 320-400. P. 13. A. 250-270. 

 Length of head (to gill-opening) from 3| to 4 times in the dis- 



