96 TKLEOSTKT. PHYSOSTOMI. 



between the snout and the angle of the mouth. Extent of cleft of 

 mouth from end of snout 3^ in the length of the head. Anterior 

 tubular nostrils well developed. Teeth obtusely conical and in 

 three rows. Fins low, the dorsal commences over the last third 

 of the pectoral fin, neither the dorsal nor anal is continued round 

 the end of the tail. Pectoral 3^ to 3| in the length of the head. 

 Colour olive above, becoming of a dull yellow on the sides and 

 beneath ; fins externally stained with black. 



Hob. Three examples, none less than 25 inches in length, were 

 captured in Malabar. 



107. (3.) Ophichthys colubrinus. 



Muraona colubrina, Boddaert, Pallas' 's Neue Nord. Beytr. ii, 1781, 



456, pi. 2, fig. 3. 

 ichthys colubrinus, Day, Fish. India, p. 065, pi. clxvii, fig. 4 

 (see synon.). 



" B. xxv. circ. D. 510, circ. A. 318, circ. P. 10, circ." Bleeker. 



Length of head 8 to 9 times in the distance between the end of 

 the snout and the vent ; length of trunk about equal to that of the 

 tail ; snout projecting. Extent of cleft of mouth equals about ^ 

 to | of the length of the head. Eyes rather small, situated 

 behind the middle of the cleft of the mouth. Snout rather pointed. 

 Teeth with rounded crowns and in two rows. Fins the dorsal 

 fin commences in front of the gill-opening, just behind the nape ; 

 it and the anal are rather low ; pectoral rudimentary. Colour 

 numerous (25 to 35) brown rings surround the body. In some 

 examples a dark round spot exists in the interspace between each 

 ring on the body. 



Hob. Eed Sea, Andamans to the Malay Archipelago, and beyond. 



108. (4.) Ophichthys orientalis. 



Dalophis orientalis, McClelland, Cal Journ. Nat, Hist. 1845, v, p. 213. 

 Ophichthys orientalis, Day, Fish. India, p. 665, pi. cbcxi, tig. 1 (see 

 synon.). 



Manti-bukaro-paumbu, Tel. 



Length of head 3| to 4 in the distance between the end of the 

 snout and the anus ; tail as long as the trunk. Eyes small, placed 

 rather behind the middle of the length of the head. The gill- 

 openings are longitudinal slits almost parallel one to the other. 

 Snout projecting, extending beyond the lower jaw, and the openings 

 of the nostrils are on the lower surface. Teeth pointed and in a 

 single row. Fins the dorsal commences at a short distance behind 

 the gill-openings, it and the anal being low; pectorals absent. 

 Colour olive, becoming lightest beneath ; one or two rows of 

 round whitish spots across the occiput, having a short line of 

 similar spots directed forward on either side. 



