MCCULLOCH. 25 



LI Family Ophichthtidae. 



A. Snout produced, beak-like; dorsal commencing behind pectorals. Ophisurus (86)- 



AA. Snout shorter; dorsal commencing before pectorals. Bascanichthys (86). 



85. Ophisurus Lacep., H. N. Poiss. ii, 1800, p. 195 (serpens). 



85a. 0. serpens. Snake Eel. Muraena serpens Linn., Syst. Nat. 10th ed . 



1758, p. 244. 0. serpens Schlegel, Faun. Japon., Pisces, 1850, p. 264, pi. 



115,1. (PI. viii. ) . 

 Widely distributed, and reaching nearly 5 feet in length. 



86. Bascanichthys Jord. & Davis, Rep. U.S. Fish. Comrn. 1888 (1892), p. 621 



(bascanium) 

 86a. B. pinguip. Ophichthys plnguis Gthr., A.M.N.H. (4).x, 1872, p. 245, 

 and Cruise Curacoa, 1873, p. 430, pi. 35. (PI. viii.). 



Larval Eels. 



87. Atopichthys Gai'man, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool. xxvi, p. 326. 



87a. A.sp. Glass Eel. Leptocephalus sp. Waite, P.L.S. N.S.W. (2) ix, 

 1894, p. 225 Id. Ogilby, P.L.S. N.S.W. xxii, 1897, pp. 158 and 161, fig. 

 These are small transparent fishes with minute heads and broad compressed 

 bodies, which are merely the larval stages of eels of various families. 



Pipe-fishes, Seahorses, and Bellows-fish.— Order SOLENICHTHYES. 

 Snout tubiform; body often encased in bony rings. 

 A. Ventral fins present; .anal well developed, opposite the dorsal. 

 B. Jaws with minute teeth; body elongate. 



C. Dorsal fin preceded by free spines. Family AulostomidaeC&o. lii.l 



CC. No dorsal spines. Family Fistulariidae (No. liii.) 



BB. Jaws toothless; body deeper. Two dorsal fins, the first formed of strong 



spines. Family Macrorhamphosidae (No. liv.) 



AA. No ventral fins; anal minute or absent. Family Syngnathidae (No. lv.) 



LII. Family Aulostomidae. 



88. Aulostomus Lacep., H. N. Poiss., v, 1803, p. 356 (chinensis). 



88a. A. chinensis. Painted Flute-mouth. Fistularia chinensis Linn.. 



Syst. Nat. 12th ed., i, I, 1766, p. 515. A. chinense Gthr., Fisch. Sudsee vii, 



1881, p. 221, pi. 123, b-c. (PI. ix.). 

 A tropical species. One specimen found on Maroubra beach, near Sydney, 

 July, 1912. 



LIII. Family Fistulariidae. 



89. Fistularia Linn., Syst. Nat. 10th ed., 1758, p. 312 (tabacaria) . 

 A. Interorbital space concave; mediolateral ridges of snout parallel anteriorly. 



petimba (89a >. 

 AA. Interorbital space almost flat; mediolateral ridges of snout expanding an- 

 teriorly to enclose an elongate-ovoid space. depressa (89b i. 



89a. F. petimba. Flute-mouth. Id. Lacep., H. N. Poiss. v, 1803, p. 349. 



F. serrata Gthr., Chall. Zool. i, 1880, p. 68, pi. 32, c— snout; Id. 



Day, Fish., India, 1876. p. 360. pi. 76, 3 (Pi. ix) . 

 Common in estuaries along the coast and reaching a length of about three 

 feet. Colour dark green or brown. 



