264 



no really distinctive characters can be pointed out. It is possible 

 that it is identical with C. habenata" But OGILBY rightly 

 remarked I.e. p. 286: "Dr. GtJNTHER's suggestion that this 

 species ""may be identical with C. Jiabenata"" cannot be ac- 

 cepted if BLEEKER is correct in describing the jaws as of equal 

 length, the snout as 4 x / 2 in the length of the head, and the 

 vomerine teeth as biserial and " "bluntly conical""; indeed, 

 in view of the latter character, I am not fully satisfied that 

 the species properly belongs to the present group." 



4. Uroconger Kaup. 



(KAUP, Cat. Apod. Fish 1856, p. no). 



Elongate, anteriorly subcylindrical, posteriorly compressed. 

 Tail strongly tapering; anus in anterior half of the length. 

 Origin of the dorsal beginning about above the base of the 

 pectorals. Dorsal, caudal and anal confluent. Pectorals well 

 developed. Head conical, depressed. Eyes rather large, covered 

 by skin, without free orbital margin. Posterior nostrils a slit, 

 situated near eye, below the level of its upper margin, the 

 anterior ones near apex of snout, not tubular. Cleft of mouth 

 of moderate width, extending to middle of eye or beyond it. 

 Jaws unequal; lips moderate, membraneous, the upper one with 



Fig. 113. Uroconger lepturus (Rich.). (After DAY, modified). 



a row of short, slit-like pores. Tongue free. Teeth acicular, 

 unequal, the maxillary ones in two distant series; the mandi- 

 bulary teeth in two series, anteriorly with a short third inner 

 row. The vomer with some large teeth in front, which may 

 be followed by a series of smaller ones. On the intermaxillary 

 plate the unequal teeth in 2 irregular series, an outer tooth 

 may be enlarged. No scales. Lateral line present. Gillopenings 

 large, situated vertically before and below base of pectorals. 

 Distribution: Uroconger lepturus inhabits the shallow seas 



