1910.] and invertebrates of st. helena. 95 



Saurus myops. 



Salmo myops (Forster) Bloeh Schn. Syst. 1801, p. 421 ; Forst. 

 Descr. Anim. eel. Lichtenst. p. 412. 



Saurus trachinus Schleg. Fauna Japonica, Poiss. p. 231, pi. cvi. 

 fig. 2 ; Cantor, Malay. Fish. p. 271. 



Saurus myops Cuv. Regne Animal ; Guv. & Val. xxii. p. 485 ; 

 Melliss. 



Sand-spear, Melliss. 



I caught one specimen of this species about a foot long in 

 about 20 fms. in Flagstaff Bay. It is c}dindrical in shape with a 

 dorsal fin in the middle of the back and a small adipose fin 

 further back. The ventral fin is extensive, reaching from the 

 anus to the root of the tail. The pectorals are small, the pelvics 

 much larger and thoracic in position ; the mouth is enormous, 

 extending far behind the eyes which are placed close together on 

 the top of the head ; the gill-openings also are very wide. Small 

 pointed teeth in a single row on the jaws and some on the 

 tongue. The scales are of moderate size. The back is dark 

 brownish with seven darker transverse bands ; on the sides are 

 several longitudinal lines of yellow. The specimen was a male 

 with nearly ripe milt. This description is from the notes I made 

 when I examined the fresh specimen, and the colours described 

 may not be visible in spirit specimens. The fish lives in the 

 sand with its eyes protruding. 



Leirus moselti, sp. n. (Plate Y.) 



B. 6 ; D. I, 25 ; A. II, 21 ; P. 22 : Y. I, 5. Lat. line 95. 



Sc. trans. 20/32. 



The most peculiar character is the posterior position of the 

 dorsal fin which commences at a point whose distance from the 

 end of the snout is \\ times the length of the head. 



Anterior part of the dorsal surface in front of the dorsal fin 

 flat and scaled, with no trace of fin structures ; a fleshy elevation 

 at the commencement of the fin, the base of which and of the 

 anal is imbedded and covered with scales. The single dorsal 

 spine and the two anal spines not separate from the rest of the 

 fin and imbedded so that they could only be detected by dis- 

 section. Anus at about the middle of the body and ventral fin 

 (anal) commencing immediately behind it. Length of head 3i 

 in length of body measured from end of snout to end of middle 

 caudal rays. Front of head very obtuse, skin of its upper surface 

 and round the eye scaleless and porous, but the pores not so 

 conspicuous as in Leirus perciformis. Preoperculum with 

 radiating ridges which project from the edge as very minute 

 spines ; edge of operculum with still more minute spinules. 

 Operculum and preoperculum partially scaled. Eye large, its 

 diameter 3-f in length of head ; no vertical lids, but a circular 

 ridge round the orbit. "Upper rays of pectoral fin elongated, 



