1862.] or FISHES from madeira. 169 



there appear to be two rows. Gill-clefts -^ inch long, narrow, 

 placed about the middle of the sides, a little posterior to commence- 

 ment of dorsal fin, and 2^ inches from snout. The dorsal fin com- 

 mences at the nape, 2jL inches from snout, is lower in front than 

 behind, and unites with the caudal fin, like the anal fin, without a 

 break. Vent about 9 inches from tip of mandible, in anterior half 

 of body. Anal fin commences near vent, and is very low at first. 

 All the fins are covered with skin like that of the body. 



The specimen was taken in the sea near Madeira, in the month of 

 June 1859, and has been deposited in the British Museum. 



Fara. SvNAPHOBRANCHIDiE. 



Synaphobranchus, gen. nov. 



Dorsal, anal, and caudal fins united. Pectoral fins present. Gill- 

 openings in close proximity on the under side of the body, having a 

 single external aperture, with an internal dividing membrane. 

 Branchiae four. A row of acute teeth in each jaw, with an external 

 band of minute teeth. Teeth on the vomer and on the mesial line 

 of the palate. Scales on the skin. 



This genus forms the type of a new family of Malacopterygian 

 Apodals, which differs from all previously established families, except 

 the Symhranchidce, in having the gill-openings close together on the 

 ventral aspect ; and from the Symhranchidce it is distinguished by 

 the presence of fins. Moreover, from the Murcenidce it is separated 

 by the possession of pectoral fins, and from the Congridce by the 

 possession of scales and by the vent being before the commencement 

 of the dorsal fin. 



Synaphobranchus kaupii, sp. n. 



Anguilliform, compressed, attenuate in both directions from the 

 neighbourhood of the vent ; of a dull-brown colour, darker on the 

 belly. The skin contains small oval scales, set obliquely and at right 

 angles to each other. 



The head is subcompressed, depressed, and flat above ; it exhibits 

 no gibbosity, nor is the throat swollen. The eye is covered with skin ; 

 it is of moderate size, and placed at the side of the head, over the 

 middle of the oral cleft, three diameters distant from the tip of the 

 snout. The posterior nostril is in front of the eye and has a raised 

 border. The anterior nostril has a short tube, which does not quite 

 reach to the lip, and is attached in front to the snout, the orifice being 

 directed forwards. Rictus deep. The jaws are narrow, pointed, sub- 

 equal, and without barbels. The lips are cartilaginous, especially the 

 upper lip, which forms a conical snout, projecting much beyond the 

 jaw. There are teeth in both jaws, consisting of an inner row of short, 

 slender, conical, pointed, closely-set teeth, with an exterior band of 

 scobinate teeth, which become reduced to a single row in front. On 

 the vomer is a group of from nine to fifteen conical teeth, the first two 

 or three of which are short, the others rather longer than those in 

 the jaw. On the mesial line of the palate there is a row of mhiute. 



