52 " THETIS " SCIENTIFIC RESULTS. 



TELEOSTOMI. 



Family LEPTOCEPHALID^. 



C N G E R M U R ^ N A, Kmq). 

 CONGERMUR^NA HABENATA, Richardson. 



Congrus habenatits, 'Rich., Voy. Ereb. & Terr., Ichth., 1844, 

 p. 109, pi. 1., figs. 1-5. 



Station 9. 



A small example, measuring 150 mm., was obtained to the north 

 of Broken Bay, where the trawl was dragged in 28 fathoms. 

 This eel bears traces of having been in the stomach of some 

 other fish, a dory possibly, as many were secured in this haul. 

 It is a rare form on our coast, and is characterised by having a. 

 tail longer than the trunk, for which Rainsay and Ogilby have 

 proposed the name C ongromurcena longicauda.'^' In other respects, 

 it cannot be said to differ from Richardson's .species. 



OPHISURUS, Lacepede. 



OPHISURUS SERPENS, Linnceus. 



Murcena serpens, Linn., Syst. Nat., ed. xii., i. 1766, p. 425. 

 Ophisurus serjyens, Schleg., Fauna Japon., Pisces, 1850, p. 264, pi. 

 cxv., fig. 1. 

 Although previously determined from Australia, with Port Jack- 

 son as a definite locality (Macleay), this species is very rare in our 

 waters. Throwing a line off the jetty at Port Stephens I landed 

 an example measuring 770 mm. ( = 30 inches), which so well 

 resembles the above quoted figure that it might have been the 

 model ; the relationship the body bears to the tail is 29 : 49. 

 Richardson remarks f : — "The Ophisurus rostratus or 02)hisure 

 long museau of Quoy and Gaimard, Voy. du Ereycinet, pi. 51^ 

 fig. 1, seems to be allied to serpens." If the former species is 

 correctly represented it must be very distinct ; while the head 

 bears some resemblance, the free portion of the tail is much longer 

 and the short stout body is not comparable with the snake-like 

 form of 0. serpens. This latter species is the only recognised 

 member of the genu.s Ophisurus as now restricted. 



* Ramsay & Ogilby— Proc. Liun. Soc. N.S. \V., xii., 188S, p. 1022. 

 + Richardson— Voy. Kreb. & Terr., Ichth., 1844, p. 106. 



