638 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
Of this species we have one large specimen taken by Professor Doder- 
lein at Palermo. Whether the Japanese and African representatives 
of this type are specifically identical with Ophisurus serpens we do not 
know. They^are so considered by Dr. Gunther. 
Oxystomus hyalinus is a name applied to a young eel with translucent 
body and long and slender jaws, the lower the longer, taken by Kafin- 
esque at Palermo. It is evidently the young of 0. serpens. 
Family III.— ECHELID^. 
(The Worm Eels.) 
We recognize provisionally as a distinct family the Myrophxnoe , or 
Myrince of authors, small eels intermediate in character between the 
Ophisuridce and the Murcenesocidce. The osteology has not yet been 
carefully studied, but they will probably be found to be most nearly 
related to the latter family, if indeed the two should not be, as in 
BleekePs arrangement, reunited with the Congridoe. 
The Echelidce have the end of the tail surrounded by the confluent 
vertical fins ; the posterior nostril is in or very near the upper lip, and 
the tongue is more or less fully adnate to the floor of the mouth. 
The species are usually of small size and plain colors, more or less 
worm-like in form, and inhabit sandy coasts in tropical seas. Few of 
the genera are rich in species. 
ANALYSIS OF AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN GENERA OF ECHELIDCE. 
a. Body short, much compressed ; pectorals almost invisible ; mouth narrow ; vomer- 
ine teeth none; snout obtuse, depressed; vertical fins well developed, the 
dorsal beginning behind the gill-opening Chilorhinus, 19. 
aa. Body elongate, subterete; pectorals present, sometimes minute; anterior nostril 
tubular; dorsal fin beginning behind head; teeth small. 
b. Dorsal fin beginning behind vent; no teeth on vomer; teeth mostly uniserial ; 
body slender, terete Ahlia, 20. 
bb. Dorsal fin beginning before the vent; vomer with teeth, 
c. Dorsal fin beginning at a point about midway between gill-opening and vent; 
pectorals very small ; teeth subequal ; body slender, terete ; the tail much 
longer than rest of body Myrophis, 21. 
jcc. Dorsal fin beginning close behind base of pectoral ; tail longer than rest of 
body; pectoral well developed. 
d. Teeth in jaws mostly biserial Paramyrus, 22. 
dd. Teeth in jaws in cardiform bands Echelus, 23. 
Genus 19.— OHILORHLNFS. 
Chilorhinus Lutken, Vidensk. Meddel. Naturh. Foren. Kjobenhavn, 1, 1851 ( suen - 
sonii ). 
Type: Chilorhinus suensonii Liitkeu. 
Etymology : XeUoq, lip ; "piv, nostril. 
This genus is known from a single West Indian species, 
