APODAL FISHES OF AMERICA AND EUROPE. 
659 
bb. Dorsal fin inserted at a point behind base of pectoral, but nearer pectoral than 
vent; head with inconspicuous raucous cavities; jaws with an outer series of 
close-set teeth forming a cutting edge ; tail about half longer than rest of body. 
Lkptockphalus, 43. 
Genus 41.— UROCONGER. 
Uroconger Kaup, Apodes, 110, 1856 (lepturus). 
Type : Conger lepturus Richardson. 
Etymology : Obpd, tail ; Conger. 
This genus contains no American species. 
ANALYSIS OF EUROPEAN SPECIES OF UROCONGER. 
a. [Vomerine teeth large ; two strong canines in front of vomer ; lateral line distinct, 
with white points ; cleft of mouth reaching the center of the eye; tail one-half 
longer than rest of body ; pectoral fin 2^ in head; dorsal commencing over the 
tip of pectoral fin ; body stouter than in Uroconger lepturus. Uniform brown.] 
( Vaillant .) Vicinus, 113. 
113. UROCONGER VICINUS. 
Uroconger vicinus Vaillant, Exped. Travailleur et Talisman, 86, pi. vi, 1880-83 
(Coast of Soudan, Arguiu, Cape Verde Islands). 
Habitat : I)eep waters of the eastern Atlantic. 
Etymology: Latin, vicinus, near (to Uroconger Upturns). 
This species is known only from Yaiilant’s description and figure. 
Genus 42.— OPHISOMA. 
? Ariosoma Swainson, Nat. Hist. Classn. Fishes, n, 196, 1839 (no type mentioned). 
Ophisoma Swainson, Nat. Hist. Classn. Fishes, ii, 334, 1839 ( acuta ) not Ophisomus 
Swainson, 1. c., p. 277 =Murcenoides Lac^pede). 
Conger-murcena Kaup, Apodes, 108, 1856 ( balearica ). 
Gnathophis Kaup, Aale Hamb. Mus., 1859 (Jieterognathus). 
Congromurcena Gunther, viii, 40, 1870 ( balearica ). 
Ophisoma Bleeker, Poey, etc. 
Type: Ophisoma acuta Swainson —Murcena balearica He la Roche. 
Etymology : snake j atipa, body. 
This genus contains numerous species of small Congers, distinguished 
by the more anterior insertion of the dorsal and by the greater devel- 
opment of the muciferous cavities in the head. The species are very 
closely related and are therefore not well known. 
The name Ophisoma was given by Swainson to two eels, O. obtusa 
and O. acuta, which are apparently identical with Conger and Ophisoma 
balearicum . The name was retained by Bleeker to the present group 
on the supposition that these eels belonged to the group called Conger- 
murcena by Kaup. It is therefore questionable whether Conger murcena 
should not be used, and Ophisoma be made a synonym of Conger. As? 
however, one of the typical species of Ophisoma is a member of this 
genus, and as the name has been restricted to this genus by Bleeker, it 
seems best to use the older name. 
