482 



CONTRIBUTION TO TIIE 



Enchelyoephali. 



Coiigridw. 



CniLOKiimus svENSONir, Li'itken Vid. Med. Fore]. ICjobcnUavn, 1851, No. 1, Gfinther Catal. B. M., VIII., 51. 



Char. gen. Fam. Congridm ; sub-fam. Myriformes (Bleeker). No pectoral fins; no vomerine teeth. Anterior 

 nostrils concealed beneath the lip near the orbit ; posterior (anterior in position), not tubular, but apparently in the 

 edge of the upper lip on each side the muzzle. Caudal fin continuous. 



This genus appears to be nearest the Muraenichthys of Blocker, especially in the lack of pectoral fins : it differs 

 from it in the inferior position and more tubsrlar character of the nares of the muzzle, and in the absence of vomerine 

 teeth. 



Char, speeif. The anus measures the anterior two fifths of the length, and the anal fin commences immediately 

 behind it. The dorsal fin commences at a point half way between the vent and the end of the muzzle. The fins are 

 narrow. The body is compressed throughout, the muzzle depressed. The form is stout, the depth entering the 

 length only nine times. Eye entering interorbital widtli 2.5 times ; latter equaling length of muzzle. Two soricsof 

 shortly conic teeth on the palatines (Cuv. maxillaries meokel), and ten in two transverse rows on the premaxillary 

 nasals. Three series on the dentary near the symphysis to elongate teeth. Length m.0.08. Color, uniform dark 

 brown ; throat paler ; fins darker margined.* 



From Id. St. Croix, West Indies, Capt. Thos. Davidson Coll. 



PisooDONTorms latimaculatus, Poey Mem. 

 St. Martins, Dr. Rijgersma. 



Anguittidm. 

 Anguit.la uostoniensis, Leseuer Journ. A. N. Sci., Phila. 

 St. Martins, Dr. Rijgcrsma. 



COLOCBPHALI. f 

 Echidna catenata, Bloch. ; Poecilophn eatenatus, Kaup ; E. flavofasciata, Poey Ropertorio Fis. Cuba, II., 

 204 (fide Gunther). 



St. Martins, Dr. Rijgersma. 



Gymnothoeax MiT.iARis, Kaup. Catalogue Brit. Mus., 90. 

 St. Martins, Dr. Rijgersma. 



* Ophichthys stenopterus, Copesp. nov. 



Tail nearly twice the length Of the head and body. Front convex longitudinally and transversely. Palatine and mandibular teeth in 

 two rows, the former throughout their length. Vomerine teeth in two series, here and there in three. Eye twice in muzzle. Length of 

 pectoral I'm live times in length of head, dorsal commencing above at point 1J^ length of the fin behind its extremity. Dorsal and anal 

 tins very low; both at their anterior portions a mere fold. Length m.0.82 ; Of head (to branchial silt) m.0.02. r >. Superior half the body 

 brown, Inferior white. Anal and dorsal fins white. Two specimens from Japan, presented to the Mus. Academy Nat, Sciences, by Dr. A. 

 A. Henderson. 



This is one of the slender species of the genus, and is near the 0. lumbricoides of Bleeker. It differs in the more numerous palatine 

 teeth, more posterior origin of dorsal fin, and very much less elevated dorsal and anal tins, not having more than half the extent figured 

 by Bleeker in his Atlas Tab. XLVI 1 1., tig. 8. 



t Holoptenirn, plumbed, Cope gen. et. sp. nov. 



(Mar. (ten. Anterior nostrils (posterior in position) concealed within the lip in front of the eye ; posterior nostrils tubular, detlected 

 ami posterior to the apex of the muzzle. Branchial slits approximated below the small pectoral fins. Extremity of tail finned. Vomerine 

 teeth present; no canines. 



This is Sphagebranehut with caudal fin. 



Char, specif ■ Tall 1.5 times the length of head and body. Dorsal fin commencing two lengths of the head behind muzzle. Profile, 

 flat, muzzle narrow ; interorbital space less than muzzle, equal twice diameter of orbit. Mandibulars and vomerines, two rowed in front. 

 one-rowed behind ; palatines two-rowed throughout. Total length 0"'.227; of head t) m .025. Color brown above, leaden below. 



West Africa, Dr. Gohcen. 



