49 '2 SBALE. 



in a single sei'ies in (■acli jaw. Three large median canines anteriorly, 

 no teeth on shafts of \'omer except a few small ones at its cvtreme posterior 

 end. Posterior nostrils cDnsistiiin; of a large round pore situated just 

 above the anteri(.ir half of iris, aiil(.'ri(ii- nostrils consisting of two tul)es 

 at extremity of snout, their length about two-thirds of eye. Between 

 the nostrils, the skin on sides of snout has a loose fold capable of dilata- 

 tion. Dorsal fin is low, beginning slightly anterior to gill opening, 

 which is of moderate size, being about equal to eye. Origin of anal tin 

 at anal pore, fins are low. the dorsal the highest, its longest rays being 

 almost equal to snout. The fins are continuous arou.nd caudal. 



Color in life, brown with irregular-shaped black blotches, which assume 

 the form of irregular, broken vertical bands sUghth' li/ss than inter- 

 spaces. Head has a distinct elongate white mark between eye and gape 

 of mouth, this while stripe penetrates the lower portion of a large 

 blackish blotch bordering the posterior portion of eye ; another short 

 wliite stripe from anterior bolder of eye to middle of maxilhiry. A black 

 blotch in angle of jaws which is bordered anteriorly by an elongate white 

 stripe on tlir mandible. A dusky area crossing near the jiosterior portion 

 of lower jaws, this area with a white median line. Throat crossed witli 

 narrow white lines, pores of jaws white, the fins are baricd with black. 



Color in alcohol similar but slightly faded. 



Type is Xo. 444-"'), a sjiecimen from Zamlioanga. ^lindanao. P. I., 16 

 June, l!)OSi. Length, 385 millimeters. 



Gymnothorax samalensis .^palc, sp. imv. 



Head 3. so in body; ))0(ly is sliojter than tail by a distance equal to 

 under jaw; gape of mouth 2.T" in head; snout 6.75 in head; eye l.'.'S 

 in snout; interorbital space, measured to include soft portion, is equal 

 to eye; posterior nostrils round, jiore-like; openings of nostril just above 

 eye; anterior nostrils consisting of two rather long tubes at end of snout, 

 their length about two-tliirds of eye. Teeth of upper jaw in a single 

 series except in front where there are several enlarged canine-, four 

 enlarged depressible ones in the median line; Aomerine series single, 

 about 10 in number, short and rounded. Teeth on lower jaw in a single 

 series except in front, where there arc about five or six enlarged depres- 

 sible canines on eacii side. Origin of dorsal, a distance equal to length 

 of snout in front of gill openings. (_)rigin of anal directly back of 

 anal pore, the fins of moderate length. 



Coloi- in alcohol lirownish with indistinct darker cross-bands, more 

 numerous and distinct on posterior of tail, almost obliterated anteriorlv ; 

 belly and throat yellowish. A distinct white blotch on lower jaw just 

 in front of angle. .V white spot on upper jaw below eye and another 

 halfway between eye and ti.p of snout; these form rings around the mucous 

 ])oi'es. Three similar white spots on lower jaw. Top of head and snout 



