22 



the eye. The eye has a circular contour. Its upper 

 margin does not reach to the upper profile of the 

 head. The posterior nostril, like a slit in form, and 

 vertical, is situated somewhat in front of the eye's 

 anterior margin. The anterior nostril is rounded. The 

 distance between the two nostrils is about half that 

 between the anterior nostril and the extremity of the 

 snout. The cleft, of the mouth tending upwards a 

 little obliquely reaches backwards to beneath the cen- 

 tre of the under margin of the eye. The lower jaw 

 is somewhat longer than the upper; its under .profile 

 is slightly convex, retreating with a somewhat pro- 

 minent angle. There are teeth in both jaws. 



The pectoral fins are rudimentary. The dorsal and 

 anal fins are very low ; the former has its origin imme- 

 diately in front of the vent. The caudal fin is pointed. 



The vent is situate near theh inder end of the 

 body; in the examples of this species in the col- 

 lection the ratio of the distance between vent and 

 tail-end to body's length is roughly as follows, 1:15, 

 1 : 19, 1 : 20, 1 : 22, and 1 : 24, 



On the lower side for about the first fifth of 

 the body's length there extends a row of pigmentary 

 spots very close together especially at the hinder end. 

 A little beyond where this row ceases, two other 

 rows of spots begin, one_on each side of the body; 

 they run juBt above the alimentary canal and reach 

 as far as the vent. These spots are so close together 

 that to the naked eye they appear to form two con- 

 tinuous dark lines. Along the upper side, from a 

 point a little behind the neck to the commencement 

 of the dorsal fin a row of spots extends, somewhat 



