Apodal Fishes of Bengal. 155 



5. The species described in Russell's Indian Fishes, No. 

 37, as Manti Bukram-paum, and referred by Cuvier to the 

 genus Spagebranchus, Bl. belongs to the genus Dalophis 

 of Rafinesque, which, as well as the genus Gymnomurcena, 

 Lacep., and Uropterygius concolor, Riippell's fishes of the 

 Red Sea,* belong to Murcenida. 



The three families above noticed have the branchial aper- 

 tures double, the heart situated between them, and the intes- 

 tinal aperture at, or before the middle of the body ; it is here 

 ventured to name them as a tribe, ANGUILLIFORMES. 



6. The following families are, on the contrary, distin- 

 guished from them by the heart being placed behind the 

 branchial apertures, and the intestinal aperture far behind 

 the middle of the body; they are here, as a tribe, named 

 OPHICARDIDES. For a time I felt disposed to fol- 

 low the example of other writers in referring to Synbranchus, 

 Monoplerus, Sphagebranchus, and Apterichthes of the 

 Regne Animal, certain Bengal species which have inconsi- 

 derately been supposed to belong to those genera. 



7. The supposed genus Sphagebranchus has been a recep- 

 tacle for species with or without pectoral, or indeed any, fins 

 whatever. Some of the species referred to it belong to 

 Ophisuridae and Murcenida, others will be found either to 

 belong to the various genera of one or other of the above 

 tribes, according as the intestinal aperture is at the middle 

 of the body or further back towards the tail. That the genus 

 Sphagebranchus is unnatural, no further evidence is neces- 

 sary, than the number of very opposite forms that have been 

 referred to it. The only Indian species that has been sup- 

 posed to belong to it, is certainly a Dalophis of Mr. Swainson. 



8. The Apterichthes, are Sphagebranchi without fins. 

 The only one I have seen described, is the Apterich. caeca, 

 Laroach, Annal du Mus. xiii. t. 21, f. 6. It is here referred 



* This work contains numerous Indian species, and ought to be in every public 

 Library. 



