184 Apodal Fishes of Bengal. 



The result would be the establishment of several spe- 

 cies, which we cannot now distinguish with certainty. It 

 might also cast much additional light upon the order to 

 which they belong. 



1. OPHISURUS ROSTRATUS, Buch. 



Distinguished by a very small perfectly conical head and round tail 

 scarcely at all compressed. 



The pectorals are narrow and rather long, containing about 11 rays, 

 the eyes are high and rather approximated together on the crown. 



Colour greenish-yellow above, yellowish-white below. 



This is a small species, an adult taken caught in the act of spawn- 

 ing, not exceeding nine inches in length. 



Hab. — Bengal. 



This species is figured in Buchanan's drawings under 

 the name here given. I have not met with it, but it is closely 

 allied to Oph. minimus^ from which it only differs in having a 

 square muzzle. 



2. OPHISURUS VERMIFORMIS, PI xilfg. 2. 



The distance from the point of the muzzle to the eyes, is equal to \ of 

 the distance from the eyes to the pectorals. The distance from the 

 muzzle to the pectorals, is equal to the distance from the pectorals to 

 the commencement of the dorsal, and to about ~ part of the entire 

 length. The muzzle is long and narrow. There are 9 rays in each of 

 the pectorals, these fins are long and narrow. There are 22 rays in the 

 branchial membrane. The muzzle is long and narrow. The body long 

 and very slender, terminating in a sharp round pointed tail. The body 

 is dotted with dark green above. The lateral line is marked with a 

 few distant pores, like minute spots. 



Hab. — Bengal. 



This is the smallest species of Ophisurus I have seen. It 

 differs from O. hyala, Buch. in the spots on the lateral line 

 being more distant and minute. It is also a far more slen- 

 der species. 



