Apodal Fishes of Bengal. 197 



branchial combs on either side, supported by bony arches. 

 There are five or six short semi-cartilaginous rays in either 

 side of the branchial membrane. The skin is soft and thin, 

 without scales ; there are two bands of teeth on either side 

 of the upper jaw, and one on each side of the lower. The 

 stomach and intestines form a straight tube, the former 

 dilated, and the latter contracted into a very narrow tube, 

 and then dilating again to form the rectum. 



The liver is situated on the right side at the hinder part 

 of the abdomen, along with the rectum, and is of a long nar- 

 row shape, connected however with the diaphragm by means 

 of a very long capsular ligament. 



There is no air-vessel. 



The naked skin without any trace of scales, as well as the 

 structure and peculiar form of the abdominal viscera, and of 

 dentition, evince an intimate affinity between Ophicardia, 

 and Ophisternon ; while the form of the branchial aperture 

 and arches, proves them to be distinct genera. 



OPHISTERNON BENGALENSIS, PI xi. Fig. 1. 



The head is a little raised at the crown and depressed towards the 

 eyes which are small, and placed on the muzzle before, and exter- 

 nal to the posterior apertures of the nostrils. The muzzle is nar- 

 row, long, and slightly recurved, the jaws are of equal length, the mem- 

 branous expansions on the tail representing the dorsal and anal fins, are 

 broad, the former advances in front of the anus, the latter commencing 

 close behind that organ, and both united at the end of the tail. The 

 lateral line is narrow, and situated high on the side. The body is cy- 

 lindric, but rather larger before than behind. The middle of the tail is 

 a little deeper than the body at the anus. 



There is a single large opening under the throat, communicating at 

 once with the branchial combs on both sides, which are all contained in 

 the same cavity without any partition; they are supported by bony 

 arches. The anus is placed at the posterior 4th of the length. There 

 are two bands of teeth on the upper jaw, the outer band on the 

 maxillaries forming a crescent in front under the apex of the jaw, and 

 becoming narrower from thence towards the corner of the mouth. The 



