FISHES. 
67 
A specimen of this fish, presented by Mr. Lay to the Museum of the Royal Coliege of Surgeons, 
is the only individual of the species which we have seen. From it was taken, with the permission of 
the Hoard of Curators, the accompanying figure. 
The Ophis. semicinctus is nearly related, both by the evanescence of its pectorai fins and by ils 
markings, to the Ophis. colubrinus, ( Murcena colubrina, Bodd Mur. annulata, Thunb.) It differs 
chiefly in the number and incompleteness of its fascia-like patches of dark-brown, which do not sur- 
round the body, but are interrupted on the under surface ; leaving the whole of the belly of the same 
pale colour as that which intervenes between the dark markings on the back and sides. In the speci- 
men preserved in spirit, this paler colour is a light brown. The number of brown fascia:, all of which 
form rings in the Mur. colubrina, is in that species thirty-one: in ours, in which the rings are incom- 
plete, they are only twenty-one; without including three which cross the upper part of the head, one 
at the occiput, another immediately behind, and the third immediately before, the eyes. 
The lateral line is strongly marked. 
All the fins are exceedingly indistinct. The dorsal and anal appear merely like slight folds of 
skin, and are lodged, except near their caudal extremity, in grooves of great comparative depth, 
beyond the edges of which they do not seem capable of being extended. The former commences over 
the minute pectorals, and is continued to within three-eighths of an inch of the tip of the tail, forming 
towards its hinder part a slight projecting ridge, and adding, with the corresponding form of the anal, 
to the flattened appearance of the tail. The anal commences immediately behind the vent, at about 
half the length of the body: it terminates opposite to the termination of the dorsal. 
The branchial rays are about twenty-five. The total length is fourteen inches; the circum- 
ference at the thickest part about three-quarters of an inch. 
It may be remarked that the Murccnophis colubrina, Lacep., can scarcely be identical with the 
Murccna colubrina, Bodd., the number of the dark rings in the former being only fifteen: in fact, if 
Lacepede’s figure can be relied on, his species is not even an Ophisurus. 
Opiiidium Stigma. 
Oph. (imberbe? ) pallide brunneum , fasciis maculisque plurimis ; maculh magnet purpurect ad ortum pinnae dorsalis . 
PLATE XX. FIG. 1. 
Hab. iu Kotzebue Sound. 
This new species of Opiiidium is briefly noticed both by Mr. Collie and by Mr. Lay, but the only 
specimen which occurred was not preserved. Of the genus to which it should be referred no doubt 
can be entertained: it had “ no trace of ventral fins its “ dorsal, caudal, and anal fins were united 
into a transparent ridge and although Mr. Lay adds that the “ operculum was wanting or obsolete, 
or rather identical with the branchiostegous membrane,” Mr. Collie states that the “ rays of the 
branchial covering were distinct.” Its “ scales were very small.” 
It is described as “ dilute brown, with void swathes and spots,” “ and a purplish spot near the 
beginning of the dorsal fin :” its “ snout obtuse : chin with a large gibbosity: teeth small.” — L. 
Its length was “ about five inches.” 
The accompanying figure is engraved from a slight sketch preserved by Mr. Lay. It is 
apparently of the natural size. 
Had the trivial name of ocellatum, applied to it doubtingly by the naturalists of the voyage, not 
been preoccupied, it would have been very appropriate. The Oph. ocellatum, described and figured 
by Tilesius, from the sea of Kamtschatka, certainly bears, as M. Cuvier has remarked, a near relation 
to the Centronoti, Schn.; it approaches, indeed, closely to the Cent. Gunnellus, Schn. That Schneider 
possessed some information as to such a fish may fairly, I think, be presumed from his character of 
the Oph. Chinense (Blochii Syst. Ichth., p. 486), where he has evidently confounded two species : one 
the Oph. imberbe, Linn., an inhabitant of the European portion of the Northern Atlantic ; the other, 
“ ocellis nigris iridibus albis pinnae dorsi,” (from the name prefixed, probably obtained from China,) 
which may very possibly be the Oph. ocellatum of Tilesius. 
