71 
but widens suddenlv a little before the termination of the dorsal and anal; the naked tip of the tail is slightly compressed and much 
blunter than the muzzle. The head, measured to the gîll-openiugs , is »/ I9 of the total length; it is contained 10*/ 4 times in the dis- 
tance from the muzzle to the anus, which is situated at the end of the fourth-seventh of the total length. The very minute eye is 
situa te d at the commencement of the second-eîght of the head, nearly above the middle of the lip; its distance from the muzzle is a 
little more than ■/„ of the head ; the distance between both eyes is a little less. The distance from the muzzle to the angle of the 
m outh is contained 4»/ 2 times in the length of the head. Between the muzzle and eacli eye, on the crown of the head, appear three 
distant pores and five similar on each branch of the lower jaw. The anterior nasal apertures are tubular and open on eacli side of 
the point of the muzzle; although very small, each tube is double the. length of the diameter of the eye; there are apparently no 
lobulets ; the posterior nasal apertures open through the lower surface of the upper lip, beneath the eyes. Beneath the tip of the muzzle 
appears a double sériés, each of three very minute pointed teeth. At a short distance behind the latter commences the sériés of the 
mesial line of the palate; the anterior part is double, each side consisting of fine teeth which are longer than ali the rest, the poste- 
rior part is single. The teeth of the upper jaw are minute, distant and placed in a single sériés ,, which commences a little behind the 
anterior teeth of the palatal sériés. The lower jaw is shorter than the upper; the symphysis is naked; the teeth are minute, pointed 
and general 1 y in a single sériés, but near the symphysis appears on each side a short internai sériés, consisting of three minute 
teeth. The tongue is very minute , elongated and tied to the floor of the mouth; it does not extend beyond the angle of te mouth. 
From the occiput to the tail the vertical diameter is contained 31/2 times in the length of the head; the tail slowly increase in deptli 
to a little in front of the termination of the dorsal and anal , where the vertical diameter suddenly atteins its maximum , 2 1 / a times in 
the length of the head. Between the termination of the dorsal and anal the vertical diameter is contained 4'/ 2 times in the head. and 
it forms the base of the bluntly conical tip of the tail , the upper and lower margin of which slightly exeeed the base. Owing to the 
lowness and tlïickness of the dorsal fin-membrane its précisé origîn cannot be determined; apparently it commences at a distance from 
the muzzle of */ 8 of the total length , but the rays cannot be distinguished before a little in front of the anterior third of the total. 
The general length of the rays is «/s of the head , but it slightly increases above the sudden enlargement of the tail near the termi- 
nation of the fin. The anal commences at a short distance from the vent and resembles the dorsal. The gill-openings are small, cres- 
cent-shaped and placed between the latéral line and the abdominal profile without bordering upon cither ; the distance from the appa- 
reut commencement of the dorsal exceeds by 1/4 the length of the head or the distance from the muzzle to the openings. The latéral 
line consista of a succession of short upwards-arched tubes , apparently without pores. 
Ground-colour of head, back and upper half of the sides yellowish wliite, so sparingly dotted with brown as to acquire a greyish 
or dusty appearance; beneath the latéral line a pale bluish grey longitudinal band; abdomen white; dorsal and anal hyaline, the lower 
half of the former dotted with brown. Iris sîlvery, orbital margin black, pupil circular, black. 
B. 31? D. 251? A 151. Total length, 1 foot , 8 inch". 
Syn. Dalophis ancép * Cant. , Catal. Mal. Fisîi. p. 327 tab. 6 fig. 1-4. 
Hab. Pinang, in mari. 
Rem. Le Sphagebranchus an ceps est la seule espèce connue du genre où les dénis inframaxil- 
laires sont disposées sur deux rangées et où la partie postérieure de la queue est élargie et no- 
lablcmenlplus élevée que le tronc. N’ayant pas vu l’espèce, je n’ai fait que transcrire la descrip- 
tion détaillée de feu M,- Gant or. 
Sphagebranchus lumbricoides Blkr, Poiss. inéd. Ordr. Murèn. Ned. Tijdschr. Dierk. II p. 46; 
Atl. Tab. CLXXXVIII fig. 4. Mur. XLIV fig. 4. 
Sphagebrancli. corpore eylindraceo vermiformi postice compresso, altitudine 60 circiter in ejus longitudine; capite valde acufo 17 
circiter in longitudine corporis, 8 et paulo in longitudine apicein rostri inter et anum , quadruplo circiter longîore quam alto; oeulis 
diametro 14 circiter in longitudine capitis; rostro valde acuto leviter convexo, apîce carnoso , oculo plus duplo longiore, longîore 
quam basi lato; naribus posterioribus sub oculo in lahio superiore perforatis; naribus anterioribus margine rostri perforatis margine 
elevato brevi tubulatis; maxîlla superiore quam inaxilla inferiore tnulto longiore; rictu paulo post oculum producto 3 circiter in lon- 
gitudine capitis ; dentibus acutis curvatis , palatinis utroque latere 6 cire. ; dentibus nasalibus 4 confertis spatio edentulo a dentibus 
vomero-palatinîs remotis ; dentibus vomerinîs 10 cire., anterioribus 4 ad 6 biseriatis, ceteris uniseriatis; dentibus inframaxillaribus uni- 
seriatis utroque latere 6 ad- 8 ? (ex parte deficientibus) ; apertura branchial! inféra obliqua rimaeformi inferne isthmo sat angusto ab 
apertura branchial! lateris oppositi separata; cute laevi non rugosa; linea laterali tubulis continuis notata; pinna dorsali supra aper- 
turam branchîalem incipiente, humillima, carinaeformî , radiis parum conspicuis; pinnis pectoralibus nullis ; pinna anali antice in dimidio 
corporis posteriore? incipiente, humillima, carinaeformî, radiis parum conspicuis; cauda? (apice mutiîato); colore corpore superne oli- 
vaceo fusco plus minusve arenato, inferne margaritacco. 
B. 24. D. ? A.? 
Hab. Timor, in mari. 
Longitudo speciminis descripti absque apice caudae 21 0"'. 
Rem. Le Sphagebranchus lumbricoides approche du genre Apterichthys par son corps vei mi- 
forme et par ses nageoires rudimentaires qui ne forment qu’une carène peu élevée où l’on ne 
voit que quelques rayons ou vestiges de rayons qu’on ne saurait compter qu a l’aide d’une forte 
loupe. Je n’ai pas pu compter distinctement, dans l’unique individu que j’en possède, les dents 
de la mâchoire inférieure. Le bout de la queue étant mutilé je ne puis pas non plus déterminer 
positivement si en effet la queue est plus courte que le tronc. 
Avant de terminer la famille des Ophisuroïdes, j’ajoute ici la description d’une espèce inédite, 
que je viens de reconnaître tout récemment. Elle fait monter le nombre des espèces indo-archi- 
* 
