SYMBBANCHIDiE. 
157 
FAMILY SYMBRANCHIDiE. 
(Gunth. Cat. vol. viii.) 
Chab. Body long, snake-like, with or without 
minute scales. No pectoral or ventral fins. Vertical 
fins rudimentary, reduced to mere folds of skin. 
Only one aperture to the gills, situated on the lower 
surface. 
GENUS AMPHIPNOUS. 
Chab. Palatine teeth in a single series. Small 
scales on the body, arranged longitudinally. 
1. Amphipnous cuchia. 
Hab. Bengal, near the coast. 2 feet or more. 
Chab. No apparent fins. 
Colotjb above dark green, below a dirty pale red. 
On every part are scattered small round black spots, 
and short yellowish lines. 
Body slimy, the scales not being apparent. 
This eel, having no fins, is very similar in appear- 
ance to a snake. It is fond of lying in the grass near 
the water, but on being disturbed takes to the water 
at once. The natives catch them with wicker baskets, 
open at the ends, which they place over them as they 
are trying to reach the water. 
