th e so ft p a la t e p a r tly ove rlie th e p o s te r io r te e th o f th e
v o in c r, w h ic h is th e c a u s e o f th e a r t i s t h a v in g r e p r e s e n te d ,
in fig. 8 , th e d e n ta l su rfa c e a s ta p e r in g m o re tow a rd s th e
g u lle t th a n i t a c tu a lly d o e s . P a la tin e te e th sm a lle r th a n th e
n a s a l o n e s , n o t q u ite so f la t o n th e c row n s , a n d d isp o s e d
so a s to fo rm a n e llip tic a l d e n ta l p la te , w h ich h a s a lso b e e n
draw n in fig u re 8 a s ta p e r in g too m u c h , ow in g to th e p o u tin
g o f th e lip s . T h e r e a r e s ix o r sev en te e th a b r e a s t in
th e w id e s t p a r t o f th e p la te , a n d tw o o r th r e e p o s te rio rly .
T h e d e n ta l p la te s o n th e lim b s o f th e low e r jaw co n ta in
a b o u t five te e th in th e m id d le , a n d t a p e r o ff g r a d u a lly to w
a rd s th e c o rn e r o f th e m o u th . T h e y a re s e p a r a te d from
o n e a n o th e r a t th e sym p h y s is b y a sm o o th lin e . T h e u p p
e r jaw p ro je c ts so m u c h b e y o n d th e m a n d ib le , th a t th e
w h o le n a s a l d isk is a n te r io r to th e lip o f th e l a t t e r ; a n d
w h e n th e m o u th is c lo s e d , th e c o n v e x d e n ta l su rfa c e o f th e
fo re e n d o f th e m a n d ib le a p p lie s to th e a n te r io r vom e rin e
te e lh , w h ic h c o r r e s p o n d with th em in s iz e , a n d a re la rg e r
th a n th e o th e r te e th .
T h e h e a d is c o n ic a l, th e s n o u t sm a ll a n d a c u te , with a
th ic k s h o r t tu b u la r n o s tr il on e a c h s id e o f it , b u t a little
p o s te r io r to th e e x trem e tip , a n d h a v in g a n in c lin a tio n
dow nw a rd s. T h e p o s te r io r n o s tr il is u n d e r th e e y e , ra lh e r
on th e in n e r b o rd e r o f th e lip , a n d is c o v e re d b y a valve
w h ic h g iv e s a d ow nw a rd a s p e c t to th e o p e n in g . A sm a ll
a c u te p a p illa o v e rlie s a m in u te n o tc h on th e ed g e o f th e
lip , b e tw e e n th e n a s a l o p e n in g s o f e a c h s id e , a n d b e h in d
th e p o s te r io r n o s tr il th e r e e x is ts a m o re m in u te p a p illa , a ll
o f w h ic h c o n tr ib u te to give a c h a r a c te r to th e orific e o f th e
m o u th d iffe re n t from th a t o f A n y u i l la o r M u ræ n a . T h e
e y e is r a th e r sm a ll. T h e re a re fo u r c o n sp ic u o u s p o r e s on
e a c h lim b o f th e m a n d ib le , s ev e ra l on. th e u n d e r lip , a n d
th re e o n e a c h s id e o f th e s n o u t a b o v e a n d b e fo re th e eye.
T h e n a p e a n d th ro a t, b e in g e la s tic , b u lg e o u t, a n d a re th e
th ic k e s t p a r ts o f th e fish : th e y a re m a rk e d o n e a ch s ide
b y a b o u t tw e n ty - fo u r fin e lo n g itu d in a l fuiTOws, w h ic h ru n
b a c k to th e g ill-o p e n in g s . T h e e la s tic ity o f th e s e p a r ts is
m a in ta in e d b y th ir ty - th r e e g ill-ra y s , w h ic h sp r in g from
e a c h b r a n c h o f th e os h y o id e s : th e y a re a s fine a s h o rs e
h a ir s , a n d a re v e ry c u rio u s ly a r ra n g e d in two lay e rs. T h e
ra y s o f th e le f t b r a n c h m a k e a n a b ru p t cu rv e a c ro s s th e
th ro a t, a n d th e n r e tu rn to c ir c le ro u n d th e le ft o p e rc u lum
to th e n a p e . O n th e r ig h t s id e , th e tw en ty u p p e rm o s t or
p o s te r io r r a y s ru n v e n tra d o f th e le ft ra y s , c u rv in g more
th a n h a lf-w ay a c ro s s th e th ro a t, a n d r e tu rn in g ov e r th e o p e r cu
lum to th e r ig h t s id e o f th e n a p e ; w hile th e th ir te e n a n te
r io r o n e s sw e ep a t o n c e to th e le f t s id e , in c o n ta c t with
th e le f t g ill-s a c , a n d c o n s e q u e n tly a b o v e o r d o r s a d o f th e
ra y s w h ic h s p r in g from th e le ft b r a n c h ; th e y th e n cu rv e
b a c kw a rd s a c ro s s th e th ro a t to th e r ig h t sid e , whe re th e y
p ro tru d e a little from b e n e a th th e e d g e o f th e o th e r ray s .
G ill-o p e n in g s w id e r th a n th o s e o f M u ræ n a , a n d lower
d ow n , b e in g s im ila r in a p p e a r a n c e to th o s e o f A n g u illa .
B ran ch ia e four, w ith five o p en in g s a t th e i r b a s e s in to th e
g u lle t. P h a ry n g e a l b o n e s a rm e d with a c u te te e th . H e a r t
p o s te r io r to th e b ra n c h iæ , a n d p la c e d b e iw e e n th e h in d e r
l ip s o f th e g ill-o p e n in g s . T h e h um e ra l a r c h is c om p o s ed
o f two s le n d e r b o n e s o n e a c h s id e , w h ic h d o n o t m e e t
th e ir fe llows o n tlie v e n tra l lin e . P e c to r a l fin o v a l, o f m o d
e ra te s iz e , s u s ta in e d b y s ix te e n b r a n c h in g ray s .
B o d y n e a rly c y lin d r ic a l, th e b a c k c a r ry in g its ro u n d n e s s
fa r p a s t th e a n u s , a n d th e ta il, w h ic h is m o re c om p re s s e d
tow a rd s th e tip , r e ta in in g its la te r a l c o n v e x ity , i t s e x tr em e
tip b e in g co n ic a l. T h e d o rs a l c om m en c e s j u s t b e h in d th e
b a s e o f th e p e c to r a l, a n d c a r r ie s i t s w id th we ll d ow n th e
ta il, a s d o e s a lso th e an a l. A s lig h t in c r e a s e in th e b r e a d th
o f th e fin s ta k e s p la c e j u s t b e fo re th e y su d d e n ly s lo p e ofi’,
l e a v in g th e e x tr em e p o in t o f th e ta il d e s titu te o f ra y s , b u t
e d g e d a b o v e a n d b e low w ith a s c a rc e ly p e rc e p tib le c u t a n
e o u s se am . T h e a n u s is p la c e d a t a b o u t o n e -tw e lfth o f
th e w h o le le n g th o f th e fish b e fo re th e m id d le . T h e sk in
is sm o o th , w ith o u t sc a le s , a n d th e r e is n o p e rc e p tib le la te r
a l lin e . T h e sp e c im e n , a fte r lo n g im m e rsio n in sp irits ,
h a s a d u sk y b row n c o lo u r, d a rk e r o n th e b a c k , p a l e r o n th e
b e lly , a n d w ith o u t sp o ts.
T h e c æ c a l s tom a c h ta p e r s to a p o in t, a n d th e p y lo ru s
o p e n s o b liq u e ly th ro u g h i t s c o a s ts , a t its u p p e r e n d , so as
to fo n n a v a lv u la r o b s tru c tio n to th e r e tu rn o f m a tte r from
th e g u t. A sp ir a l v a lv e e x is ts in th e low e r p a r t o f th e g ut,
lik e th a t w h ic h o c c u rs in th e M u ræ noe . T h e lo n g a n d
s le n d e r a ir -b la d d e r is th ic k e s t a t i t s low e r e n d n e a r th e
a n u s , a n d ta p e r s u pw a rd s to a h a ir-lik e p o in t. I t is
in c h e s lo n g , a n d s e n d s a n a ir -d u c t from its m id d le to th e
L e n g th o f th e fish 24 in c h e s . T o a n u s 10'5 in ch e s .
T o g ill-o p e n in g 2 ‘6 in c h e s .
H ab. P o r t E s s in g to n .
C u v ie r n o tic e s o n ly tw o g ro u p s o f O p h is u r i in h is R e g n e
A n im a l, o n e h a v in g a c u te c u ttin g te e lh a n d p e c to r a ls o f
th e o rd in a ry s iz e , a n d th e o th e r b lu n t te e th a n d e x tr em e ly
sm a ll p e c to r a ls ; b u t h e m e n tio n s n o n e w-hich h a v e p e c to r
a ls a s la rg e a s in A n g u illa c om b in e d with sm a ll flat-
c row n e d te e th , lik e to th o s e o f c a n c r iv o ru s . T w o o th e r
O p h is u r i o f th e s am e g ro u p e x i s t in th e B r itis h M u s e um ,
o u e o f w h ic h , p ro c u r e d from S iu c a p o re , re s em b le s c a n c r ivo
ru s c lo s e ly , e x c e p t th a t th e s n o u t is c om p a ra tiv e ly
sh o r te r , a n d th e d o rs a l b e g in s a ve ry little fa r th e r forward,
v iz ., o p p o s ite to th e b a s a l th ird o f th e p e c to r a l, a n d a lso
th a t th e p e c to r a l it s e l f is a little la rg e r . T h e le n g th o f th e
fish is 14 in c h e s . T h e a n u s is o n ly 14 in c h e s from th e tip
o f th e sn o u t, o r r a th e r fa rth e r fo rw a rd th a n in c a n c r iv o ru s .
T o th e g ill-o p e n in g 3 ’1 in c h e s . T h e c o lo u r is a p u r e r
c h e s tn u t b row n , p a le r be low th e m id d le , a n d re so lv ab le
th e re , wh en v iew ed th ro u g h a le n s , in to m in u te sp e ck s.
T h e fins a re d a rk , a n d th e la te r a l lin e is m a rk e d b y a sc rie s
o f m in u te , d is ta n t p o re s . T h e d iffe ren c e s I h a v e p o in te d
o u t m ay p e rh a p s b e o n ly in d iv id u a l v a ria tio n s , a n d w ith o u t
a c c e s s to a s e rie s o f s p e c im e n s i t w o u ld b e u n s a fe to n am e
th is fish a s a s p e c ie s d is tin c t from ca n c r iv o ru s . T h e o th e r
sp e c im e n w a s p ro c u r e d a t th e P h ilip p in e I s la n d s b y Mr.
C um in g , a n d is la rg e r, b u t w ith o u t a n y m a rk e d d iffe renc e
in form.
O p h is d r q s s in e n s is . R ic h a rd s o n .
I n th e C am b rid g e P h ilo so p h ic a l I n s titu tio n th e r e is an
O p h isu ru s , b ro u g h t from C h in a b y th e R ev . G eo rg e
V a c h e ll, w h ic h h a s so g re a t a n e x te rn a l re s em b la n c e to
ca n c r ivo ru s , th a t i t m ig h t re a d ily b e c o n fo u n d e d w ith it.
T h e following d iffe re n c e s , h ow ev e r, a p p e a r to e x is t, i f th e
no te s I m ad e a t C am b r id g e b e c o r r e c t, for I h av e n o t com-
n a red th e sp e c im e n s . T h e d o rs a l a n d a n a l low e r m o re
no ste rio rly b e fo re th e y sw e ll o u t g ra d u a lly , a n d c o n tr a c t
L a in a s g ra d u a lly fo r a n in c h a n te r io r to ih e ir te rm in a tio n ,
close to th e a p e x o f th e ta il. T h e b a n d s o f te e th o n th e
several b o n e s a re n a rrow e r. rr. •„
L e n g ih 1 9 J in c h e s . T o am is 7 | in c h e s , lo g i l l - o p e n -
ing 2-05 in c h e s .
H a b . C a n to n .
W ith o u t fu r th e r e x am in a tio n , I c a n n o t c o n h d c n tly p ro pose
th is a s a sp e c ie s d is tin c t from c a n c r iv o ru s o r th e
v a rie tie s n o tic e d above a s in h a b itin g th e s e a s o f th e M o lu
c c a s a n d S tr a its o f S in c a p o re . . .
A n o th e r sp e c ie s r e s em b lin g ca n c r iv o ru s m its d e n titio n ,
p e c to ra ls a n d g e n e r a l fo rm , is th e
O p h is u r u s s e m ic in c t u s . R ic h a rd so n .
T h e n a s a l te e th , a b o u t th ir ty - th r e e in m im b e r, a re d is po
sed in a c o n v e x o b lo n g -o v a l d isk , w h ic h is n o t s e p a r a te d
by a d is tin c t lin e 'f rom th e v om e rin e te e th . T h e la tte r ru n
far b a c k , a n d a re p l a c e d two d e e p an te rio rly , fo u r in th e
m iddle parks, a n d tw o a g a in p o s te rio rly . T h e p a la tin e
te e th form tw o o r th r e e ir r e g u la r rows, a n d th e te e lh o f th e
m a n d ib le a re m o s tly r a n g e d in th r e e row s , w h ich in c r e a s e
to four n e a r th e sym p h y s is . T h e d o rs a l c om m en c e s a b o u t
an in c h b e fo re th e g ill-o p e u in g , a n d , to g e th e r with th e
anal, c a rrie s m o s t o f its b r e a d th to n e a r th e tip o f ih e ta il,
where b o th fins s lo p e su d d e n ly aw ay . T h e e x tr em e tip o f
th e ta il is ro u n d ish , c o n ic a l a n d r ig id , b u t n o t p u n g e n t.
P e c to ra l fin m o d e ra te ly la rg e , s u s ta in e d b y tw e lv e ray s ,
and tip p e d with b row n .
Co lo u rs m u c h fad ed . A b la c k sp o t, f la n k e d b y two
othe rs, m a rk s th e h in d h e a d , a n d th e to p a n d s id e s o f th e
jaws a re c o v e re d w ith b row n d o ts o f th e siz e o f sw a n -sh o t.
T h e b o d y i s b a n d e d b y e ig h te en la rg e d e e p p u rp lish -b row n
spots o r b a r s , th a t fad e aw ay a little b e low th e la te r a l lin e ,
ex c e p t th e th r e e la s t, w h ic h e n c irc le th e ta il. T h e d o rs a l
ancl an a l a re e d g e d with b la c k ish -b row n .
L e n g th 2 8 ‘75 in c h e s . T o a n u s 1 2 '2 5 in c h e s . T o g ill-
op en in g 3 '1 2 in c h e s .
T h e o rig in o f th is sp e c im en is u n k n ow n . I t was s e n t
from th e C o lleg e o f S u rg e o n s to th e B r itis h M u s e um , a n d
is la b e lle d 813, a n d 2, 4 5 , 29, 15. S om e v e rd ig ris in
th e sp irit in w h ich th e sp e c im e n h a s b e e n k e p i h a s tin g e d
th e te e th a r ic h g re e n . A n o th e r sp e c im e n , w h ic h is d ried ,
was b ro u g h t b y o n e o f th e E a r l o f D e rb y ’s c o lle c to rs from
W e s te rn Africa, a n d p r e s e n te d b y h is lo rd s h ip to th e
B ritish M u s eum . I t s te e th a re w h ite , ancl its le n g th 28
inche s.
T h is sp e c ie s d iffe rs from p a r d a lis in h a v in g c o n s id e ra b ly
la rg e r p e c to r a ls ; a n d from m a c u lo su s , in te r t in c tu s a n d
su g illa iu s in h a v in g b lu n t te e th . Tn its m a rk in g s i t b e a rs
a more or le s s c lo se r e s em b la n c e to a ll th e se .
H ab. W e s te rn A fric a , n o r th o f th e E q u a to r .
O p h is u r u s b o r o . B u c h a n a n -H am ilto n .
Ow/iiiuriis boro, Buclmnaii - Hamilton, Fish of Ganges, p. 20,363.
Gray, 111. Iinl. Zool. i. PI. 95, f. 1. Hardw. Icon. ined. 301 ni Museo
Brit. serv.
T h i s O p h is u r u s a g re e s w ith c a n c r iv o ru s _in_ h a v in g a
co n sp ic u o u s p e c to r a l a n d b lu n t te e th , b u t i t is a m o re
s le n d e r sp e c ie s , w ith a sm a lle r h e a d . T h e sp e c im e n
d e s c r ib e d b e low is c e r ta in ly th e o n e fig u re d m th e IlUis-
tr a lio n s o f I n d ia n Z o o lo g y ,’ a n d a g re e s w ith H a rdw ic k e
d raw in g a b o v e q u o te d , w h ic h is p ro b a b ly a c o p y of o n e o f
H am ilto n -B u c h a n a n ’s, b e in g m a rk e d M . H . B . S3p, b u t
its p e c to r a l, th o u g h sm a ll, c a n n o t b e s a id to b e m in u te ,
a s s la te d in th e sp e c ific c h a r a c te r g iv en b y th e la tte r
au th o r. I t is p ro b a b le , h ow ev e r, th a t h e h a d n o t o b s e rv e d
th e ru d im e n ta ry p e c to r a ls o f th e O p h is u r i o f th e n e x t
g ro u p , a u d b y th e w o rd ‘ m in u te ’ m e a n t m e re ly to d en o te
th e c om p a ra tiv e ly sm a ll s iz e o f th e p e c to r a ls , a s c o n tr a s te d
w ith th o s e o f som e o th e r s o f th e
I t s d e n titio n is s im ila r to th a t o f ca n c r iv o ru s , b u t th e
b a n d s a re n a rrow e r, a n d th e te e th sm a lle r a n d m o re u n ifo rm
in s iz e , e x c e p t th e c e n tr a l n a s a l o n e s , w h ich a re a little
la rg e r. T h e n a s a l c lu s te r c o n ta in s in o n e sp e c im e n o n ly
th re e te e th , a n d th e re a re g e n e ra lly a b o u t th r e e ir r e g u la r
row s in th e vom e r, p a la tin e s a n d m an d ib le . T h e d o rs a l
c om m e n c e s n e a rly a n in c h b e h in d th e g ill-o p e n in g , ancl,
to g e th e r w ith th e a n a l, g ra d u a lly n a rrow s , u n til i t c a n no
lo n g e r b e tr a c e d v e ry n e a r th e t ip o f th e ta il, w h ic h is
e d g e d to th e a p e x b y a c u ta n e o u s fo ld a b o v e a n d be low.
T h is sp e c im e n , w h ic h h a s b e e n lo n g im m e rs e d m sp irits ,
is p a le b row n . T h e b e lly is lig h te r , a n d th e fins wh itish .
T h e d raw in g is c o lo u re d d a rk g re e n , w ith m in u te fp e c k s .
L e n g th 24-6 in c h e s . T o a n u s 9 '9 in c h e s , l o g ill-
o p e n in g 2 ’1 in ch e s .
H a b . I n d ia n O c e an , r iis tu a r ie s o f r iv e rs a n d s a lt-w a te r
lake s.
O p h is u r u s b r e v ic e p s . R ic h a rd so n .
An O p h is u r u s in th e B r itis h M u s e um , rem a rk a b le for
its s h o r t b lu n t h e a d , b u t h a v in g th e low e r jaw , a s u su a l,
sh o r te r th a n th e u p p e r o n e ; m a y b e co n s id e re d a s in te r m
e d ia te b e tw e e n th e p r e c e d in g sp e c ie s a n d th e g ro u p
m e n tio n e d b e low ,— ag re e in g w ith th e form e r lo d e n lilio n
a n d g en e ra l a sp e c t, a n d w ith th e f a tte r m i t s v e ry sm a ll
p e c to ra l, a tta c h e d lik e a v a lv e to th e Up o f th e p l l - o p e n -
in g . T liis p e c to r a l c o n ta in s tw e lv e ra y s . T h e d o is a l
c om m en c e s n e a r th e o c c ip u t b e fo re th e g ill-o p e n in g , a n d
ta p e rs g rad u a lly aw ay , so a s to b e c om e n e a r ly im p e r c e p tib
le b e fo re it a c tu a lly te rm in a te s , a b o u t five lin e s Irom th e
tip o f t h e ta il, w h ich is m o re c om p re s s e d th a n i t u su a lly
is in th is g en u s . T h e a n a l v a n ish e s in a s im ila r way o p p
o s ite to th e e n d o f th e d o rs a l. H e a d s h o r t a n d th ic k , w ith
a c om p a ra tiv e ly w id e sn o u t. E y e a n d g a p e b o th small.
G ro u p o f b lu n tis h te e th o n th e n a s a l b o n e c ir c u la r , s e p
a r a te d from th e tv is e ria l v om e rin e o n e s , wh ich ru n ta r
b a c k a n d e u d in a s in g le vow. T h e p a la tm e te e lh a re
R 2