sm a ll, b i s e r ia l a n d b lu n t, a n d form a s h o r t row in a c c o rd a
n c e w ith th e sm a ll g a p e .
L e n g th 38 in c h e s . T o a n u s 1 8 ‘7 5 in c h e s . T o g ill-
o p e u in g 3 in c h e s .
T h i s sp e c im e n c am e from th e C o lle g e o f
w h e r e i t w a s n um b e r e d 812.
H-AB. U n k n ow n .
O p h i s u r u s p a r d a l is . V a le n c ie n n e s .
Ophisurus pardalis, Valenc. Webb, et Berth. Canaries, p. 90, PI. 16,
fig. 2.
T h o u g h I h a v e n o t se en a s p e c im e n o f th is fish , y e t, to
r e n d e r th e a c c o u n t o f t h e sp e c ie s m o re c om p le te , i h av e
tr a n s fe r r e d th e su b jo in e d d e s c r ip tio n o f i t from M. V a len c
ie n n e s ’ a b le a c c o u n t p u b lis h e d in W e b b a n d B e r th o le t’s
b o o k o n th e C a n a rie s .
I t b e lo n g s to th e g ro u p o f O p h is u r i, w h ic h h a v e b lu n t
te e th a n d ru d im e n ta ry p e c to r a ls . I t s c y lin d r ic a l b o d y b e c
om e s g r a d u a lly c o n ic a l a t th e en d . T h e m e a n h e ig h t o f
th e tru n k is c o n ta in e d ih ir iy - s e v e u tim e s a n d a h a l f in th e
w h o le le n g th ; a n d th e d is ta n c e from th e e n d o f th e sn o u t
to th e b a s e o f t h e p e c to r a l is c o n ta in e d twe lve tim e s in th e
s am e e n tir e le n g th , b u t o n ly five tim e s u p to th e anus.
T h e h e a d a n d c h e e k s a re m o d e ra te ly sw o llen , ow in g to th e
s iz e o f th e c ro ta p h ite m u s c le s . T h e m o u th is c le f t b e y o n d
th e ey e , w h o s e d iam e te r is c o n ta in e d tw ic e b e tw e e n its
a n te r io r b o rd e r a n d th e t ip o f th e sn o u t, fo u r tim e s in th e
l e n g th o f th e o rific e o f th e m o u tb , a n d tw ic e a n d a h a lf
b e iw e e n th e ey e s. T h e re g io n o f t h e g ills b u lg e s c o n s id
e ra b ly ; th e o p e n in g is sm a ll. T h e o b tu s e te e th a re
r a n k e d in tw o s e rie s a lo n g th e in te rm a x illa ry (p a la te -b o n e
o f O wen), w h ich is a rtic u la te d , a s iu th e A n g u illifo rm e s , to
th e p o s te r io r b o rd e r o f th e c h e v ro n o f th e v om e r (n a s a l-
b o n e , Owen), wh ich p ro je c ts to th e e n d o f th e sn o u t. T h is
w h o le e x tr em ity o f th e v om e r (n a s a l, Owen) a n d its b o d y
(vome r, O w en ), a re c o v e re d w ith m a n y rows o f sm a ll o b tu s e
te e th . T h e r e is a lso a b a n d o n th e lim b o f t h e m an d ib le .
T h e two o p e n in g s o f th e n o s tr ils a re tu b u la r , a n d p ie r c e
th e e d g e o f th e j aw : th e a n te r io r o n e is n e a r th e e x tr em ity
o f th e s n o u t, a n d its tu b e h a n g s down o n o n e s id e lik e a
sm a ll b a r b e l ; th e p o s te r io r o n e o p e n s u n d e r th e m id d le o f
th e e y e , a n d its o rific e is co v e red b y a tu b u la r p a p illa
p la c e d o n its o u te r b o rd e r . W h e n th e sk in is rem o v ed ,
o n e p e r c e iv e s a la rg e n a s a l s a c , w h ic h i.s co v e red b y th e
g r e a t n a s a l-b o n e ( tu rb in a te b o n e , Owen), w h ich is v a u lte d
lo m ak e ro om for th e n o s t r i l ; b e n e a th th e s u b -o rb ita r , in
fo n n o f a th in p la te , e d g e s th e in te rm a x illa ry (p a la tin e ,
Owen). O n ra is in g th e so ft p a r ts o f th e p a la te , we m a y p e r c
e iv e a v e ry th in p a la tin e , s u c c e e d e d b y ve ry sm a ll a la r
b o n e s , w h o lly ru d im e n ta ry , wh ich n ev e rth e le s s fo rm th e
ai-ch c o n n e c te d w ith th e lim b o f th e m an d ib le . T h e d o rs a l
b e g in s a t th e n a p e , a n d a p p e a r s to b e com e h ig h e r a n d
low e r s e v e ra l tim e s in th e co u rs e o f its le n g th . T h e an a l
is m o re e q u a l. T h e p e c to r a ls a re v e ry sm a ll, b u t y e t th e ir
r a y s a re p e r c e p tib le . T h e o n ly v e s tig e o f a la te r a l lin e is
a s e rie s o f d i s ta n t p o re s , n o t e a s ily tra c e d .
T h e g ro u n d c o lo u r is w h itish , d o tte d with ro u n d b row n
sp o ts , o f v a rio u s s iz e s , fa d in g in to th e g ro u n d t in t, a n d
fo rm in g two p r in c ip a l row s o n th e flan k s. T h e b e lly is
m o re w h ite , th e s p o ts sm a lle r a n d fa in te r.
H ab. R o c k y b a s in s a t L a n c e ro tta , am o n g se a -w e ed s.
O p h is u r u s f a s c ia t u s . T h u n b e rg . {Murcena).
Muræna fasciata, Tliuuberg, Spec. Ichth. t. 2, f. I. An. 1789—94.
Gymnothorax fasciatus, Bl. Schn. 529.
Ophkisurtis alternans, Quoy el Gaim. Voy. du Freyc. PI. 45, f. 2.
T e e th sm a ll, sh o r t- c o n ic a l a n d b lu n tis h . T h e ova l n a s a l
d isk is c o v e re d b y e ig h t o r n in e o f th em , w h ich a re c o n tig
u o u s to th e c om m e n c em e n t o f th e b is e r ia l v om e rin e one s.
T h e p a la tin e te e th a re u n is e ria l, b u t th e y s ta n d a lte rn a te ly
a l i t t l e to th e r ig h t a n d le ft. M a n d ib u la r te e th a lso u n i-
s e ria l. P e c to r a l m in u te , lik e a ro ll o f s k in , w ith n o p e r c
e p tib le r a y s u n d e r a com m o n len s . F in s low , th e an a l
e n d in g 3 in c h e s from th e t ip o f th e ta i l , b u t a furrow,
p ie r c e d b y a se rie s o f fin e p o r e s , o c c u p ie s th e in te rv a l.
D o r s a l d is a p p e a r in g a b o u t f o f a n in c h from th e l ip o f th e
ta il. I t is su ffic ien tly d i s tin c t a t th e o c c ip u t, a n d , lik e th e
a n a l, i t low e rs g r a d u a lly be fore i t c e a s e s to b e tr a c e a b le .
T h e sk in ro u n d th e m o u th is p a p u la r . T h e h e a d is small,
th e sn o u t b lu n t , a n d th e m a n d ib le sh o rte r. T h e g ap e
sm a ll. T h e b o d y com p re s s ed .
T h e c o lo u r is b lu is h -g r a y , v a rie d b y th ir ty - th r e e p a le
ch e s tn u t-b row m rin g s , wh ich c ro s s th e fin s , a n d in th e i n te
rv a ls th e r e is g e n e r a lly o n e ro u n d b row n sp o t, b u t o c c a s
io n a lly two, a n d th e n o n e o f th em is p la c e d o v e r th e o th e r.
L a te r a l lin e d is tin c t.
L e n g th 2 6 '5 in c h e s . T o g ill-o p e n io g 1‘3 in c h . T o
a n u s 12 in c h e s .
T h r e e .specimens e x i s t in th e B r itis h M u s eum , a n d th e re
is o n e in th e L e y d e n M u s e um , from I n d i a , la b e lle d O p h i-
s u r iis c o lu h r in u s .
H ab. M a la y A rch ip e la g o . In d ia n O c e an .
O p h is u r u s c o l u b r in u s . B o d d a e r t.
Murcena colubrina, Boddaert, apud Pall. Beytr. xi. p. 56, t. 2, f. 3.
An. 1781—96.
Sfuræna annulata, Thunberg, Spec. Iclilli. viii. t. 1, f. I. An.
1789—94.
Gymnoihorax annulatus, Bl. Schn. p. 527.
L a c e p e d e (v. p . 6 4 2 , P I. 19, f. 1) d e s c r ib e s a n d fig u re s a
3 1 u rc en o p k is c o lu b r in a , w h ic h h e re fe rs e rro n e o u s ly to th e
3 iu r c e n n co lu b r in a o f B o d d a e r t, T h u n b e rg a n d G m e lin .
T h e l a tte r fish h a s a b o u t s ix ty rin g s o f c o lo u r o n th e b o d y ,
w h ic h a re a lte rn a te ly b la c k a n d w h ite ; w h e re a s L a c e p e d e ’s
fig u re , b e.sides r e p r e s e n tin g th e fin a s s u r ro u n d in g th e
p o in t o f th e ta il, shows on ly a b o u t h a lf th a t n um b e r o f
rin g s . H a v in g fo u n d a M u rc en a in th e B r itis h M u seum ,
w h ich c o rre sp o n d s w ith lia c e p e d e ’s fig u re above q u o te d , I
d e s c r ib e d i t ab o v e a t p a g e 8 8 , u n d e r th e sp e c ific n am e o f
co lu b r in a , q u o tin g C om m e rso n a s th e d is c o v e re r, u n d e r th e
a u th o rity o f L a c e p e d e , b u t r e je c tin g th e sy n o n ym s o f B o d d
a e rt a n d T h u n b e rg , w h ic h re la te lo a tru e O p h is u r u s , o f
wh ich a sp e c im e n e x i s t s in th e M u s e um a t H a s la r , a n d th e
d e s c rip tio n follows. , , , i *
T e e th sh o r t- c o n ic a l, b lu n tis h , sm a ll. N a s a l te e th a,bout
six r a n g e d in two row s , a n d a lte rn a tin g so th a t th e r e is an
odd o n e in fro n t. V om e rin e te e th u n is e r ia l in fro n t, b i-
se ria l p o s te rio rly . T h e r e a re a b o u t e ig h t m e a c h row p o s te
rio rly , a n d fo u r s in g le o n e s an te rio rly , b e tw e e n w hich a n d
th e v om e rin e d isk th e re is a sm o o th sp a c e . T h e p a la tin e
te e th com m en c e p o s te r io r to th e b e g in n in g o f th e v om e rin e
te e th , a n d c o n s e q u e n tly a t som e d is ta n c e from th e n a s a l
ones, b u t r e a c h r a th e r p a s t th e an g le o f th e m o u th . T h e r e
a re fo u rte en o r fifte en on e a ch s id e , a n d tw o o r th r e e an te rio r
p a irs , b e in g s e t a lte rn a te ly , m a k e th e se rie s d o u b le th e r e ,
b u t th e n in e p o s te r io r o n e s s ta n d n i a s in g le row . iH e
m a n d ib u la r te e th a re p la c e d in a s in g le row o n th e la te r a l
lim b s o f th e b o n e , b u t a t tb e sym p h y s is tb e te e th a re a
little la rg e r , a n d tw o in te r io r o n e s o n e a c h s id e give a
c lu s te re d a p p e a r a n c e to th e d e n titio n a t th e e n d o f th e
T h is O p h is u r u s is a lo n g s le n d e r s p e c ie s , w ith a sm a ll
h e a d , c lo s e ly r e s em b lin g O p h is u r u s fa s c ia lu s in form.
T h e h e a d is n a rrow , b u t th e u p p e r j a w is o b tu s e , with a
tu b u la r n o s tr il s tic k in g o u t o n e a c h sid e . T h e o th e r n o s tril
a n d u p p e r lip h a v e lik ew is e th e g en e ric c h a ra c te r.
L ow e r jaw co n s id e ra b ly sh o r te r th a n th e u p p e r o ne . B o d y
c om p re s s ed , b e c om in g g r a d u a lly m o re so tow a rd s th e ta il.
F in s low. P e c to r a l v e ry sm a ll a u d d e lic a te , b u t th e ray s
a re n e v e rth e le s s p e r c e p tib le b y th e a id o f a common len s.
D o rs a l fo ld c om m e n c in g o v e r th e an g le o f th e m o u th , a n d
e n d in g h a l f an in c h from tb e p o in t o f th e ta il, h a y in g p r e viously
g ra d u a lly low e red , so a s to b e v is ib le o n ly b y a id
o f a len s . An a l e n d in g a b o u t th r e e q u a r te r s o f a n in c h
from tb e p o in t o f th e ta il, w h ich is c om p re s s e d , a n d ta p e rs
g rad u a lly . L a te r a l lin e e v id e n t to th e n a k e d eye,_ a n d
c om p o s ed o f a n a lm o s t c o n tin u o u s w av in g tu b e , with a
po re a t e a c h flex u re . B o d y m a rk e d b y a s e rie s ol
b lu ish -g ra y , a lm o s t w h ite , rin g s , a lte rn a tin g w ith a s m a n y
b la c k ish -b row n o n e s , o c c u p y in g u e a r ly eq u a l sp a c e s . In
th e sp e c im en h e r e d e s c r ib e d th e r e a re tw e n ty - e ig h t n o g s
o f e a c h c o lo u r, n o t r e c k o n in g th e w h ite sp e c k c o v e rin g th e
tip o f th e n o s e . T h e f ir s t p a le r in g e n c ir c le s llie h in d
h e a d , a n d iu s t to u c h e s th e ey e a n d th e an g le o f tlie m o u th ;
th e la s t o n e in c lu d e s th e e n d o f th e ta il. T h e firs t b la c k
b a r re a c h e s from th e a n te r io r n o s tr il lo th e e y e , a n d ta k e s
in m o st o f th e low e r jaw .
T h e s e fish b e in g k e p t in j e t s c lo s e d b y M a d d e r a n d ''a r in s li.
.10 e x am in a tio n o f th e ir te e lh , & c ., c o u ld b e in sU tu te d . A
th ird s p e c im e n a t L e y d e n h a s b e e n n am e d a s th e a U n n im i
o f Q u o y a n d G a im a rd , b u t it w an ts th e in te rm e d ia te
L e n g ih 1 8 '5 in c h e s . T o a n u s 8 '5 in c h e s . l o g ill-
o p e n h ig 1 in c h . H e ig h t o f b o d y 0 2 in c h . _
A sp e c im en in th e B r itis h M u s e um , m e a su r in g 26 in c h e s
ill to ta l le n g th , a n d 1 2 '5 in c h e s from tip o f sn o u t to a n u s ,
h a s th ir ty rin g s o f e a c h c o lo u r ; a n d th e an a l c a n sc a re c ly
b e tr a c e d b e y o n d two in c h e s a n d a h a lf from th e Up o t th e
ta il, th o u g h its e x is te n c e fa r th e r o n a little way i s in d ic a te d
b y a furrow. A sp e c im e n in th e M u s eum a t L e y d e n re semble
s th e o n e d e s c rib e d a b o v e in h a v in g tw e n ty - e ig h t
b la c k rin g s : th is in d iv id u a l w a s o b ta in e d in I n d ia . Ano-
Uier, ta k e n a t th e M o lu c c a s , a n d p r e s e rv e d in th e same
M u s eum , h a s thirty -U v o d a rk o r b la c k is h b a n d s , wh ich do
n o t m e e t o n th e b e lly . T h e g ro u n d c o lo u r is w hitish.
’h a b . M a la y A rc h ip e la g o . M o lu c c a s . P o ly n e s ia .
In d ia .
O p h is u r u s p a l l e n s . R ic h a rd so n .
N a s a l te e th five in n um b e r , th e o d d o ue in fro n t. V o m
e r in e te e th tr is e r ia l. P a la tin e te e th b is e r ia l, m e e tin g th e
v om e rin e o n e s im m e d ia te ly b e h in d th e n a s a l d isk . M a n d
ib u la r te e th b is e r ia l iu fro n t, u n is e ria l p o s te rio rly . All
th e te e th a re s h o r t a n d c o n ic o - su b u la te o r co n ic a n d a c u te ;
th e n a s a l a n d fro n t m a n d ib u la r o n e s a re s to u te r a n d m ore
p rom in e n t th a n th e o th e rs . D o r s a l a u d a n a l e n d in g o p p o s ite
to e a c h o th e r , w ith in two lin e s o f th e tip o f th e ta il. 1 b e
g en e ra l a p p e a r a n c e o f th is O p h is u r u s is lik e th a t o ilu ja U i .
I t s la te r a l liu e is s im ila r, a n d th e p e c to r a l c o n s id e ra b ly
sm a lle r. T h e v e r tic a l fin s a re low , a n d ta p e r p a d u a l ly
aw a v T h e d o rs a l c om m e n c e s a s f a r b e h in d th e g ill-o p e n iu g
a s th a t is d is ta n t from th e lip o f th e sn o u t. T h e c o lo u r is
a p a le h o n e y -y e llow o r f a in t wood-brovvn, l ig h te r o n th e
b e llv , a n d w ith o u t sp o ts . T h e sp e c im en w a s b ro u g h t from
C h in a , a n d p r e s e n te d to th e B r itis h M u s eum b y J o h n
R e e v e s , E s q . I t h a s b e e n im m e rs e d in s p ir its lo r some
^ ^ L e iig th n - 9 in c h e s . T o a n u s 4 '4 in d ie s . T o g ill-
o p e n in g 0-85 in c h . L e n g ih o f p e c to r a l 0-40 in c h . G a p e
0 ‘3o iu c h .
H ab. C h in a . . , < . ,i
O b s— I d e s c r ib e d th is sp e c im e n in th e R e p o r t on Uie
I c h th y o lo g y o f C h in a ,’ p . 313, a s re fe rrib le , th o u g h w ith
d o u b t, to th e O p h isu ru s h a r a n c h a o f B u c h a n a n -H a im llo ii,
b u t o n fu r th e r c o n s id e r a tio n 1 th in k H sajey to gnve a p ro p
e r n am e to th e C h in e s e sp e c im e n , w h ic h , h a d i t b e e n ori-
L n a l iy a s d a rk a s th e h a r a n c h a is r e p r e s e n te d to b e iti
n u in b L 302 o f H a rdw ic k e ’s I n d ia n d r aw in g s , _ c o u ld
s c a r c e ly h a v e b e c om e so p a le b y s im p le m a c e r a tio n in
s p ir its as i t is n ow . I su sp e c t th a t a n eiTor h a s c r e p t in to
m y n o te s w ith r e g a rd to th e sp e c im e n o f h a r a iic /m from
I n d ia , w h ich I h a v e m e n tio n e d in m y R e p o r t on C h in e s e
F is h a s e x is tin g in th e B r itis h M u s e um , s in c e I c o u ld n o t
f ind i t on m y r e c e n t e x am in a tio n o f th e sp e c ie s m th a t c o lle
c tio n , a n d 1 c a n n o t th e re fo re s p e a k o f th e c h a r a c te r s ol
h a r a n c h a from th e a c tu a l in sp e c tio n o f a sp e c im en .
I n th e M u s e um o f th e C am b rid g e P h ilo s o p h ic a l I n s t i tu t
io n th e re is an O p h isu ru s , p ro c u r e d a t C a n to n b y th e R e v
G eo rg e V a c h e ll, which, o n in s p e c tin g i t th e r e , b u t w ith o u t
a com p a riso n with th e sp e c im en s in th e B r itis h M u s eum ,
RPPined to m e to p o s s e s s th e c h a r a c te r s a s c rib e d by R u -
c h a n a n -H a in ilto ii to h a r a n c h a . I fin d th a t I h a v e n o te d
i t a s a s le n d e r sp e c ie s w ith v e ry low fin s , h a v in g a p e c to r
a l o f a n e llip tic a l form, su p p o r te d b y th ir te e n ra y s , with
i ts lip iu s t p a s s in g th e sm a ll d e p re s s io n o r p i t w h ich m a ik s
th e o rm in o f th e d o rs a l. T h e te rm in a tio n of th e d o rs a l
a n d a n a l c o u ld n o t b e d is tin c tly m ad e o u t, b u t th e tip of