th e sn o uL P e c to r a ls l a r g e : th e d o rs a l c o ra ra e n c e s b e tw
e e n th e ir t ip s , a n d te rm in a te s w ith th e a n a l c lo s e to th e
e x trem e lip of th e ta il. B o th fin s a re ve ry low p o s te r io r ly ,
b u t e x p a n d g r a d u a lly a n d s lig h tly b e fo re th e y s lo p e aw ay
to th e p o in t o f th e ta il. C o lo u r o f th e fish, in sp ir its , a n
u u ifo n n b rown.
L e n g ih 1 9 '8 in c h e s . T o a n u s 7-5 in c h e s . T o g ill-
o p e n in g 2 in c h e s .
II.VB. S um a tra . A sp e c im e n in B r itis h M u s eum .
O p h is u r u s r e g iu s . S h aw .
“ An. O p h is u r u s o p h i s ? A u c to rum .”
An O p lii'su n is in th e B r itis h M u s e um , la b e lle d a s above ,
h a s th e fo llow in g c h a r a c te r s .
S ev en n a s a l te e th , ra n g e d ro u n d th e te rm in a l b o rd e r o f
th e a c u te sn o u t, a n d on th e m e s ia l l in e ; m o re p o s te r io r ly
th e r e is a d o u b le row o f s ix , s e t a lte rn a te ly tlire e in e a ch
row , a s in some M u r c e n a . T h e s e a re su c c e e d e d b y a s in g
le row o f th ir te e n o n th e vomer, b o th n a s a l a n d v om e rin e
te e lh b e in g s u b u la te , a c u te a u d re c u rv e d . T h e p a la tin e
te e th a re b is e r ia l, a n d a re a ll p r e tty lo n g , s u b u la te , m o re
s le n d e r a n d ve ry a c u te ; th e o u te r row is in c lin e d b a c k w
a rd s tow a rd s th e c om e r o f th e m o u t l i ; a n d th e in n e r o ne ,
w h ic li a re r a th e r ta lle r, is in c lin e d to th e m e s ia l lin e , a n d
IS p re c e d e d b y a s in g le row o f fo u r te e lh , b y w h ich th e y
a re c o n n e c te d w ith th e m e s ia l n a s a l row. M a n d ib u la r
te e th u u is e n a l, c u rv e d b a c kw a rd s a n d inwa rds.
H e a d g r e a tly d e p re s s e d , so th a t tlie very sm a ll ey e is
o n th e u p p e r su rfa c e . T h e b r e a d th is g r e a t a t th e an g le s
o f th e m o u th , a n d d im in ish e s even ly to th e a c u te e n d o f
th e j aw s , w h ich a re o f e q u a l le n g th , a n d a re la te r a lly very
e x te n s ib le . A n te rio r n o s tr ils tu b u la r , a s u s u a l, a n d p la c e d
o n th e s id e o i th e sn o u t. P o s te r io r n o s tr il p la c e d b e fo re
th e e y e , p re c e d e d b y a c o n ic a l p a p illa o n th e ed g e o f th e
lip , a n d c o v e re d b y a m em b ra n o u s lid.
B o d y th ic k is h for a n O p h isu ru s , ro u n d th ro u g h o u t, a n d
t a p e r in g tow a rd s th e e n d o f th e ta il. T h e la te r a l line ,
ib rm e d b y a n e le v a te d tu b e w ith p o re s b e n e a th a t in te rv a ls ,
is c o n sp ic u o u s . T h e p e c to r a l, su p p o r te d b j ' fifte en ra y s ,
is o f m o d e ra te s iz e , m e a su r in g s ix lin e s in l e n g th ; a n d th e
d o rs a l, b e g in n in g h a l f a n in c h b e h in d its tip , e n d s a
q u a r te r o f a n in c h from th e e n d o f t h e ta il, w h ile th e an a l
e n d s a q u a r te r o f a n in c h f a r th e r fo rw a rd s, o r h a l f a n in c h
from th e tip o f th e ta il. T h e fins a re to le r a b ly h ig h a n te r
io r ly , w ith c o n sp ic u o u s ra y s , a n d lowe r g ra d u a lly tow a rd s
th e i r te rm in a tio n .
T h e sp e c im e n h a s b e e n im m e rs e d in s p ir its m a n y ye a rs,
a n d m a n y o f its m a rk in g s h a v e d o u b tle s s d is a p p e a re d .
T h e t in t o f th e u p p e r p a r ts a p p e a r s to h a v e b e e n red d ish
o r b row n ish . T w e n ty - th r e e la rg e p a le b row n sp o ts o r
b a r s s till e x is t o n th e la te r a l l i n e ; d o ts a n d lin e s o f th e
g ro u n d c o lo u r tr a v e rs e th e sp o ts ; a n d th e w h o le sp a c e ,
from th e sum m it o f th e b a c k to som e way b e low th e la te r a l
lin e , is m a rb le d b y sm a ll ro u n d p a le b row n sp o ts , wliich
o c c u p y a s m u c h sp a c e a s th e g ro u n d colour.
L e n g th 85 in c h e s . T o a n u s 1 8 '5 in c h e s . T o g ill-o p e n in
g 4 in c h e s . L e n g th o f g a p e 1 '7 in c h .
1 th in k it_ p ro b a b le th a t th is m a y b e th e O. o p h is o f
a u th o r s , b u t in th a t c a s e B lo c h ’s fig u re d ifie rs in th e r e la tiv
e p o s itio n o f th e a n u s a n d th e g r e a te r le n g th o f n a k e d
t a il, a n d fa ils in g iv in g th e c h a r a c te r s o f th e d e p re s s e d
c o n ic a l h e a d a n d jaw s .
O p h is u r u s s e r p e n s . L in n . {Murcena).
F iv e m a rg in a l te e th a t th e e x tr em ity o f th e n a s a l b o n e ,
a n d n in e lo n g e r, a c u te , s u b u la te m e s ia l o n e s , a ll p o s te rio r
to th e m a rg in a l one s. T h ir te e n slio rt, a c u te , re f le x , u n i-
s e ria l v om e rin e te e th . P a la tin e b o n e a rm ed b y a n o u te r
row o f s ix ty sh o rt, c om p re s s e d , a cu te , in c lin e d te e th , which
c om m e n c e a t th e s ix th m e s ia l n a s a l to o th ; a n d b y a n in te
r io r row o f a b o u t twelve sh o rt, co n ic a l, a c u te te e th , j u s t
sh ow in g th ro u g h th e soft p a r ts , s e t w id e ly a p a r t a n d n o t
in a s tr a ig h t lin e . U n d e r jaw a rm ed la te ra lly b y a s in g le
e v e n row o f c lo s e -s e t, re fle x , s u b u la te te e th , lik e th e e x te
r io r p a la tin e o ne s.
S n o u t s le n d e r a n d p o in te d . G ill-ra y s , a c c o rd in g to C u vie
r, o n ly tw en ty . P e c to r a l to le ra b ly la rg e . B o d y h a v in g
a s ilv e ry o r n a c ry a sp e c t, lik e m a n y o f th e Scomhrisidce.
Tw o sp e c im e n s e x i s t in th e B ritish M u s e um ; o n e o f
th em ta k e n in th e B a y o f N a p le s , a n d th e o th e r in th e A tl
a n tic . I n tiie L e y d e n M u s e um th e r e is a n O p h isu ru s
from J a p a n , la b e lle d se rp en s , b u t I h a d n o m e a n s o f in s t i tu
tin g a com p a riso n b e iw e e n i t a n d th e M e d ite r r a n e a n
fish. A n o th e r s im ila rly n am e d , in th e sam e M u s e um , is
n o te d a s h a v in g b e e n c a p tu r e d a l th e C a p e o f G o o d H o p e .
H a b . M e d ite rra n e a n . A tla n tic O c e a n .
T h e O p h isu ru s r o s lr a tu s , o r O p h isu r e long m u s e a u o f
Q u o y a n d G a im a rd , Voy. d u F r e y c e n e t, P I. 5 1 , f. 1, se ems
to b e a llie d to s e rp en s , b u t I h a v e s e e n n o e x am p le o f it,
a n d c a n th e re fo re a d d n o th in g to tlie d e s c r ip tio n to be
fo u n d in th e work a b o v e q u o te d . T h e r e is a c o n s id e ra b le
le n g th o f n a k e d ta il, th e d o rs a l e n d in g be fore tlie a n a l : the
p e c to r a l is p r e tty lo n g , a n d th e g a p e la rg e , w ith th e eye
p la c e d n e a r e r to th e a n g le o f th e m o u th th a n to th e e n d o f
th e sn o u t.
O p h is u r u s v im in e u s . R ic h a rd so n .
Ophisurus vimineus, Ricliavdson, Iclitli. of Sulphur, p. t07, PI. 52.
f. IG—20. Report on Fish of China, p. 3H.
T h i s O p h isu ru s s ta n d s b y i t s e l f in th e g e n u s , in h a v in g
a n e lo n g a te d a c u te s n o u t, m in u te p e c to r a ls , a n d n o v isib le
v e rtic a l fins. T h e te e th a re slio rt, s u b u la te a n d very a cu te .
F o u r a rc p la c e d a lte rn a te ly in tw o row s o n th e n a rrow
n a s a l d isk . T h e p a la tin e te e th a re u n is e ria l, r e c u rv e d , a n d .
m e e t in f ro n t b e h in d th e n a s a l disk. M a n d ib u la r te e lh
a lso u n is e ria l. N o v om e rin e te e th c o u ld b e p e rc e iv ed , b u t
th is was p ro b a b ly ow in g to th e ir m in u te n e s s , a n d th e ro o f
o f t h e m o u th h a v in g b e e n in ju red .
H e a d sm a ll. S n o u t s le n d e r, a e u te , p ro je c tin g m n c h b e y
o n d th e m a n d ib le . T h e tu b u la r a n te r io r n o s tr ils p la c e d
on e a ch s id e n e a r th e lip . T h r o a t e la s tic , Irom th e in to r-
la c in g o f th e g i l l - r a j s , o f w h ic h a t le a s t tiveiity-lwo c a n b e
made o u t th ro u g h th e in te gm n e n ls , h u t i t is p ro b a b le th a t
th e c o r r e c t n um b e r is m o re . G ill-o p e n in g s sm a ll, la te ra l.
B o d y s le n d e r, ro u n d , v e rmiform, ta p e r in g a little tow a rd s
th e a c u te p o in t o f th e ta il, w h ic h is v e ry s lig h tly c om p
re s s ed . P e c to r a l m in u te , tr a n s p a r e n t, a n d s c a r c e ly v is ib
le , e x c e p t b y a id o f a le n s . I t is su p p o r te d b y e ig h t
ravs T h ir ty - th r e e ch e s tiiiil-b row 'n b a n d s , n o t q u ite m e e tin
g on th e b e lly , a lte rn a te w ith a n e q u a l n um b e r o f r a th e r
nm-rower w h ite o n e s , th e lip o f th e ta il b e in g d a rk .
L e iig th -8 in c h e s . T o a n u s 3-8 in c h e s . T o g ill-o p em n g
0-5 in c h . H e ig h t o f b o d y O’lS in c h .
H a b . C h in a .
T h e B r itis h M u s e um p o s s e s s e s c om p a ra tiv e ly few C o n -
f^ers a n d 1 h a v e n o t h a d an o p p o r tu n ity o f e x am in in g an
L te n s iv e se rie s e ls ew h e re , b u t , a s fa r a s I h a v e a s c e r ta in e d ,
th e gen u s difl’evs from A n g u i l la b y th e d e fin ite c h a r a c te r
o f th e a b s e n c e o f d e rm a l s c a le s , a s we ll a s b y th o s e n o tic e d
b y C u v ie r in th e R e g n e A n im a l,— ih e m o re p v o inm en t
sn o u t a n d fo rw a rd o rig in o f th e d o rs a l fin.
T h e sp e c ie s w h ic h I h a v e s e e n m ay b e a r r a n g e d b y th e ir
d e n titio n a s follows.
1. P a la tin e a n d m a n d ib u la r te e th s le n d e r , b u t c h is e ls
h a p e d a t th e p o in ts , a n d a r r a n g e d so c lo s e ly as
to p ro d u c e a n in c iso ria l edge .
C o n g ru s v u lg a r i s ; C. leucophceus.
2. P a la tm e a n d m a n d ib u la r te e th a c e ró s e o r a c ic u la r,
a n d villiform.
C. m y r u s ; C. le p tu ru s .
3. T e e th m o s tly co n ic a l, a n d m o re o r le s s b lu n t.
C. h a b en a tu s .
4. V om e rin e te e th s tro n g , c om p re s s e d , shavp-eclgetl
a n d tr ic u s p id . M a n d ib u la r te e lh r e s em b lin g th e
v om e rin e one s. (Mu RíENEsox, M c C le lla n d ) .
C .p r o t e r v u s ; C. I r i c u s p id a iu s ; C. a n g u s tid e n s ; C.
b r e v ic u s p is ; C. h amo.
5. Vom e rin e te e th tr ic u sp id . M a n d ib u la r te e th lik e
U10 p a la tin o o n e s . (M o b /en u so x , M e C le llan tl).
C. c u r v id en s .
CONGRUS VULGARIS. AuCtOrUUl.
Murcena conger, Block, 165.
T h e s k u ll o f t h e common c o n g e r o f th e B r itis h C h a n n e l
h a s m u ch th e sam e sh a p e p o s te rio rly w ith th a t o f 3 Iu rc en a ,
b u t th e h y p o tym p a iiic p e d ic le o f th e low e r jaw iu ch iie s
foi-wards, so th a t th e s tro n g b o n y p re o p e rc u lum , a n d
equa lly la rg e b u t th in n e r in te ro jie rc u lu ra , d o n o t jn 'o je c t
b a c kw a rd s b e y o n d th e o c c ip u t. T h e o p e rc u lum , w h ic h is
a lso s tro n g a n d m o d e ra te ly la rg e , h a s a d e e p c r e s c e n tic
n o tc h in i t s u p p e r b o rd e r , em b r a c in g m o re Uian a q u a r te r
o f t h e o th e rw is e c ir c u la r c irc um fe re n c e o f th e b o n e , i h e
n a r row m en is co id su b o p e rc u lum b o rd e r s th e u n d e r h a l f ot
th e o p e rcu lum . T a k e n to g e th e r , th e g ill-p la te s a n d th e
b r a n c h io s te g o u s ra y s a re n o t in fe rio r m s iz e a n d s tr e n g th to
th o s e o f m a n y a c a n th o p te ry g ia ii fish e s, a n d fa r e x c e e d th e
d e lic a te a n d d im in u tiv e o p e r c u la o f th e Murcence. A bo n e ,
w h ic h m ay b e c o n s id e r e d a s th e c o n fin e n t p te ry g o id a n d
e iito p tev y g o id , a u d w h ic h d o e s n o t e x i s t in M itroe n c i, h a s th e
s h a p e o f a lo n g p la te , fo rm in g th e flo o r ot th e o rb it, U s
aiUevior e u d jo in s th e p re f ro n la l p ro c e s s o f th e v om e r u n d
e rn e a th th e g ro o v e , fo r lo d g in g th e o lfa c to ry n e rv e , anct
its p o s te r io r e n d is jia rlly cm ilh ie n t w ith th e liy p o tym p a n ic ,
p a r tly jo in e d to it b y su tu re . T h e jia la litie , a s in M u rc en a ,
p e rfo rm s th e o rd in a ry fu n c tio n o f th e m a x illa ry b o n e , b u t
i t is sh o r te r a n d s tro n g e r th a n in th a t g e n u s , a n d is a r tic u la
te d b y a fla t h e a d to th e s id e o f th e v om e r a n d h in d e i
p a r t o f th e sm a ll n a s a l d isk , a t th e fore p a r t o f th e o lfa c to ry
sa c , c lo s e to th e e n d o f th e s n o u t, th e p rom iiie iil Up ol th e
sn o u t b e in g fo rm e d b y th e n a s a l d isk o r ch e v ro n , l u J i « -
rccna, th e avtieuhilioii o f th e e n d o f th e p a la tin e with th e
p v e o rb ita l p ro c e s s o f th e c o n flu e n t v om e rin e a n d n a s a l
b o n e s is j u s t a t th e b o rd e r o f th e o rb it. I n th e com m o n
co n g e r, th e la rg e tr ia n g u la r p r e o rb ita r flan k s th e e n d o f th e
s n o u t, c o v e rin g th e a n te r io r th ird o f th e p a la tin e . i h e
r e s t o f th e su b o rb ita r c h a in r em a in s m th e c o n d itio n o_I a
c a rtila g in o u s tu b e , e x c e p t a s h o r t p ie c e a t th e jr e s te n o r in fe
rio r an g le o f th e o rb it, w h ic h is o s s ified . T h e i n t e p -
m e iits o f t h e s id e o f th e sn o u t, a n d p a r t o f th e u p p e r h p ,
a re s tr e n g th e n e d b y a lo n g h lig am e n to u s su b s ta n c e , a p p
ro a c h in g to c a rtila g e in firm n e ss. T h e C o n g ru s m y s ta x
is d e s c r ib e d b y L a ro c h e a s h a v in g tw o tra n sv e rs e b o n y
ra y s in th e u p p e r lip o f e a c h s id e , b u t I c a n n o t h e lp siis-
p e c lin g th a t h e a llu d e s to th e p r e o rb ita r a n d th e p o s te n o r
ossified p o r tio n o f th e su b o rb ita r c h a in . I n C o n g ru s com m
u n is , th e n ro -h y a l is a s tro n g b o n e , n e a r ly c y lin d ric a l in
th e m id d le , d ila te d a n te rio rly , w h e re i t is a tta c h e d to th e
b a s i-h y a ls , w h ic h a re co n fin e n t with th e s to u t c e r a to -h y a ls ,
a n d c om p re s s e d p o s te rio rly a t its co n iie c lio n w ith th e
low e r p o in ts o f th e firm w e ll-d ev e lo p ed c o ra c o id bo n e s.
T h e g ill-ra y s , n in e in n um b e r , a re a lso s tro n g a n d r ig id ,
e x c e p t tow a rd s th e ir p o in ts , a n d a ll th e p a r ts o f t h e h y o id
b o n e a n d h um e r a l a rch a re m u c h firm e r a n d s tro n g e r th a n
in M u r c en a or O p h isu ru s . T h e s tom a c h is a lo n g , llu c k ,
c y lin d r ic a l s a c , w ith a sh o r t, n a rrow , s lig h tly ta p e r in g , o b tu
s e , c æ c a l p ro c e s s a t its fu n d u s . T iie p y lo n c orific e is
n e a r th e to p , le a v in g e le v e n p a r ts o f twe lve in th e le n g th
o f t h e v iscu s b e n e a th it, a n d th e c an a l p a s s e s o b liq u e ly
th ro im h th e c o a ts o f th e s lo iiia ch , a s c e n d in g till i t r e a c h e s
e x te rn a lly th e ju n c tio n o f th e o e so p h a g u s ; i t th e n m a k e s a
su d d e n tu rn , a n d ru n s d ow nw a rd s a lo n g th e b a c k of th e
stom a c h , a valve b e in g fo rm ed a t th e cu rv e b y a n in fle c tio n
o f th e in n e r c o a t o f th e g u t. A t th e low e r q u a r te r o f th e
s tom a c h , th e g u t, s till tie d down to i t b y a s h o r t m e s en te ry ,
m a k e s th re e lo o p s, w h ich , to g e th e r w ith five o r s ix v a lv u la r
in fle c tio n s o f th e in n e r c o a t a t th e s ev e ra l ciiryes, p e rfo rm
in some d e g re e th e fu n c tio n s o f a sp ir a l v alve, b y d e ta in in g
th e a lim e n ta ry m a tte r s iu th e ir p a s s a g e , a n d g iv in g i n