O^yiA A 8 0. y2. A (X. 0 /; CATALOGUE FISHES BRITISH MUSEUM. ALBERT GUNTHER, M.A., M.D., PH.D., F.H.S., F.Z.S.^ ETC. ETC. VOLUME EIGHTH. LONDON: PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE TRUSTEES. 1870. 71- CATALOGUE PHYSOSTOMI, CONTAINING THE FAMILIES GYMNOTID^, SYMBRANOHID^, MUR^NID^, PEGASID.^, AND OF THE LOPHOBRANCHII, PLECTOGNATHI, DIPNOI, GANOIDEI, CHONDROPTEEYGII, CYCLOSTOMATA, LEPTOCARDII, BRITISH M U S E U M BY DR. ALBERT GCTNTHER. LONDON: PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE TRUSTEES. LS70. PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, KKI) LION COl'KT, FLEET STREET. PEEFACE. Dr. GtTNTHEB observes, " This volume concludes the Catalogue of Fishes, Most of the Collections whence the specimens therein de- scribed have been obtained are mentioned in the preceding volumes, so that I have to refer to the following only : — " 1. Typical specimens of East-Indian Mursenoids, Lophobranchs, Plectognaths, and Plagiostomes described by Dr. Bleeker. " 2. Several collections from the Seychelle Islands made by Lieut.-Col. Playfair, Swinburne "Ward, Esq., and Prof. E. Perceval "Wright. " 3. Several collections made at St. Helena by J. C. Melliss, Esq. " 4. Several collections of freshwater and marine species from Algiers, made by Lieut.-Col. Playfair, H.M. Consul-General at Algiers. " 5. Typical specimens of the Sharks from the coast of Portugal, described and presented by Dr. B. du Bocage, Director of the Lisbon Museum. " 6. A Collection of Marine Fishes from Tasmania. Pur- chased. " 7. Several desiderata, presented by Prof. Kolliker. " At the conclusion of this work I think it right to add a few remarks on the extent of our ichthyological knowledge generally, and on the present state of the Collection in the British Museum especially. " It is of some interest to learn how many species of Fishes are known to exist. In the attempt to give an estimate I can onlj approach the truth, as in numerous cases it is impossible to deciae from imperfect accounts whether an author has described a distinct species or one previously known. Again, the views of ichthyologists on species diverge so much that one will give a number several times as great as another*. I consider a species to be well established only when it is founded on characters which, from an examination of numerous examples, are found to be perma- nent, not subject to gradiud variation, and not dependent on season, sex, or age — or which are known to be so from the ex- amination of allied forms. A character of this kind is in general constantly accompanied by another, which would appear to be insignificant by itself. By this principle I have been guided throughout the work, and in naming the species of the Collection of the Museum ; and this should be borne in mind in comparing the numbers of species given by me with the estimates prepared by other natiu'alists. " In the present work 6843 species are regarded as well esta- blished and described, whilst 1682 others are doubtful and re- feiTed to by name only. Assuming, then, that about one half of the latter will be ultimately admitted into the system, and that, since the publication of the volumes of this work, about 1000 species have been described elsewhere, we may put the total number of fishes knoivn at present as about 9000. •' At the respective dates of the preparation of the eight volumes of the present work 4219 species were available for autoptical exa- mination. To these were afterwards added 958 species which were received too late for insertion ; so that the Collection of the British * " Prof. Agassiz states, in iSilliui. Anier. Jom-n. 1854, xvii. p. 360, that he knows at least 20 North-American specips of Lcpidosfetis ; I can distinguish three or four only. In Prof. Kaup's ' Catalogue of Apodal Fishes ' the two European Eels admitted by me are split into 20 species. Prof. Dumeril, finally, has published the names of some 80 Sturgeons distinguished by him ^Jvouv. Arch. Mus. d'Hist. Nat. iii. 1867) ; I cannot recognize more than twenty. Such nominal species rarely survive their author ; but, before they are merged again in the synonymy, they are the cause of much unnecessary trouble, and, being founded on slight individual peculiarities, tliey are frequently mistaken, rarely recognized." Mitseum contains at the present tune altO(jether b\ll species, rehire- sented hy 29,275 examples*. " Rich as this Collection is in the possession of rare and fre- quently unique types, and however well merited its claim to take the first rank among ichthj'ological collections, it must be admitted that, containing not two-thirds of the known species, and on an average scarcely six examples of each species, it is capable of considerable enlargement and improvement. A species to which no particular in- terest is attached ought to be represented by at least three specimens, as a certain number of examples are necessary to fix specific charac- ters. But there are a number of other fishes which cannot be per- fectly understood without a much greater number of examples. Such are those which undergo with age changes so considerable that the stages of development liave been described as different genera, or those which exhibit most extraordinary sexual differences, or are so subject to variation as to have given rise to the creation of numerous nominal species, or those which have a wide geogra- phical distribution. Take, for instance, the Herring. Numerous as the specimens are in the Collection, they only exemplify the various stages of growth of the Herring of the south coast of England and of the Firth of Forth ; they offer evidence as regards the truth or imperfection of the accounts left to us by Yarrell and Parnell ; they indicate that the Herring attains somewhere (probably in the north) to the size of a large Mackerel (15 inches), whilst it exists in a de- generated condition in the Baltic ; they also give us the means of showing the identity of the English Herring with that of North- Eastern America. But there are no specimens exemplifying the various kinds distinguished by professional herring-fishers, none to show the extent of its distribution towards the north or south, * "The species and examples are distributed among the eight volumes thus: — S|)ecimens Species Vol. enumerated. since uflded. in Brit. Mus. since added. 1.(1859) 2508 177J 475 211 11.(1860) 3178 1269 531 198 111.(1861) .... 2625 iOol 5:i6 133 IV. (1862) 2877 1119 651 174 V. (1864) 1811 535 492 151 VI. 1,1866) 2173 278 268 34 VII. (1868) 3328 283 583 .57 VIII. (1870) 4461 0 683 0" none from the North Pacific or from the Arctic regions of either hemisphere, where we know that a Herring exists equally useful and perhaps identical with the European species. Thus, for the illustration of a single species, we may require a hundred speci- mens ; and not one of them will be superfluous. Again, we know, at present, that at least some 140 different species of Sharks exist, a group of fishes which has always claimed a full share of attention in a seafaring nation, the oil and fins of which form a valuable article of trade, which, finally, from a scientific point of view, are those of all living fishes in which the palaeontologist takes the greatest interest. Yet, with the imperfect state of aU collections of Sharks and Eays, our knowledge of them remains equally incom- plete. Being compelled to limit, in most cases, our examinations to the foetus or to examples not far removed from that stage, or to parts of old individuals which can be determined in a general manner only, we cannot foUow the changes which their dentition undergoes with age ; and the palaeontologist, who chiefly depends on this character, is unable to connect and interpret his fragmentary materials satisfac- torily, unless supplied by the zoologist with the information which is accessible to the latter only. This information cannot be obtained without a collection requiring much space. Some Sharks exceed a length of 30 feet ; and it is no exaggeration to ascribe an average length of 5 feet to each of the 140 species known. " After having pointed out imperfections of the collection as they are apparent with regard to the present state of science, I have to urge the necessity of keeping pace with the rapid progress of ichthyology resulting from the efforts in other countries. Since the period marked by the publication of the Ichthyology of the ' Beagle,' ' Erebus and Terror,' ' Sulphur,' and ' Samarang,' the National Col- lection has been left entii'ely to its own resources, and has been dependent on the booty of private collectors. One of the chief sources, the navy, which assisted Sir J. Eichardson in bringing together the magnificent collection at Haslar Hospital, now trans- ferred to the British Museum, has failed entirely * since the great * "With the exception of the Magellan -Straits Expedition, to which Dr. Cun- ningham was attac'hed as naturalist. This gentleman made considerable col- lections, part of which were deposited in the British Museum. The number of specimens of fishes obtained from this source is 78." English ichthyologist withdrew from active life. Meanwhile the expeditions fitted out by Austria and Prussia, each accompanied by a staff of naturalists, brought large collections of fishes to the Berlin and Vienna Museums ; in St. Petersburg collections made in North- eastern Asia are accumulating ; Dr. Bleeker, who has made us acquainted with the astonishing variety of fishes in the East-Indian archipelago, could not have succeeded so well without the cordial cooperation of the officials residing in the various islands ; Messrs. Godeffroy, wealthy merchants of Hamburgh, have founded, merely by the assistance of the captains of their own. ships and of two or three collectors, a private museiim which supplies now annually other public collections with a great number of rare or quite new forms from the various parts of the Pacific ; in the United States each exploring expedition was and still is accompanied hj naturalist collectors, employed solely for the benefit of public museums ; and, finally. Prof. Agassiz himself has explored the ichthyology of the River Amazons, and returned with a booty the richness of which is great, though not yet exactly defined. " Thus there cannot be any doubt with regard to the activity put forth in the field of ichthj-ology ; and it is a fact that the foremost men in science have devoted a great jiroportion of their researches to this branch, — and justly so. No other class of vertebrates offers a similar gradation of development of the most important systems and organs, rendering its systematic arrangement one of the most difficult problems of zoology. Infinite are those modifications of organs which may be brought into connexion with the variations of their mode of life and with the widely different physical conditions under which fishes live. There is no fresh water, no sea, no part of the sea which is not inhabited by fishes, some kinds being restricted to an insignificant pool, whilst others roam over the whole extent of the various oceans, or are organized to exist under the pressure of great depths, the same species living in the Atlantic, North Pacific, and Antarctic. The freshwater forms being limited to the river- or lake-systems which they inhabit, and being less exposed to the disturbances aftectiug the terrestrial animals, are singularly adapted for the elucidation of the original geographical distribu- tion of the animals of the present creation. No other class of the vertebrates is of equal importance to the geologist and palaionto- logist, the materials for coiupariug the li\ing with past creations being so numerous and diversified that we cannot help thinking that the question of the relations of the various epochs to one another will he solved in the field of ichthyology. Although fishes are mostly hidden by the element in which they live, so that the knife of the anatomist generally first reveals new facts connected with their life, we have suificient evidence to show that the pheno- mena of life are more varied in their different groups than in any of the higher Veiiebrata, and that their study will form a solid basis for the solution of those general biological questions which, perhaps rather prematurely, agitate the minds of many zoologists. " An interest in Ichtliyology is generally diffused in England ; but its study is much neglected. Nor could it be otherwise. Where is it taught ? Of the teachers of zoologj' in the numerous German, Scandinavian, Russian, Italian, and Portuguese universities, there is scarcely one who has not been an author in Ichthyology ; and consequently he takes care that this branch shaU not be neglected in his course of lectures. In Paris there exists a separate chair for Ichthyology and Herpetology. In the United States Ichthyology is taught by the autlior of the ' Recherches sur les Poissons Fossiles ' and his pupils. In England I have met with many struggling hard to obtain ichthyological knowledge, with not one who was assisted in it by a teacher. " Of course this state of things is in immediate connexion with the defective system of scientific education ; but it must appear very anomalous indeed when we consider that the public of the mother country, as well as of the colonies, have the liveliest interest in ich- thyology, as is proved by the daily requests for information, some- times accompanied by collections made at considerable personal sacrifice, expressly with the object of difiusiug scientific knowledge and of increasing the resources derived from this class of animals. " Finally, it may be asked in what way ichthyology has been ad- vanced by the publication of the present work ? In the first place, then, the entire collection in the British Museum has been named, arranged, and described, so that, with the assistance of the Cata- logue, every species and every individual specimen may be as easily found as a book in a well-arranged library, and has been rendered accessible to students and foreign visitors. Nearly 800 species have been regarded as new, many of them types of distinct genera. But it would have been a work rather of lo(;al interest if it had been confined to the objects in the British Museum ; besides, to determine species satisfactorily, a general study of all the allied species is necessary. Therefore its scope was extended to de- scribing also those species which at present are not represented in the British Museum. In this form (that of a Handbook con- taining descriptions of, or references to, all the species known) it promised to be particularly useful to the student of ichthyology, the traveller, and collector. The last general works were that of Lace- pede and Schneider's edition of Bloch, pubHshed at the beginning of this century, and containing between 1400 and 1500 species, of which about 1100 are still recognized. The great work by Cuvier and Valenciennes remained incomplete. " The species and genera have been criticallj- examined; and I have come to the conclusion, after the study of long series of exam- ples, or after autoptical comparison of typical specimens, that it was necessary to eliminate from the system a great number of species, as well as genera, established on insufficient grounds. Zoological science is never advanced by general works compiled mechanically and without critical discernment. In the descrip- tions, I have been satisfied with giving the most important cha- racters, without entering into a complete account of the organi- zation, as this necessarily would have been, for the most part, merely a reproduction of the labours of others ; these, however, are conscientiously referred to. But whenever I thought an ob- servation made by me new and original I have added it. I have paid ])articular attention to the foimation of more natural families, in which endeavour I have laid greater stress upon the structure of the vertical fins and of the skeleton as family characters than my predecessors. Still thinking that the subclasses propi sed by Miiller are most expressive of the fundamental differences in the organiza- tion of fishes, I found myself compelled, on the other hand, to abandon the order of Pharyngognaths, on establishing which he had bestowed so much labour. " I am well aware of the many imperfections of this work ; many have been already corrected by others ; but if it should form the basis for the future development of a collection at present unrivalled — if it should assist my fellow labourers and enlist others — if it should contribiite to the advancement of truth, T shall not repent having devoted the best years of my life to its execution. During all this time I have had the great advantage of the assistance and experience of Mr. Edward Gerrard, to whom is due the excellent state in which I found the collection, and who has relieved me from the work connected with its registration and preservation. If cir- cumstances permit, the numerous recent additions to the collection and to the literature generally, with a general Index, will be em- bodied in a supplementary volume. It may also be hoped that the illustrations alluded to in the first volume will soon be added." JOHN EDWARD GRAY. British Museum, May 20, 1870. SYSTEMATIC INDEX Subclass I. TELEOSTEI (continued). Order IV. PHYSOSTOMI (continued). Fam. 26. Gymnotid.?:. Page 1. Sternarchus, Cuv 2 «. Stmmarchus. 1. albifrons, L 2 2. brasiliensis, Rnhrdt 3 3. uattereri, Steindachner . . 3 4. schotti, Steindachner ... 3 5. bonapartii, Custeln 3 /3. Rhamphosternarchus. (5. oxyrhynchus, M. 8,-T.. . 4 7. macrostoma, Gtlir 4 8. mormyrus, Sfcindachtier 4 2. Rhamphichthys, 31. ^- T. . . 4 a. Ii]ttunp]iichthl/s. 1. rostratus, L 5 2. blochii, Kaup 5 3. pantheriuus, Casteln. ... 5 ^. Urachyrhamphiclit/ii/.s. 4. artedii, Kaup fi 5. iniilleri, A7/«/? 0 0. bre^nrostris, iitcinduc/iner 6 3. Stemopygus, ili. c*j- T. 7 1. carapus, i 7 2. vire.^cen.^. T'«/ 7 3. axillaris, GVAr 8 4. troscholii, Kaup 8 a?quilabiatus, Humboldt 7 4. Carapus, Jt/. (^- jT. 8 1. fa.sciatus, Pali. 9 5. Gymnotus, Cuv 10 1. electricus, L 10 Fam. 27. Symbhanchid^. First Group. A m p h i p n o i n a. 1. Aniphipnou,s, Miill. 13 1. cuchia, Ham. li 13 Second Group. Symbranchina. Page 2. Monopteru.s, Lacep 14 1. javanen.sis, Lacep 14 3. Symbrauchus, Bl 15 1. inarmoratus, Bl 15, 515 2. bengalensis, M'CM.. . . IC. 3. caligans, Cant 17 Third Group. Chilobranchina. 4. Chilobranchus, Rich 17 1. dorsalis, Rich 18 Fam. 28. Mur^enid^. MUR^NID^ PLATYSCHISTiE. First Group. Nemichthyin.*. 1. Nemichtliys, Rich 21 1. scolopacea, Rich 21 Second Group. Saccopharyngin a. 2. Saccopbarvnx, 3Iitch 22 1. flagelluni, Mitch 22 Third Group. SynAPHOBH.A.N CHINA. 3. Synaphobranchus, Johns. . . 22 1. pinnatus, Gronov 23 Fourth Group. Anguillina. 4. Anguilla, Cuv 23 1. mauritiana, Benn 25 2. labiata, IHrs 26 3. fidjieusis, Gthr 20 4. beugaleusis, Gray .... 27 5. reinhardtii, Steindachner 27 0. macrophthahua, Rtrs. . . 28 7. mossambica, Pfrs 28 8. vidgaris, Fieni 29 9. bostouieusis, Zes 31 10. texana, Kaup 32 li. Litirostris, Risso 32 SYSTEMATIC INDEX. Page 12. auclilaiidii, liiih '6'-i V?,. delalaiidii, Kdup ^3 14. aneitensis, (ithr 34 15. auiboineiisis, Ptrs 34 1(3. iiiegastoma, Kaup .... 34 17. Jdeneri, Kaup 35 18. bicolor, M-Cli'U. 35 19. vire.scens, Ptrs 35 I'O. sidat, Blkr 36 inalabarica, Kaup .... 36 21. australis, Rich 36 22. amblodon, Gthr 37 23. dussuinierii, Kaup .... 37 eiuy.'itonia, Heel;. S; Kner 23 serpentina, Les 23 avitotis, Rich 23 clathrata. Rich 23 fasciata, Kaup 23 macrops, Kaup 23 angustidens, Kaup .... 23 euryla'nia, Kaup 23 halmaherensi^<, Blkr. . . 23 cantori, Kaup 23 maorocephala, Rapp ... 23 marmorata, Q. et O. . . 24 otaheiten.si.'*, Kaup 24 capensis, Kaup 24 5. Conger, Kaup 37 1. marginatum, Vul 38 2. vulgaris. Cuv 39 esculentus, Pocy 39 3. multidens, Castein 40 4. macrops, Gthr 40 Eclielus caudolimbatu;5, Popy 40 orbignyamis, Val 37 fasciatu.«, Rich 37 rube.scen^, Rauzani .... 37 G. Congroniurfena, Kaup 40 1. b.ilearica. Dela Roche. . 41 auali.a, Povij 41 2. pimctu.?. Jen 41 3. anago, Schleii 42 4. mellissii, (r'thr 42 5. habenata, Rieji 42 neoguinaicus, Blhr 43 Mvrophisbt»terognathu.=i, 'im-r 43 6. mystax, De la Roche . . 43 myriastei', Brevoort .... 40 7. Uroconger, Kaup 43 1. leptniii.s. Rich 44 Fiftb Group. IIeterocongrix.v. ■S. Ileteroconger. Blkr 44 1. polyzona, Blkr 44 Page 2. loiigissinui.'^, Gthr. . . . . 45 Si.vtli Group. MUR^XE.SOCINA. y. Mm'.ieuesox, M^ Clell. . . . . 45 1. talabon, Cuv . 45 2. talabonoides, Blkr. . . . . 46 3. cinereu.s, i-or.s/,- . 46 4. savanna, Cur . 47 10. Nettastoma, Raf. . 48 1. melanurum, Raf. . 48 11 Saurencbelvs, i^r-s . 48 1. cancrivora, l^rs . 48 12 Oxyconger, Blkr . 48 1. leptognathus, Blkr. . . . , 49 13 Hoplunnis. Kaup . 49 1. schmidtii, Kat/p . 49 14 Neoconger, Girard . 49 1. mucronatus, Girard. . . . 49 Seventh Group. ^Iyrixa. 15. Myrus, Kaup 49 1. vulgaris, Kaup 50 2. lu'opterns, Schle(/ 50 16. Myropbis, Littken 50 1. punctatus, Liitken . .50, 515 microstigmius, Poey . . 51 17. Paramyrus, Gthr 51 1. cylindroideus, Rauzani 51 2. inic-rocbir, Blkr 51 18. Chilorbinu.*, Lirtkoi. .... 51 1. sueni^onii, Liitken 52 19. Mursenicbtby.s, Blkr 52 1. niacropterus, Blkr 52 2. gymnopterus, Blkr 52 3. .schultzii, Blkr 52 4. gymnotus, Blkr 53 5. moorii, Gthr 53 6. verniiformis, Ptr.t 53 7. luaorostomus, Blkr 53 ICigbth (iroup. O P H I f ' H T H y I N .A . 20. Liuranus, Blkr 1. seniifinctus, Bnni. 21. Ophicbtbys, Gthr. . 1. rnslellatiis, Rich. . 2. punctifor, Katqj . 3. adspprsu,6. kaiipi, Blkr 86 67. bicolor, Kaup 86 68. timorensis, Gthr 86 69. orientalis, M' Clell 87 70. melanotaenia, Blkr 87 71. marmoratus, Blkr 88 guichenoti, Kaup .... 88 72. longipinnis, Kner Sf St. 88 73. tenuis, Gthr 88 74. kirkii, Gthr 89 75. quadratus, Rich 89 76. eajcus, L 89 77. gracili.s, Kaup 90 78. acutirostris, Barnev. . . 90 brachyurus, Puei/ 55 magniiica, Abbott 55 californiensis, Garrett . . 55 rostratus, Bl. 55 eeplialopeltis, Blkr 55 Ninth Group. Ptyobranchina. 22. Moringua, Gray 90 1. raitaborua, H.B 90 2. lumbricoidea, Rich 91 3. bicolor, Kaup 91 4. javanica, Kaup 92 5. abbreviata, Blkr 92 6. macrocephala, Blkr. . . 92 MUH^NID.E Engyschist.!:. Tenth Group. Mur.enina. 23. Myroconger, Gthr 93 1. compressus, Gthr 93 24. Murtena, Gthr 93 1. helena, Z 96 2. augusti, Kaup 97 3. melanotis, Kaup 98 4. pavoniua, Rich 98 5. pardalis, JSchley 99 C. lentiginosa, J4. microspila, Gflir 109 2o. melanospila, B!kr 109 2(5. polyophthaluiiis,^//.;;-. . . 109 27. undulata, Lacej) 110 hlochu, lilkr. Ill 28. macassarieusis, Blkr. . . Ill 29. formosa, Blkr HI 30. pseudotlivrsoidea, Blkr. 112 31. tile, ^.-B 112 32. thyrsoidea, Huh 113 33. buroeiisis, Blkr 114 34. polyuranodou, -S/Av 114 35. duivenbodii, Blkr 114 36. anatina, Loive 11-5 37. sanctae heleiife, Gthr. . . 115 38. irregularis, Kaup 115 39. picta, AM 116 40. nubila, Bich 117 miilleri, Kaup 117 41. sag-enodeta, Rich 117 42. richardsoui, Blkr 118 43. teuebrosa, Bich 119 44. inarm orea, Val 119 4:0. Havomarginata, Riipp. . . 1 19 46. moringa, Cuv 120 47. vicina, Casleln 121 48. callorhyncha, Gthr 122 49. bepatica, RUpp 122 50. euptera, Gthr 122 51. ciuerascens, i?(V)>^^ 123 52. afra, Bl....^ 123 53. aterrima, Kmip 1 24 54. maciilipinnis, Kmip .... 124 55. miicolor, Dv la Roche . . 125 56. maderensis, Johns 125 57. saiiguiuea, Poei/ 126 58. moluccensis, Blkr 126 59. modesta, Katq) 126 60. sathete, IL B 126 61. scliismatorliyiichiis,i?/Z;/-. 127 62. &cutivostYiB,'Abhott 127 63. macrurus, Blkr 127 64. brummeri, Blkr 128 65. polyodon, Blkr 128 66. zebra, Shaw 128 67. polyzona, i?wA 129 68. nebulosa, AM. 130 69. catenata, Bl 130 70. xanthospila, Blkr 131 71. lecomtii, Kaup 131 72. pelii, Kaup 132 73. fascigula, Ptrs 132 74. amblyodon, Blkr 132 75. rhodochilus, Blkr 132 76. auloptera, De Filippi . . 132 wilaoui, Bl. Schn 93 stellata, Lacep 93 baiiy, Lacep 94 fulva, Risso 94 marmorata, Q.SfG 94 liueata, Less 94 flaveola, Less 94 ceviuo-nigra, Rich 94 blocbii, Kaup 94 micropoecilus, Blkr 94 mauritiana, Kaup 94 nigrolineata, Kaup .... 94 flavimargiuata, Kaup . . 94 cbrvsops, Kaup 94 miiitiocellata, Poey .... 94 erebus, Poei/ 94 appendicidata, Guichen. . 94 porphyreus, Guichen. . . 94 kaupii, Ahhott 94 eurosta, Abbott 94 concolor, Abbott 94 scriptus, Bl. Schn 94 canina, Q.SfG 94 mordax, Ayres 94 25. Gymnooiunieua, Blkr 133 1. tigrina, Less 133 2. marmorata, Lacep 133 3. concolor, Riipp 134 4. fiisca, Ptrs 134 5. vittata. Rich 134 6. bennettii, Gthr 135 26. Encbelycore, Kaup 135 1. nigricans, Bonnat 135 bleekeri, Kaup 136 Leptocepbalus, Gronov. . . 136 Ilyoprorus, A7)7/i7.-e?- 144 Tilurus, KiiUiker 144 Stoniiasunciilus, XflMf). . . . 145 Esuuculus, Kaup 145 Porobronclius, Kaup .... 145 Prymnotliouus, Rich 145 Fam. 29. Pegasid^. 1. Pegasus, L 147 1. draconis, L 147 2. volans, L 148 3. natans, L 148 4. lancifer, Kaup 149 Order V. LOPHOBRANCHII. Fam. 1. SOLENOSTOMIDJE. 1. Solenostoma, Lacep 151 1. cyanopterum, Blkr 151 2. paradoxum. Pall 152 3. brachyurum. Blkr 152 systj;matic' index. Fam. 2. Syngnathid.'e. page First Group. S y n « x a t ir i x a. 1. Siphonostoma, Kaiq) .... 154 1. typhle, Z 154,51.5 '2. rotundatum,3/tWta/i. . . 155 2. S^'ngnathu.q, anct 155 1. phleo-oii, 7i'A-s-() 156 2. peckianus, H/orer 157 3. acus, L 157,515 4. louisiauae, Gthi- 160 5. schlegelii, Kaup 160 6. griseolineatus, Ayres . . IGO 7. aciculavis, Jen 161 8. fi.5tulatus, Ptrs 161 9. alternaus, Gfhr 162 10. semifasciatus, Gthr 162 11. blainvillianus, Z'yc?. 4'- G. 162 12. affinis, Gthr 168 1.3. rousseaui, Kaup 163 14. abaster, liisso .... 164, 515 15. algeriensis, Plai/f. .... 164 16. aga.ssizii, Michcih 164 17. temminckii, Kaup .... 165 18. dimidiatus, Gill 165 19. pelagicus, Osheck 165 20. modestus, Gthr 166 21. crinitus, Jen 166 22. brevirostris, Riipp 167 2.3. serratus, S'chlei/ 167 24. longirostris, Kaup .... 167 25. intermedins, Kaup .... 168 26. ceylonensis, Gihr 168 27. zanzibarensis, Gfhr 168 28. grayi, Kaup 169 29. tetrophthalmus, Blhr. . . 169 30. albirostris, Kaup 170 31. cvanospihis, B/kr 170 32. margaritifer, Ptrs 171 33. penicillus, Cant 171 34. tapeinosoma, Plkr 172 35. bunnii, Blkr 172 36. spicifer, Jtiipp 172 heptagonus, Blkr 173 37. kaiipi, Blkr 174 38. poeciloliBmus, Ptrs 174 39. conspicillatus, Jen 174 40. martensii, Ptrs 175 41. flavescens, Kaup 175 42. reUii, Blkr 175 4-3. bicoarctatus, Blkr 176 44. b\idi, Blkr 176 brarhyrhiiTiehus, Kaup 155 siindaieuis, Blkr 155 vittatus, Kaup 155 fucieola, Brnn 155 VOL. vin. Page flavofasciatus, Riipp. . . 156 puiictipinnis, Gill 156 tenuis, Bli/th 156 bracliycephalus, Poei/ . . 156 tenuis, Poci/ 156 3. lehtbyocampus, Kaup .... 176 1. carce, IL B 176 2. belclieri, Kaup 177 3. scalaiis, Gthr 177 4. lilum, Gthr 178 4. Nannocanipus, Gthr 178 1. subosseus, Gthr 178 5. Urocampus, Gthr ] 79 1. nanus, Gthr 179 6. Doryicbthys, Gthr 170 1. heterosoma, Blkr 180 2. boa] a, Blkr 180 3. deo'khatoides, Blkr 180 4. bilineatus, Kaup 181 5. mento, Blkr 181 6. cuncalus, H. B 181 7. caudatus, Ptrs 182 8. bleekeri. Day 182 9. aiirouitens, Kaup 182 bernsteinii, Blkr 183 10. miliepunctatus, Katip . . 183 11. lineatus, Kaup 183, 515 12. brachyurus, Blkr 184 13. manadensis, Blkr 184 14. pleurostictus, Ptrs 185 15. dumerilii, Kaup 185 16. sculptus, Gthr 185 17. dactylophovu.s, Blkr. . . 186 18. californiensis. Gill .... 186 19. excisus, Kaup 186 20. valenciennii, Kaup .... 187 pristipeltis, Kattp 179 deocata, H. B 179 jagorii, Ptrs 179 Leptoicbthys fistularius,7t}j. 187 7. Ccelonotus, >/■/•.« 188 1. liaspis, Blkr 188 2. biocellatus, Gthr 188 3. argulus, Itrs 189 8. Stigmatopbora, A'(7!/^ .... 189 1. argus, Pick 189 2. nigi-a, Kaup 190 9. Neropbis, Kaup 190 1. sequoreus, L 191 2. diunerilii, St^indachner 191 3. opbidion, L 192 4. beckelii, Kaup 192 5. papacinus, Risso 192 6. teres, Rathke 193, 516 7. lumbricifovmis, Yarr. . . 19.3 violaceus, Risso ]90 annulatns, Risso TOO b SYSTEMATIC INDEX. 10. Protdcauipus, (itJir 1. liyiueuolomus, i?/(7/. . Second Group. HiPPOCAMPINA. 11. Gastrotokeus, ^f»//) ... 1. biaculeatu.^, lil 12. Solenog'nathiis, Swniiison 1. hardwickii, Grai/ 2. .spinosissimiis, Gthr. . . . •^. lettiensis, Blkr l.'{. Pliylloptervx, S^vainson . 1 . fuliatus, 67(rt?o 2. eques, Gthr 3. tffiniopliorus, Gray . . . 14. Acentrouura, Kuup. . . . 1. oracilliiaa, Kavp 2. teutaculata, Gthr lii. Hippocampus, Leach ... 1. abdoniiualis, Less 2. autiquoi'uni, Leach . . . , '■i. breviceps, Ptrs 4. angustiis, Gthr •'5. uovie lioIlanditB, Steind. (>. ramulosii.s, Leach 7. longirojtris, Ckv 8. guttulatus, Cur deanei, Dumeril 0. triiuaculrttiis, Leach. . . . 10. come.'?, Cant 11. camelopardalis, ^/r//(f. . . 12. coronatus, Schhf/ 13. laivicaudatus, Kaup. . . . 14. bicuspis, Kaup lb. lichteusteiuii, Kavp . . . . Ifi. mohnikci, Blkr 17. hystrix, Kitup 18. eriuaceus, GtJir algiricus, Kaup niargiualis, Kaup fascicularis, Kaup fuscus, Riipp brevirostris, Storer .... gracilis, Gill ingens, Girard Page \m 194 . 194 . 194 195 . 195 . 196 . 616 . 196 . 196 . 197 . 197 . 198 . 198 , 516 . 198 , 199 . 200 . 200 200 201 201 201 202 20.3 204 204 205 205 205 205 205 206 206 206 198 198 198 198 198 198 198 Order VI. PLECTOGNATHI. Fam. 1. SCLERODERMI. First Group. Triacanthina. 1. Triacantbodes, Blkr 208 1. anouialus, Schleg 208 2. HoUardia, I'oey L'09 1. hollardi, Poey 209 3. Triacanthus, Cuv 209 1. bre\irostri3, Schleg 209 Page 2. biaruleatus, Bl 210 3. .'itrigilifer, Cant 211 Second Group. Bali.stina. 4. Balistts, Ctiv 211 a. Liurus. 1. stellatus, Lacep 212 b. Balistes. 2. maculatus, G7n. . . 213, 516 3. aureolus, liich 215 4. vetula, L 215 5. forcipatus, Gm 216, 516 6. vidua, Jikh 216 7. capriscus, Gm 217 8. niger, Mtmgo Park .... 218 9. uiitis, Beiin 218, 517 10. bursa, i?/. Schn 219 11. conspicillum, Bl. Schn. 220 12. viridescens, Bl. Schn. . . 220 13. ringens,X 221 14. auromarginatus, Benn. . . 221 15. rivulatus, Biipp 222 10. fuscus, Bl. Schn 222 1 7. flavimarginatus,i?Mjo;j.223,517 18. aculeatus, L 223 19. assasi, Forsk 224 20. verrucosus, L 225 21. rectangulus, Bl. Schn. . . 225 22. cincreus, Bonnat 220 23. undulatus, Munqo Park 226 24. oire, Benn. ..." 227 c. JiLelmiichthys. 25. buniva, Lacep 227 d. Erythriidon. 26. erytbrodon, Gthr 228 jacksonianus, Q. Sf G. . . 211 gutturosus, Hulhn-d .... 211 elongatus, Hollar d .... 211 lieteracanthus, ^/A:a .. 211 tteniopterus, Poey .... 211 nebulo.sus, Poey 211 caprinus, Vol 211 lima, Be^m 211 ). Monacantbus, Cuv 229 a. Mimacanthus. 1. pardalis, Rupp 230 2. scopas, Cuv 232 3. longirostris, Cuv 233 4. cryptodon, Blkr 233 5. curtorbyncbus, Blkr. . . 234 6. prionurus, Blkr 234 7. trossulus, Rich 2-34 8. oculatus, Gthr 235 baueri, Rich 235 9. cbinensis, Bl 236 10. megalurus, Rich 237 1 1 . occideutalis, Gthr 237 SYSTEMATIC INDEX. Page 12. toinentosus, L 2a8 13. 8ulcatus,//ort. 239 14. setifer, Benn 239 15. nematophorus, Gihr. . . 241 16. oblong'us, Schleg 241 17. chcBrocephfilius, Blkr. . . 242 nemurus, Blkr 242 18. melanocephalus, Blkr. . . 242 19. spilosoma, Benn. ...... 243 20. granulosus, While .... 243 21. rudis, Rich 244 22. ayraudi, Q. ^- G 244 23. penicilligerus, Cuv 245 24. hippocrepis, Q. Sf G. .. 246 25. knerii, Steiiidachner .... 246 26. gunuii, Gthr 247 27. macruru.s, Blkr 247 28. convexirostris, Gthr. . . 248 29. multiradiatus, Gthr. . . 248 30. trachylepis, Gthr 248 31. peronii, Ifoll. 249 scaber, Forst 249 32. brownii, Rich 249 33. spilomelanurus, Q. ^f G. 250 b. Alcitteres. 34. heudelotii, Holl. 251 35. monoceros, Osb 251 36. convexifrons, Holl 252 37. scriptus, Osb 252 litiu'osus, Shaw 253 38. personatus, Less 2.53 39. aurantiacus, iMifch 254 40. punctatus, A;/ass 254 41. uasicomis, Schleg 254 pusillus, Rilpp 229 ireyeinuti, Cuv 229 broccus, Mitch 229 maculosus, Rich 229 brevispinosus, Holl 229 freycineti, Holl 229 platifrons, Hull. 229 serrasquaraosus, Holl. . . 229 tricuspis, Holl. 229 dumerilii, Holl 229 nitens, Holl 229 trachvderma, Blkr 229 holbrbokii, Holl 229 cuspicauda, Mitch 229 liueolatus, Rich 229 G. Auacauthu.*, Graij 255 1. baibatu.-5, Gray 255 Third Group. Ostr ac iontina. 7. Ostraciou, Art 255 a. Ostraciun. 1 . triqueter, L 256 2. trigonus, L 256 Page 3. bicaudalis, L 257 4. quadricornis, L 257 5. gibbosus, L 258 6. concatenatus, Bl 259 7. eubicus, L 260 8. seb;e, Blkr 261 9. punctatus, Bl. Schn. . . 261 10. renardi, Blkr 262 11. solorensis, Blkr 262 12. ornatus, Holl 262 13. nasus, Bl 263 14. rhinorhynchus, Blkr. . . 263 15. diaphanus, Bl. Snhn. . . 264 16. foriiasini, Bianc 264 17. cornutus, L 265 /3. Aracana. 1. aculeata, Houttuyn .... 266 2. unistriata, Kaiip 266 3. aurita, Shaw 266 4. ornata. Gray 267 5. lenticularis, Rich 268 Ostracion boops, Rich 268 Fam. 2. Gymnodontes. First Group. Thiodontina. 1. Triodou, Reinw 270 1. bursarius, Reinw 270 Second Group. Tetrodontina. 2. Xenopterus, Bihr 270 1. naritus. Rich 271 2. modestus, Blkr 271 3. Tetrodon, L 271 a. Hemiconiatus. 1. guttifer, Benn 272 j8. Gastrophysiis. 2. lagocephalus, L 273 3. kevigatus, L 274 4. lunaris, Bl. Schn 274 5. sceleratus, Forst 276 6. honckenii, Bl. 276 7. hypselogeuion, Blkr. . . 277 8. oblongu.?, Bl 278 9. ocellatus, Osb 279 10. rubripes, Schley 279 11. hamiltonii, Rich 280 12. veruiicularis, Schley. . . 280 13. stictonotus, Schley 281 14. pardalis, Schley 281 15. politu9, Girard 281 y. Cheilichthys. 16. tcstudineus. L 282 17. heraldi, Gihr 283 auuulatus, Jen 283 18. Ibrmosus, Gthr 283 19. ppengleri, Bl. 284 20. turgidus, Mitch 285 21. ricbei, Frcminv 285 SySTKJIATIC INDEX. Page 22. multi.striatus, liic/i 2So 23. psittacuSj £1. Schn 286 8. Liosaccus. 24. cutaneus, Gthr 287 25. pachygaster, M. ^ T. . . 287 26. porphyi'eus, Schleg 287 27. angusticeps, Jen 287 t. Crayraciun. 28. palembangensis, Blhr. . . 288 29. liuras, Mkr 288 (. ChdonodoH. 30. patoca, 11. B 288 31. viridipunctatus, Day . . 289 32. waandersii, Blkr 289 ■q. Monotretm. 33. cutcutia, 11. B 290 6. Arothron. 34. fahaka, Hasselq 290 35. pustulatus, 3Iurray. . . . 291 36. iiiiinaculatus, Bl. Schn. 291 carduus, Cunt 292 cocliiuensis, Day 292 37. nigvopunctatus, BL Schn. 293 diadeniatus, liupp 293 38. mappa, Less 293 39. stellatus, Bl. Schn 294 40. reticularis, Bl. Schn. . . 296 41. liispidus, Lacq) 297 42. bondarus, Cimt 298 43. erythrotseuia, Blkr 298 44. meleagris, hacep 299 45. fimiamentum, Schleg. . . 299 46. tiuviatilis, H. B 299 I. Anosmius. 47. margaritatus, Eiipp 300 48. papiia, Blkr 301 49. beunetti, Blkr 301 60. janthiiiopteru.?, Blkr. . . 302 51. punctatissiraiis, Gthr. . . 302 52. auiboiiiensis, Blkr 302 53. rostiatua, Bl. 303 64. caiidaciuctus, Rich 303 oruatus, Poey 303 65. caudofasciatus, Gthr. . . 304 56. sanctse lielenfe, Gthr. . . 304 67. striolatns, Q. Sf G 304 58. i-ivulatus, Schley 305 59. valentini, Llkr 305 brunneus, Brevoort .... 271 lineolatus, Poey 271 grammatocephalus, Sehl. 271 cochinchinensis, Steind. . 271 blochii, Casteln 271 4. Diodon, Gthr 306 1. hystrix, L 306 2. spinnsissimus, Cwr 307 3. maculatus, Gthr 307 Page bocagei, Steindachner . . 308 4. maculifer, Kaup 309 5. Chilomycterus, Gthr 309 1. calorii, Bianc 309 2. geonieti'icus, Bl. Schn. . . 310 3. antennatus, Ctiv 311 4. orbicularis, Bl. 312 5. echinatus, Gronov 312 6. jaculiferus, Cuv 313 7. reticiilatus, L 313 8. tigrinus, Cuv 314 9. affiuis, Gthr 314 6. Dicotylichthys, Kutip .... 314 1. punctulatus, Kaup .... 315 7. Atopomycterus, Blkr 315 1. nychthemerus, Cuv 315 8. TriclKH.liod.iii, Blkr 316 1. pilcsus, Mitch 316 9. Trichoc3cliis, Gthr 316 1. eriuaceus, Gthr 316 Third Group. Molina. 10. Orthagoriscus, Bl. Schn. . . 317 1. mola, Z 317 alexandrini, Ranzani . . 319 analis, Ayres 319 2. lanceolatus, Licnard . . 319 3. truncatus, Retz 320 Subclass II. DIPNOI. Fam. 1. SiRENOiDEi. 1. Protopterus, Owen 322 1. annectens, Owen 322 2. Lepidosiren, Fitz 322 1. paradoxa, Fitz 323 Ceratodus forsteri, Kreft . . 323 Subclass III. GANOIDEI. Order I. IIOLOSTEI. Fam. 1. AiiiiDiE. 1. Amia, Z 325 1. calva, L 325 Fam. 2. Poi.ypterid^. 1. Polypterus, Geofr 326, 517 l.biclnr, Geoff. 326,517 2. Calaiuoichthys, Smith 327 1. calabarieus, Smith .... 328 Fam. 3. Lepidosteid^. 1. Lepidosteus, Lacep 328 1. viridis, Gm 329 2. platystomus, Kirtl. 329 productiis, Cope 330 3. os?eu9, L 330 SYSTEMATIC INDEX. Order II. CIIOXDROSTEI. "^'^ Fain. 1. ACIPENSERID.'E. 1. Acipenser, Artedi .... 333,517 1. ruthenus, L 335 2. glaber, Fitz 335 3. brandtii, Gthr 336,517 4. transmontanus. Rich. . . 336 5. naccarii, Bonap. . . 336, 517 6. brachvrhvnchus, Ai/res . 337 7. nasus,' Heck 337, 517 8. huso, L 338 9. sinensis, Gra;/ 338 10. rubiciindus, Lesueur. . . . 338 11. maculosus, Lesueur .... 339 12. stellatus, rail 340 13. giildenstadtii,i?/-rf<.i^-i2. 340 heckelii,l'(Vc. S^-Heck. 341, 51 7 14. liopeltis, Gthr 341 15. brevirostris, Lesueur . . 341 1 6. mediorostris, Ai/res .... 342 17. stm-io, L 342 18. agassizii, Dum 344 19. acutirostris. At/res .... 344 Isevis, Af/ass 333 8clijT)a, Brandt Sf R. . . 333 dauncus, Gcorgi 333 car}'!, Dum 333 Sutuanii, Dum 333 abryanus, Dum 333 sturioides. Malm 333 schreuckii, Brandt .... 517 bserii, Brandt 517 2. Scaphirhynchii.s, Heck 345 1. cataphractus. Gray .... 345 Fam. 2. Polyodontid^. 1. Pol3'odon, Lacep 346 1. folium, Lncep 346 2. gladius. Martens 347 Subclass IV. CHONDROPTE- RYGII. Order I. HOLOCEPHALA. Fam. 1. Chim.brid^. 1. Chinifera, L 349 1. monstrosa, L.' 349 2. colliei, Bmn 350 3. affinis, Capello 350 2. CallorhTOchus, Gronov. . . 351 1. antarcticua, Lacep 351 Order II. PLAGIOSTOMATA. First Suborder. Sel.\choidei. Fam. 1. C.xRCH.ARiiD^. Group. A. Carchabiix.\. 1. C'archarias, Cuv 357 Page a. Scoliodon. 1. laticaudus, M. 8,- H. . . 358 2. acutus, Riipp .358 3. diimerilii, Blkr 309 4. walbeehmii, Blkr 359 5. terrse novse. Rich 360 porosus, Poei/ 357 /3. Physodon. 6. miilleri, M. 8f H. 360 y. Aprionodan. 7. breripinna, M. 8f H. . . 361 8. pimctatus, Mitch 361 9. acutidens, Rilpp 361 d. Hi/2)opri(m. 10. madoti, M. Sf H. 362 11. bre-\-iro.9tris, Poey 362 signatus, Poey 362 12. hemiodon, M. 8f H. 362 13. playfairii, Gthr 362 6. Prionodun. 14. glaucus, L 364 15. munsing, Blkr 365 16. porosus, Ranz 365 \7 . ohacnrMS, Lesueur . . 366,518 18. sorrah, M. S,- H. 367 19. dussumieri, 3L 8f H. .. 367 20. gangeticus, M. 8,- H. . . 367 leucas, M.SfH. 368 21. amblyi'hynciius, Blkr. . . 368 22. fasciatus, Blkr 368 23. brachyurus, Gthr 369 tiburo, Poey 369 24. raelanopterus, Q. 8f G.. . 369 25. bleekeri, Dum 370 26. albomarginatns, Riipp. . . 370 27. menison-ah, M. Sf H. . . 371 28. bomeensis, Blkr 371 29. amboinensis, M. ^-H... 372 30. lamia, Risso 372 31. glyphis, .Tf. Sf H. 373 32. limbatus, M. i^- H. 373 33. pleui-otrenia, Blkr 374 34. temminckii, M. Sf H. . . 374 35. oxyrh}aichus, M. ^ H. . 375 zambezensis, Ptrs 363 falciformis, M. Sf H. . . 363 henlei, Duyn 363 remotus, Dum 363 creruleus, Mitch 363 obtusus, Poey 363 maou, Less 363 2. Hemigaleu.s, Blkr 375 1. microstoma, Blkr 375 2. macrostoma, Blkr 376 3. LcKodon, M. §■ H. 376 1. macrorhinus, M. 4" -ff- • 376 4. Galeocerdo, M.^-H. 377 SYSTEMATIC INDEX. Page 1. arcticus, Fuhcr 377 2. rayneri, McDonald 8,- Barron 377 3. tigrimis, M. df H. 378 6. Thalassorhinus, M. Sf II. . . 378 1. vulpeciila, M. ^- H. . . . . 378 2. platjThyuchus, Walb. . . 379 6. Galeus," Ciiv 379 1. c&ms,Bonap 379 2. japonicus, M. i^- H. .... 380 Group B. Zygjenina. 7. Zygfena, Cm 380 1. blochii, Cnv 380 2. malleus, Risso 381, 518 3. tudes, Cuv 382 4. tiburo, L 382 5. mokarran, Riipp 383 Group C. MUSTELINA. 8. Trisenodon, Gthr 383 1. obesus, Riipp 383 9. Leptocarcharia3,6-'7i 428 37. Isistius, Gill 429 1. brasiliensis, Q. ^- G 429 Fain. 8. Rhinid-k. 38. Rhina, Kkin 430 1. squatina, L 430 Earn. 9. Phistiophoridje. 39. Pristiophorus, M. 4'- H. . . 431 1. cirratus, Lath 432 2. nudipinnis, Gthr 432 3. owenii, Gthr 4;^2 4. japonicus, Gthr 433 Second Suborder. Batoidei. Fam. 1. Pristid-e. 1. Pristis, Lath 436 1. perrotteti, M. ^- H. 436 2. pectinatus, Lath 437 3. antiquorum, Lath 438 4. zyarou, Blkr 438 5. cu.spidatus, Lath 489 Page Fam. 2. Rhinobatidje. 2. Rhynchobatus, Gthr 440 1. ancylostomus, Bl. Schn. 440 2. djeddensis, Forsk 441 3. Rhinobatus, Gthr 441 1. thouiui, Lacep 442 la. spinosus, Gthr 518 2. halavi, Forsk 442 3. granulatus, Cuv 443 philippi, M. Sf H. .... 443 4. obtusus, 31. 6i H. 443 5. undulatus, Olfers 444 horkelii, M.'Sf H. 444 cemiculus, Geoff. 444 6. leucorhjaiehus, Gthr. . . 444 7. bougainvillii, M. S( II.. . 445 8. schlegelii, M. 8f H. 44.5 9. banksii, M. ^- H. 446 10. columnjB, M. ^ IL 446 11. blocbii, M. !^ H. 447 12. brevirostris, M. Sf H. . . 447 productus, Girard. .441, 518 jaram, Montrouzier .... 441 4. Trygonorhina, M. Sf H. . . 447 1. fasciata, M. df H 448 Fam. 3. Tohpedinid.^. 5. Torpedo, Dum 448 1. nebetans, Lowe 449 2. narce, Risso 449 3. marmorata, Risso 450 4. pauthera, Ehrenb 451 5. suiitbii, Gthr 451 6. fuscomaculata, Ptrs 451 occidentalis, Storer 448 sinus persici, Kdmpfer. 448 cbilensis, Guichen 448 6. Narcine, Ilenle 452 1. tasmaniensis, Rich 4.52 2. tinilei, ^«i/ 462 13. circulai'is, Conch 462 14. lemprieri, Rich 463 15. batis, L. 463 binoculata, Girard .... 464 16. agassizii, M. ^ JL 465 17. marginata, Lacep 465 18. liutea, Fries 466 19. maroccana, Bl. Schu. . . 466 brauiante, Sassi 466 20. smithii, M. Sf II. 467 21. fiillonica, Z 467 22. macrorhjTicbus, Bonap. 468 23. vomer, Fries 468 24. oxvrbyncbiis, L 469 25. nfisuta, M. Sr II 469 brasiliensis, 31. ^ H. . . 455 capensis, M. 8,11. 455 jojenia, Cocco 455 oxyrbviicbus, Bl 455 ocellata, 3Iitch 455 desmarestia, Lesueur . . 455 lima, Poeppiff 455 ineerdervoortii, Blkr. . . 455 cbinensis, Basil 465 cooperi, Girard 455 scobina, Philipin 4*55 Ipevis, Mitch 455 mosaica, Capello 455 12. Psammobatis, Gthr 470 1. rudis, Gthr 470 13. Symptervgia, M. Sf II. . . 470 1. bonapartii, M. S,- H. .. 470 14. Platyrhina, 31. ^ II. 470 1. sinensis, Lacep 471 2. scbcinleinii, 31. ^- H. . . 471 Fam. 5. TRYOONiDiE. 15. Urogymnus, M. 8f H. . . . . All 1. asperrimus, Bl. Schti. . . 471 16. Ellipesurus, Schomburgk . . 472 1. spinicauda, Schomb 472 17. Trygon, Adanson 472 1. uarnak, Forsk 473 2. gerrardi, Gray 474 3. punctata, Gthr 474 A.h\ee\ifiTi,Blyth 475 5. walga, 3I.ScH. 475 6. polvlepis, Blkr 475 7. nuda, Gthr 476 8. hastata, Dekay 476 9. strnngyloptera, Schomh. 476 10. tlialassia, Colwmna .... 477 11. bruccii, Bonap 477 12. violacea, Bonap 477 13. pastinaca, L 478 14. kublii, 31. ^- H. 479 15. margarita, Gthr 479 16. rudis, Gthr 479 17. ukpani, J. A. Smith 480 18. bennettii, 31. Sf H. . . . . 480 19. tuberculata, Lacep 480 20. imbricata, Bl. Schn 481 21. zugei, M.S^H. 481 22. hystri.x, 31. 8r H. 482 23. orbicularis, Bl. Schn. . . 482 24. sephen, Forsk 482 purpurea, 31. ^ H. .... 472 guttata, Bl. Schn 472 spinosissima, Dnm 472 atrocissimus, Blyth .... 472 marginatus, Blyth .... 472 18. Tffiniura, 3I.8>H. 483 1. lymma, Forsk 483 2. meyeni, 3Li^H. 483 3. meianospila, Blkr 484 4. grabata, Geoff. 484 6. motoro, 31.. '^- H. 484 mlilleri, Casteln 484 6. nrbignyi, Casteln 484 magdalenae, Diim 483 bumboldtii, Roidin .... 483 19. Urolopbus, 3f. Sr II .... 485 1. cruciatus, Lacep 485 2. annatus, 31.8,-11. 485 3. torpedinus, Desmar 485 4. testaceua, 31. ^ H. 486 5. javanicus, 3Iartens .... 486 20. Pteroplatea 486 1. altavela, L 486 2. liirundo, Loive 487 3. maclura, Lesueur 487 4. micrura, Bl. Schn 487 5. tentaculata, 31. ^- II. . . 488 6. zonura, Blkr 488 crebripunctata, Ptrs. . . 486 Fam. 6. Myliobatid.s;. Group A. Myliobatina. 21. Myliobatis, Cuv 1. aquila, L 489 2. cornuta, Gthr 490 3. vespertilio, Blkr 490 SYSTEMATIC INDEX. 4. maculnta, Grnt/ 490 5. bovina, Geoffr'. 490 6. nieiihofii, Bl. Schn 491 7. niilvu?, M. ^- IL 491 bispinosus, Storer 488 freminvillii, Lesitciir . . 488 vespertilio, Girard .... 489 22. Aetobatis, M. S,- H. 492 1. ria.rma.-n, Eiiphfftsen .... 492 23. Rhinoptera, KiM 493 1. marginata, Cuv 493 2. jussieui, Cuv 493 3. lalaiidii, M. S^ H. 494 4. javanica, M. S,- H. 494 t). quadriloba, Lesueur .... 494 0. adspeisa, M. ^11. .... 494 7. polyodon, Gthr 495 ^Q\\,Blkr 493 Group B. Ceratopterina. 24. Dicerobatis, Blainv 496 1. siornfB, Lacep 496 2. japonica, M. ii; II. 496 3. eregoodoo, Cani 497 4. kuhHi, M. ^- H. 497 5. olfersii, Midi 497 25. Ceratoptera, M. S,- H. 497 1. Tampvrus, Jlitch 498 2. ehrenbergii, M Sr H. . . 498 Subclass V. CYCLOSTOMATA. Fam. 1. Petromyzontid.e. 1. Petromyzon, Artedi 500 1. marinus, L 501 2. fluviatili.s, L 502 3. branchialis, L 504 4. avresii, Gthr 605 Page ?5. macrostomus, Bunn. . . 506 argenteus, Kirtl 500 laniottenii, Lesuetir .... 500 appendix, Dekay 500 concolor, Kirtl. 500 bicolor, Lesueur 500 unicolor, Dekay 500 boreali.s, Ayass 500 cajruleus, Philippi .... 500 landbecki, Philippi .... 500 Chilopterus, Philippi .... 500 aepyptera, Abbott 500 camtschaticuf?, Pcdl. .... 500 2. Ichtbyomyzon, Gthr 506 1. ti-identatus, Rich 506 2. astori, Girard 507 3. castaneua, Girard 507 4. birudo, Girard 507 3. Mordacia, Gray 507 1. mordax, Rich 507 4. Geotria, Gratj 508 1. australis, Gray 508 2. chilensis, Gray 509 Fam. 2. INIyxinid.?;. 1. Myxine, L 510 1. glutinosa, L 510 2. affinis, Gthr 511 3. australis, Jen 511 2. Bdello.«toma, MiiU. 511 1. cirrhatum, Foi'st 511 2. pol\i;renia, Girard .... 512 Subclass YI. LEPTOCARDII. Fam. CiRROSTOsn. 1, Brancbiostoma, Costa .... 513 1. lanceolatum, Pall 513 CATALOGUE FISHES, Subclass I. TELEOSTEI. {CONTINUED.) Order IV. PHYSOSTOML {CONTINUED.) Fam. 26. GYMNOTIDyE. Gymnotiiii, MiiU.Hi- Tro»(h. Hur. Ichtlujol. iii. p. 18; Rciiihanlt, Vid. Meddel. natnrh. Foreti. KJobenh. 1852 (1853), p. 135; or in Wic7. Apterouotus, Lacep. ii. p. 2U(S. Sternarchus, Ciw. Rlgne Anim. ; Mull. ^" Trosch. Hor. Ichflii/ol. in. p. 15 ; Reinhardt, Videmk. Meddel. naturh. Foren. Kjohenh. 1852 (1853), or Wk'ijm. Arch. 18.54, p. 183. Tail terminating in a distinct small caudal fin. Teeth small. A rudimentary dorsal tin is indicated hy an adipose band fitting into a groove of tlie back of the tail ; it is easily detached so as to appear as a thong-like appendage, fixed in front. Branchiostegals four. Brazil and (iuyanas. The species may be divided into two subgenera : — a. Stern auchus. Snout compressed, of moderate knc/fh. 1. Sternarchus albifrons. Gymuotus albitVons, Z. Sij-d. Nut. i. p. 428; Pall. Spic. Zuol. vii. p, 36, tab. (3. fig. 1. Apteronotus passan, Lacep. ii. p. 209, pi. 6. fig. 3 (bad). Sternarchus albifrons, Bl. iSchn. p. 407, tab. 04 ; (jasteln. An. Amer. Hud, Poiss. p. 01, pi. 45. fig. 1 ; Kaup, Apod. p. 12(j ; Steindachner, Sitzijsh. Ak. Wiss. Wien, 1868, Iviii. p. 240. lacepedii, Casteln. I. c. p. 93, pi. 45. fig. 3. maximiliani, Casteln. I. c. p. 93, pi. 45. fig. 4. Snout compressed, of moderate length ; eye small, nearer to the 1. STERN ABCTI us. 3 end of the snout than to tho gill-opciiing ; the mouth is cleft to below the orbit ; vent immediately behind tlie vertical from the orbit. Brown or black, with a white band along the median line of the upperside of the head, sometimes extending along the back ; the thin portion of the tail with two white rings. A. 140-162. Brazil and Surinam. a. Half-grown. Pard. (A. 151.) h. Half-grown. Santarem. From Mr. Bates's Collection. (A. 140.) c. AdiUt. (A. 153.) 2. Sternarchus brasiliensis. Heinkardt, Vidcnsk. Meddel. naturli. Foren. Kjobenh. 1852 ("1853) ; or Wiegm. Arch. 1854, p. 182. Closely allied to St. alhifrons. Uniform dark brown. Mouth rather short. Eyes very small. Vent at a short distance behind the eyes. A. 177-185. Kio das Yelhas. 3. Sternarchus nattereri. Steindackner, Sitz(j-3, taf. 1. fig. 3. Snout produced into a long tube, -which is bent downwards ; the very small eye midway between the extremity of the snout and the root of the pectoral. Mouth very narrow, its cleft scarcely twice as long as the diameter of the eye. Vent in advance of the eye. A. 210-230. The greatest depth of the body is contained once and three-fifths in the length of the head. Upper xVmazons. a. Adult (tail lost, body 2k inches deep). Peruvian Amazons. From Mr. Bartlett's Collection. 2. EIIAMPHICHTHYS. Ehampbichthys, Midi. Sj- Trosch. Hor. lehthi/ol. iii. p. 15. Caudal fin none. Teeth none. No trace of a dorsal fin. No free orbital margin. Brazil and Guyanas. The species may be divided into two subgenera : — 2. RiiAMPnicnTnrs. a. Rhamphichthys. Snotif produced into a tube ; vent below or in advance of the eyes; anal Jin commencing at the throat. 1. Rhamphichthys rostratus. Seba, iii. tab. 32. fig. 5 (ii. tab. GU. no. 3? V). Gyiniiotus, sp., Gronov. Zoophi/l. no. 167 ; Mas. Ichth. no. 73. Gymnotus rostratus, L. ISyd. Ntcindachner, I. c. p. 258. schneideri, Kaup, Apod. p. 136, fig. 11. The distance of the centre of the eye from the gill-opening is one- half or nearly one-half of that from the end of the snout. Scales very small, only those near the lateral line (which is naked) being a little larger. Brown ; head, body, and fins with darker, sometimes ocellated spots. In full-grown examples (35-37 inches) the vent and urogenital papilla is placed far in advance of the eyes, whilst in younger indi- viduals (24-30 inches) it is below or but slightly in advance of the eyes. Guyanas. a, h-c. Fine specimens, 30-34 inches long. Surinam. From Hr. Kappler's Collection. d. Adiilt. Surinam. From the Collection of Dr. van Lidth do Jeude. e. Half-grown. British Guyana. 2. Rhamphichthys blochii, Gymnonotus rostratus, Bl. Schn. p. 522, tab. 106 (not L.). Rhamphichthys reinliardtii, Kaup, Apod. p. 132, tig. 8. blochii, Kaiip, Apod. p. 133, fig. 9. The distance of the centre of the eye from the gill- opening is two-thirds of that from the end of the snout. Scales very small, only those near the lateral hue being larger ; head, body, and anal fin with irregular brownish-black spots and dots. The vent is below the eye in a specimen 19 inches long, some- what before the eye in one of 2b inches, and considerably in advance of it in a third of 29 inches. Brazil. a. Nineteen inches long. Para. (Xamedi?^. rosfrrt^Msby Dr. Kaup.) 3. Rhamphichthys pantherinus. Rhampliiclithys niarmoratus, Casfel. Anim. Amer. Sud, Poiss. p. 86, pi. 46. fig. 2 : Kaup, Apod. p. 132, tig. 7. pantherinus, Castel. I. c. tig. 3 ; Kaup, Apod. p. 131, fig. 0. 6 (;yMi^OTiDJ<:. llliampliichtlivs liueatus, Castcl. I. c. p. 87, pi. 47. fij^-. 1 ; Kuup, Jpod. p. 130, tig. 5. The eye is not much, more distant from the end of the snout than from the gill-opeuing. Coloration apparently variable : — 1. Head without markings ; four dark longitudinal sti'ipes on the side (line- atus). 2. Greater part of the head spotted M'ith black ; back with three rows of black spots surrounded by white dots ; lower part of the sides marbled and dotted (paiitherinus). 3. Head and body marbled with brown (marinoratus). Araguay. River Ucayale. This species is distinguished by its comparatively short snout, the situation of the vent evidently varying as in its congeners. /3. Bhachyrh.-VMPHICHTHYS. Siuiut not tuhifoi-m ; vent behind the ei/es ; anal fin conimenciny below the pectorals. 4. Rhamphiclithys artedii. Seba, iii. tab. 32. fig. 2. • ■ ' Ilhaniphictliys artedi, Kaup, Apod. p. 128. Snout more than one-third of the length of the head. Eye small, nearer to the end of the snout than to the gill-opening. Yellowish brown, marked witii darker ; fins without markings. Anal fin com- mencing under the extremity of the pectoral ; vent below the pos- terior third of the head. A. 220-223. (Kaup.) llivcr Mona (French Guiana). 5. Rhamphichthys mulleri. Kaup, Apod. p. 129. Snout more than one-third of the length of the head. Eye of moderate size, nearer to the end of the snout than to the gill-open- ing. Upperside of the head and back uniform black ; lower 2:)art of the sides of head and body with numerous spots ; fins black, with brown rays. Anal fin commencing below the extremity of the pec- toral ; vent below the posterior half of the head. A. 220. {Kaup.) French Guiana. 0. Rhamphichthys brevircstris. Stehulachner, Sitze/.iber. Ak. Wiss. Wien, 18G8, hiii. p. 254, taf. 2. fig. 2. Snout less than one-third of the length of the head ; eye of mode- rate size. The depth of the body is a little more than the length of the head. Mouth very narrow. Body with numerous irregular, narrow, obli()ue brownish cross bands, (kiieindachner.) Kio Guapore. li. STUUNOPTGUS. 7 '3. STERNOPYGUS*. Sternopyg-us, MiilL <^- Trosr/i. liar. Ichthijol. iii. p. 13. Ciuflal fin none ; no trace of a dorsal fin. Both jaws with a patch or band of small \'illiforra teeth ; a patch of minnto teeth on each side of the palate. Anterior nostrils on the uppcrside of the head. Snout short or of moderate length ; vent behind the orbit. Tropical America. 1 . Sternopygus carapus. Seha, iii. tab. 32. figs. 3-4. Gymnotus, sp., Grunoc. Zoophyl. no. 1G8 ; Mus. Ichth. i. p. 29. no. 72. Gymnotus carapo, L. Si/st. Nat. i. p. 427 ; Sloch, v. p. 59, tab. 157. fig. 2 ; Grotior. Si/st. ed. Gr/a/, p. 22. niacrm-us, Iii. Schn. p. 522. Carapus macrourus, Cuv. Rcgm An. Stemopygus macrurus, Mull. ^- Trosck. I. c. p. 14 ; Kaup, Apod. p. 137 ; Steindachncr, Sitzysher. Ak. Wiss. Wicn, 18G8, Iviii. p. 259. Carapus arenatus, Eyd. S,- Soul. Voy. Bonite, Zool. i. p. 210, pi. 8. fig. 2. sanguinolentus, Casteln. An. Am. Sud, Poiss. p. 85, pi. 46. Sternopj'gus marcgravii, Bnnh. Vidensk. Meddel. natiirh. Foren. Kjohenh. 1852 (1853) ; or Wiegm. Arch. 1854, p. 180. Orbit with a free cu'cular margin. Eye small, about one-fourth of the length of the snout. Mouth of moderate width. Uniform brown or black, a black blotch above the gill-opening ; sometimes mottled with darker. Young examples sometimes with a yellow band along the side of the tail. Tropical America. (I. Half-grown. Essequibo. Collected by Hr. Ehrhardt. h, c-d. Adult (24 inches) and young. Surinam. Collected by Hr. Kappler. e,f,rj-li. Half-grown and young. Surinam. Erom the Collection of H. van Lidth de Jeude. i-h. xVdidt and young : skins. From Gronow's Collection. /, m~o. Adult and half-grown. Pani. p. Half-growu. Rio das Velhas, Presented by Prof. Reinhardt. — One of the types of St. maregravii, 2. Sternopygus virescens. Sternarchus virescens, Vaknc. in D'Orh. Voy. Amer. Merid. Poiss. pi. 13. Hg. 2. Sternopygus tumifrous, Miill. ^- Trosch. Ilor. Ichthyol. iii. p. 14. liueatus, Milll. ^- Irosch. I. c. ; Kaup, Ajood. p. 138 ; Stein- ddchner, I. c. p. 201. * 1. Gymnotus jvquilabiatus, Humboldt, Observ. Zool. i. p. 46, pi. 10; Kaup, Apod. p. 142.--Eiver Magdalena, New Granada. 8 GYMNOTID^. Sternopvgus microstomus, Reinh. Vidensk. 3Ieddel, naturh. Foren. KjUbmh. 1852 (1853) ; or Wiegm. Arch. 1854, p. 181. viresceus, Kmip, Apod. p. 137 ; Steindachner, I. c. p. 260. Orbit without free eyelid. Eye of moderate size, about one-half of the length of the snout. Mouth very narrow, the length of the maxillary being about equal to the diameter of the orbit. Upper jaw overlapping the lower. Anal fin commencing below the pec- toral, sometimes below its middle, sometimes nearer to its root. Brown. Brazil and Guyanas. a. Adult (14 inches). Surinam. Collected by Hr. Kappler. h-c. Half-grown. Lagoa Santa. Presented by Prof. Reinhardt. — Tj'pical of St. mn-rost07nus. d-e. Half-grown. Xeberos. Collected by Mr. Edw. Bartlett. /-//. Adult. River Parana. From the Haslar Collection. h. Adult. From the Haslar Collection. /, I-. Half-grown. From the Collection of Dr. van Lidth dc Jeude. 3. Sternopygus axillaris. Orbit without free eyelid ; its diameter is one-half of the length of the snout and two-thirds of the width of the interorbital space. Mouth of moderate width, obliquely directed upwards, with the jaws even in front when the mouth is closed ; maxiUary twice as long as orbit. Upper profile of the nape and head nearly straight and hori- zontal. Vent opposite the posterior rim of the orbit. Pectoral fin at least as long as the postorbital portion of the head. Anal fin commencing below the hinder third of the pectoral. The length of the head is nearly equal to the height of the body, and contained seven times and a half in the length to the end of the anal. Scales very small. A large blackish blotch on the commencement of the lateral line. A. 212. Para. a. Fifteen inches long. (Named Campus macrourus, Cuv., by Dr. Kaup. ) 4. Sternopygus troschelii. Siornopygr.s virescens, Mi'dl. i^- Tmsch. I. c. p. 14 (not J'almc). trosclielii, Kaiq), Apod. p. 131» ; Steindachner, I. c. p. 2G0. Orbit without free eyelid. Eye of moderate size, about two-fifths of the length of the snout. Mouth of moderate width, the length of the maxillary being equal to twice the width of the orbit. Lower jaw longer than the upper. Anal fin commencing below the root of the pectorals. Coloration imiform. A. 230. British Guyana. 4. CARAPUS. Carapus, sp. Cuv. lihjne Anim. C'arapus, Midi. &,■ Tnlsch. Ilm: Ichthjol. iii. p. 13. Caudal fin none ; no trace of a dorsal fin. A series of conical teeth in each jaw. Anterior nostrUs wide, in the upper Up. bnout short or of moderate length, depressed. Vent behind the head. Tropical America. 1. Carapus fasciatus. Ca.m^o,Marcgr. Hid. Pise. p. 170; cop. by Willughby, Hist. Pise. p. llo, tab. (jr 7. ng. 4. Gymuotus, sp., Scba, iii. tab. 32. fig. 1. Gymnotus fasciatus, Pall. Sjncil. Zool. vii. p. 35. albua. Pall. I. c. p. 36 ; Bl. Schn. p. 523. bracliyurus, £1. taf 157. hg. 1. putaoi, Lacep. ii. p. 176. cartipo, PI. Schn. p. 621. Carapus fasciatus, Cm: Rkjne Anim. ; 311111. ^- Trosch. I. c. p 13 • Kaup, Apod. p. 139; Steindachwr, Sitzgsher. Ak. Wiss. JFien, 1868, Iviu. p. 2G1. ' ' brachyurus, Cuv. I. c. iu|Equilabiatus, Valetic. in d'Orb. Voij. AmSr. Merid. Poiss. pi. 14 (tail mcorrect). • albus, Kauj), I.e. p. 140. Lower jaw projecting beyond the upper. Eye very small. Scales ot moderate size. Vent below the giU-opening. Anal fin com- mencmg behind the point of the pectoral. Young examples gene- rally with more or less numerous obUque brown bars, which disap- pear Avith age or are broken up in spots ; sometimes of a uniform dark coloration. This species varies, not only in coloration, but stiU more in the term of the body and head. The " dorsum canaUculatum " can be observed in very fat examples, and the notch behind the anterior nostril IS more distinct in old than in young examples. The number ot the teeth cannot be used as a specific character, as it varies trom 6b to 56 m the lower jaw, and from 2G to 40 in the upper. From Brazil to Guatemala. a. Half-grown. Brazil. Presented by Lord Stuart. b. Young. Eiver Capim. Purchased of Mr. Stevens. c. d-e. Young. Bahia. Collected by Dr. Wucherer. /. Young. Surinam. From the CoUection of Dr. van Lidth de Jeude. g, li, i-L Adult, half-grow, and young. British Guyana. m-n. Young. Essequibo. CoUected by Hr. Ehrhardt. 0. Adult (17 inches). Berbice. p. Adult. Trinidad. Purchased of Mr. Cutter. q-r. AdiUt. Island of Grenada. Purchased of Mr. Higoins s-U Half-grown. Rio Motagua. Collected by F. Godraan, Esq u, V, lu-x. Adult, half-grown, and young. y. Young. Brazil. Presented by Professor Eeinhardt. 10 (JYMNOTID.i;. 5. GYMNOTUS. Gymnotiis, sp., of elder authors. Gj-niuotus, Cuv. Rl'gne Anim. Electroplioms, Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sc. Philad. 1864, p. 151. Caudal and dorsal fins absent ; anal extending to the end of the tail. Scales none. Teeth conical, in a single series, and with a few other teetli behind it in the middle of each jaw. The mucous mem- brane of the mouth with numerous lobes. Anterior nostril in a short tube near the margin of the lip. Eyes exceedingly small. Vent behind the tkroat. An electric organ along each side of the lower part of the tail. Brazil and Guyanas. 1. Gymnotus electricus. Electric Eel. Richter, Mem. Acad. Paris, vii. 1729, p. 325. De la Condamine, Voi/. dans VAtner. Merid. 1748, 4to. Irujram, Nene Physical. Beluslig. i. 17-50, p. 288 (Torpedo). Allemand (Gravesand), Verliand. Maatsch. Haarlem, ii. 1755, p. 372, (Sidder-vis). Gumilla, Descr. de VOrenoque, iii. p. 186 (Poisson-Trembleur). GroHuv. Uifc/ezof/etie Verhandel. iii. p. 468, tab. 26. tig. 8 (Beef-aal). Gymnotus, Gronov. Act. Helvet. iv. 1702, p. 27, tab. 3. figs. 1-3, and Zooplujl. p. 41. no. 109 ; Seha, iii. tab. 34. fig. 6 ; Mmschenbroek, Introduct. ad Philos. Nat. Lvjid. Batav. 1702, i. p. 290, and in Rozier, Journal de Physique, 1770, p. 331 ; Le Roy, Observ. et Mem. sur la Phys. viii. 1770, p. 331 ; Schillim/, Neue Abhandl. Akad. Berlin, 1770, p. 08. Cougeraal, Van der Lett, Verhandl. Maatsch. Haarlem, 1702, p. 87. Lamproie du Para, La Condamine, Voy. a rAmazone, p. 154. Fermin, Surinam, p. 59; Bancroft, Nat. Hist, of Guyana, p. 120; Bajon, Mem. pour servir a I'hist. de Cayenne, 1777, ii. p. 288 ; and in Rozier, Journ. de Phys. iii. 1774, p. 47. Prinyle, A Discourse on the Torpedo. Lond. Rov. Soc. 1775, 4to, pp. 32. Gymnotus electricus, L. Syst. Nat. i. p. 427 ; Bl. ii. p. 43, taf. 150 ; inilidinson, Philos. Trajis. Ixv. 1775, p. 94; Garden, ibid. p. 102 ; Ilxntcr, ibid. p. .■>95, pis. 1-4; Lacep. ii. p. 140, pi. 0. fig. 1 ; Bn/ant, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. ii. 1780, p. 100; Flayy, ibid. p. 170; Fahl- berg, Veteiisk. Ak. ny Handl. 1801, pp. 122-150; Guisan, Bull. Sc. Soc. Philom. i. 1. 1797, p. 32 ;' Cue. Reyne Anim. ; Geojfroy St.-Hilairc, Ann. Mus. d'Hid. Nat. i. 1802, pp. 15, with a plate ; HnndjoJdt, Observat. Zool. i. p. 49 ; Knox, Edinb. Journ. Sc. i. 1824, p. 90; Bradley, in Charlesworth's May. Nat. Hist. 1838, ii. p. 0(i8 ; Faraday, Philos. Trans. 1839, p. 1 ; Valentin, Neiw Denkschrift. Allyem. Schweitz. Gesellsch. vi. 1842, with 5 plates; Delia Chiaje, Nuov. Ann. Sc. Nat. Boloyn. viii. 1847, p. 280; Gronov. Syst. ed. Grai/, p. 23 ; Kupffer und Keferstein, in Henle und Pfeifer, Zeitschr. f. rat. Med. ii. 1858, p. 344." Himboldt, Vermclw ilber die electrischen Fische. Erfurt, 1800, 8vo. Lanyyuth, Dissertatio de Torpedine recentiorum, yvnere Anyuilla. Wit- tenburg, 1778, 4to, pp. 38. Guisan, Comment, de Gymnoto eleetrico. Tubing. I8l9, 4lo, pp. 34. 5. GYMNOTUS. 11 Scfimibein, Beohachtutxjen iiher die clcktrischen Wirkungen des Zit- tcr(t(d(:s. Basul, 1841, 8vo. Miranda, Esfieriinenti istituti sul Giiimoto ehttrico. Napoli, 1845, 4to, pp. 18. Pacini, Sulla struttnra del orf/ano dettrico del Gimnoto e di altri pesci elettrici, mile condizioni elettromotrici di qnesii orf/ani e loro compara- zione a diverse pile elettriche. Firenze, 1852, 8vo, pp. 85. Schultze, Zur Kenntniss der electrischen Organe der Fische. IlaUe, 1858, 4to, pp. 35, with two plates. (Abhandl. ntrf. Gesellsch., liaUe, vol. iv.) Head much depressed ; jaws cqiial in length ; cleft of the mouth not extending to the eye. Blackish above. Brazil and Guyanas. a, b, c, d, e,f, g, h-i. Adult, half-grown, and young. k: Adult: stuffed. 12 STMBEANCniD^. Fam. 27. SYM BRANCH ID.^. Symbrancliii, Mi'dler, Abhandl. Ak. Wiss. Berlin, 1846, p. 193. Body elongate, naked or covered with minute scales; barbels none. Margin of the upper jaw formed by the intermaxillaries only, the well-deve- loped maxillaries lying behind and parallel to them. Paired fins none. Vertical fins rudimentary, reduced to more or less distinct cutaneous folds. Vent situated at a great distance behind the head. Ribs present. Gill-openings confluent into one slit situated on the ventral surface. Air-bladder none. Stomach without caecal sac or pyloric appendages. Ovaries with ovi- ducts. Fresh waters and coasts of Tropical America and Asia. Coasts of Western Australia and Van Diemen's Land. Si^inopsis of tlie Groiq^s and Genera. A. Amphipnoina. Vent in the posterior half of the length. Humeral arch not attached to the skull. Piilatiiie teeth in a single series ; an accessory breatbing-sac. 1. A)nphiimous, p. 13. B. Symbeanchina. Vent in the posterior half of the length. Humeral arch attached to the skull. Piilatino teeth in a narrow band; gills rudimentary ... 2. Moncqjtcrus, p. 14. Palatine teeth in a band ; gills well developed 3. Spuhra/ichus, pA5. C. CniLOBRANCHiNA. Vent in the anterior half of the length. No teeth on the palate 4. Chilobranchus, p. 17. Osteohc/ical llemarls. The following remarks are made on the skeletons of Vertebra}. AmpMpnous cuchia 106 + 65 Monopterus javanensis 100 + 88 Si/mhranchus viarmoratus 79 + 57 Si/mhrancJms hengalensis 80 + 53 (Chilobranchus dorsalis) 21 + 52 The skull of the Symbranchida' is distinguished by solid, firmly imited bones, especially those of the temporal region being much 1. AMPHIPNOTJS. 13 expanded, not leaving any noii-ossified space between them. The skull of M()iioj)ferii'< and Si/mbrnm-Jius is considerably elongate, the entire branchial apparatus being below the skull. It is much shorter in Amphipnou^, in which only a part of the branchial appa- ratus is below the ykull, the remainder being below the first four vertebrtc. The maxillary and intermaxillary bones run parallel and are firmlj' attached to each other, the former extending further backwards, but being toothless. The ethmoid is distinct as a sepa- rate bono. The orbit is not marked by an osseous ring, its position being indicated only bj' the foramen for the optic nerve. Palatine bone extremely broad. The various opercular pieces can be clearly distinguished. Each half of the humeral arch is composed of three pieces, the lower (coracoid) being as usual the strongest and longest, bent forward for the symphysis with its fellow ; the uppermost (suprascapula) is very small and semicartilaginous in Amphipnous, continued into a muscle, which is attached to the skull, there being no osseous connexion between the skull and humeral arch in this genus. In Sijmbranchus and Monopteras this bone is well developed, two-pronged, the upper prong being attached to the occipital. There is also the greatest similarity of structure in the vertebral column of the genera named ; the vertebrae are compressed, not longer than deep. Their superior processes are slender, scarcely as high as the centre of the vertebra ; no inferior processes ; the lateral are perfectly horizontal, quite at the lower side of the vertebrae, con- cave below, the processes of both sides forming together a concavity like one-half of a bivalve shell. The caudal vertebrae are provided with superior and inferior processes, which in Si/mbranchus and Monopterus are dilated, lanceolate, and in Amphipnous styliform. In all these fish the caudal portion of the vertebral column is much shorter than the abdominal portion. To each of the transverse processes a short thin rib is attached. First Group. AMPHIPNOINA. 1. AMPHIPNOUS. Amphipnous, Midler. Pueuniabranchus, 3/' Clellnnd. Body covered with minute scales longitudinally arranged. Three branchial arches, with the branchial lamina; mdimentarv, and with narrow slits between them. X sac for the reception of air com- municates with the gill-cavity. Gill-membrane nearly entirely grown to the isthmus. Palatine teeth in a single series. Bengal. 1. Amphipnous cuchia. Dondoo Paimi, BunseU, pi. o.5. I'liibraneh.aportura cuchia, limn. Ihich. Fish. Gang. pp. \Q 3G3 pl.lO. lig. 4. 14 STMBRANCniD.'E. Amphipnou3 cuchia, Midler, in Abhandl. Akad. Wiss. Berl. 1839, p. 1>44 ; Cant. Mai. Fish. p. 338 ; Kaup, Apod. p. 120. rneuinabranclius sh'iatus, M' Clell. Cale. jmirn. Nat. Hist. v. pp. 192, 219, pi. 13. leprosus, M'Clcll. I. c. pp. 195, 219. albiuus, M' Clell. I. c. pp. 196, 219. __ Anatomy: Taylor in Gleanings of Science, ii. p. 173, and Edinh. Journ. Sc. v. 1831, p. 33 ; Hyrtt, DenJcschr. Ak. Wiss. Wien, 1858, xiv. c. tab. Blackish or whitish, with or without niimcrous dark spots. Ycrt. 106/G5. Bengal. a, h, c. Several adult and half-grown specimens. Calcutta. d. Adult. ChiUian wallah. From Dr. Cantor's Collection. e, f, g. Adult. India. h. Adult: skeleton. Calcutta. Second Group. SYMBKAl^CHINA. 2. MONOPTERUS. Monopterus, Laccp. Fluta, Bl. Schn. p. 565. Opliicardia, McClelland. Apterigia, Basilewskij. Body naked. Three branchial arches with the branchial laminae rudimentary, and with moderately wide slits between them. No accessory breathing-sac. Gill-membrane nearly entirely grown to the isthmus. Palatine teeth small, in a narrow band. East Indies to Jai)an and Northern China. 1. Monopterus javanensis. Mm-aena alba, Zuiew, Nov. Act. Ac. Sc. Petropol. vii. 1793, p. 299, tab. 7. fig. 2. Monopterus javanensis, Lacep. ii. p. 139; Bleek. Verh. Bat. Gen. xxiii. M. 0. Java, p. 22 ; or xxv. Srjmhr. p. 59 ; or Atl. Jchtlujol. Miir. p. 118, pi. 47. fig. 1. Unibrancliapertura Ijevis, Lacep. v. p. 658, pi. 17. fig. 3. Monopterus javauicus, Shaw, Zool. iv. p. 33; Cant. Mai. Fish. p. 339, pi. 5. figs. 6-8 (head) ; Kavp, Apod. p. 123, pi. 5. figs. 6-8. Synbranclius em-ychasma, Bleek. Terh. Bat. Gen. xxv. 3Iur. p. 60. Ophicardia pbayriana, 31^ Clell. Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. v. p. 191, 218, pi. 12. fig. 1. Sj-nbranchus Ifevis, M^ Clell. I. c. p. 230. grammicus, Cant. Ann. 4' May. Nat. Hist. ix. p. 30. Monopterus liBvis, Richards. Toy. Sidph. Ichth. p. 116. • cinereus, Richards. I. c. p. 117, pi. 52. figs. 1-6 (not synon.) ; and Ichth. Chin. p. 315. Monopterus? vel Synbranchus? xanthog-nathus, Richards. I. c. p. 118, pi. 52. fig. 7. Monopterus marmoratus, Richards. Ichth. Chin. p. 315. Monopterus ? helvolus, Richards. I. c. p. 310. ;i. SYMBRANCHtJS. 15 Opliicardia xauthogiicatha, Richards. I. c. Apterigia saccogularis, Basileivsky, Nouv. Mem. Soc. Nat. Mosc. x. 1805, p. 247, tab. 8. fig. 2. nigromaculata, Baailewshj, I. c. p. 248, tab. 2. fig. 2. immaculata, Basilcirsky, I. c. Tail narrow, tapering into a point. Vci't. 100/88. East-Indian archipelago ; Continent from Siam to Northern China. Chinese Islands and Japan. rt. Adult. Batavia. From Dr. Cantor's Collection. h. Large specimen, 35 inches long. Borneo. c. Half-grown. Borneo. d-(i. Half-grown. Sarawak. Presented by the Marquis Doria. li, i. Half-grown. East-Indian archipelago. Z-, /. Adult and young. Siam. m, )i, o-p. Adult and half-grown. Formosa. From Consul Swin- hoe's Collection. q. r-s. Half-grown. Chusan. From Dr. Cantor's Collection. Tyjics of /S'. ijrammicus. t, u-v. Half-grown and young. China. IV. Half-grown. Hong Kong. From the Haslar Collection. X. Adult. Ningpo. Purchasccl^f Mr. Cuming. y-z. Half-grown. North ChinaV Purchased of Mr. Jamrach. n, /3, y-l. Adult, half- grown, and young. Japan. e. Half-grown. Presented by Sir A. Smith. 3. SYMBRANCHUS. Symbranch us, Bluch . UnibraiK-hapertura, Lnce'p. t)plii.sternoii, AL Clclland. Tetrabranclius, lileclcer. Body naked. Four branchial arches with well-developed giUs. No accessor}' breathing-sac. Gill-membrane free from the isthmus. Palatine teeth in a band. Tropical America, East Indies to Australia. 1. Symbranchus mannoratus. Murrena, sp., Gnmov. Zoophi/l. p. 39. no. 162. Synbraiielius niarmoratus, Bl. ix. p. 87, tab. 418 ; Bl. 8chn. p. ;'J24 ; Kaiip, Aj)0(I. p. 122. inimaculatus, Bl. ix. p. 87, tab. 419. fig. 1 ; Bl. Scfai. p. 524, tab. 103. fig. 1 ; Kaup, Apod. p. 122. transversalis, Bl. Schn. p. 87. Unibranchapertm-a manuorata, Lacep. v. p. G58. immaculata, Lacep. t. p. (i58. grisea, Lacep. v. p. 6-58. lineata, Laap. v. p. Go8. Synbrancluis fuliginosu.s, liatiza/ii, Aor. Comm. Ac. Scknt. Inst. ' Bonon. iv. 1840, p. 7o, tab. 11. fig. 1. 16 SYMBHANCHID^. Mursena lumbricus, Gronov. Si/st. ed. Gfai/, p. 18. Synbranchus vittatus, Castehi. An. Amer. Sud, p. 84, pi. 44. fig. 3. Snout short, rounded or obtusely pointed ; eyes small, rather close to the end of the snout. GiU-opening narrow, not extending to the side of the ventral surface, generally transverse, arched, frequently appearing as a longitudinal slit unless stretched out. Vert. 79/57. Tropical America. The varieties of this widely distributed species are numerous, especially with regard to the width of the snout and head, form of the gill-opening, width of the palatine band of teeth, and coloration ; ])ut it is evident, from an examination of a long series of examples, that the differences are not speciiic. a, b-c, d-e. Adult, half-grown, and young. Bahia. From Dr. Wucherer's CoUectiou. f. Adult. Para. Presented by Pt. Graham, Esq. r/-/i. Adult. Pebas. From Mr. HauxweU's Collection. {. Young. Chyavetas (Upper Amazons), From Mr. Bartlctt's Collection. Jc-m. Half-grown. Pernambuco. Presented by J. P. G. Smith, Esq. '^ n. Adult. Surinam. From the Collection of Dr. van Lidth de Jcude. 0. Half-grown. Caj^cnne. p, q, r. Adidt, half-grown, and young. British Guyana. s-t. Adult and half-grown (in bad state). Berbice. u. Half-grown. Bogota. Purchased of Mr. Cutter. V. Adult. Trinidad. Purchased of Mr. Cutter. w. Adidt. Vera Cruz. Purchased of Mr. Cuming. .r. Adult. Guatemala. From Mr. Salvin's Collection. y. Adult. Lake Peten. From Mr. Salvin's Collection. z. Half-grown, Huamuchal. From Mr. SaMn's Collection. a. Adult. Rio Chisoy. From the Collection of Messrs. Godman and Salvin. /3, y, l-e. Adidt and half-grown. Mexico. From M. Salle's Col- lection. i:,. Half-grown. Santa Lucia. Presented by Mr. Smith. ■q. Adidt. From the Collection of the Zoological Society. ti. Several specimens. Boero?? Purchased of Mr, Cuming, Al- though these examples were received at the same time as numerous others from Ceylon and Booro, I do not believe that the statement regarding the habitat is correct. 1. Adult : skeleton, Rio Chisoy, From the Collection of Messrs, Godman and Salvin. 2. Symbranchus bengalensis. Opliisternon bengalensis, M'Clell. Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. v. pp. 197, 200, tab. 11. figs. 1 & 2; Kaiq), Apod. p. 121, tab. 15. fig. 76 (head). ? Opliisternon hepaticus, APClcll. /. r. p. 198, figs. ?> & 4. 4. CniLOBRANC'HUS. 17 Symbranchus iiumaculatus, MiiUer, AUuindl. Ak. Wus. Berlin, 1839 p. 245 ; Cantor, Mai. Fl,sh. p. P,:>,7 ; L'lcek. Verh. Bat. Gen. xxv' Mur. p. 57 ; or Nat. Ttjds. Ned. Lid. iii. Borneo, vi. p. 438. gutturalis, Richards. Voij. Ereb. IS,- Terr. Fish. p. 49, pi 30 figs. 14-17. r J 1 Tetiabianriius microphthalmus, Bleek. Nat. Ti/ds. Ned. Ind. ii. p 69 Synlji-auclms bengalensis, L'leek. Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 119, pi. 48. %. 1.' Snout very short, subtruncatc ; eyes small, close to the end of the ■Snout. Gill-opening of moderate width, extending to the side, or nearly so, of the ventral surfaoe. Yert. 80/53. Bengal. East-Indian archipelago. Dampier's archipelago. n, b, c, d. Many adult, half-grown, and young specimens. River Hooghly. e. Young. Philippine Islands. Purchased of Mr. Cuming. /. Young. Dampier's arcliipelago. Presented by Sir J. Richard- son.— Type of ,S'. r/ntturalis. ;/. Adult : skeleton. River Hooghly. From the Collection of the East-India Company. 3. Symbranchus caligans. Cantor, Mai. Fish. p. 334, pi. 7. Snout of moderate length, obtusely pointed ; the minute eye is nearly opposite to the middle of the lip. Gill-opening very wide, extending up the side to the lateral line. Pinang. a. Type of the species. From Dr. Cantor's Collection. Third Group. CHILOBRANCHINA. 4. CHILOBRANCHUS. Cheilobranchus, Richards. Voy. Ereb. ^ Terr. Fish. p. 50. Body naked*, compressed, subcylindrical in front, moderately elongate. Head small ; snout very obtuse and short ; mouth nar- row', with the upper jaw slightly protractile ; eye of moderate size. Teeth in the jaws in a single series ; none oii the palate. Gill- opening transverse, the gill-membrane not attached to the isthmus ; hinder edge of the gill-opening vrith a raised lip. Four branchial arches, no slit behind the fourth ; giUs well developed ; no accessory breathing-sac. Vent in the anterior half of the total length, M'ith a minute jjapilla. Vertical fins reduced to a simple cutaneous fold, without rays. Intestinal tract straight— the stomachal dilatation being longer than the intestine proper, and provided with a short coecal appendage near its upi)er end. Australia and Van Diemen's Land, * I mil uiuiblu t.i liii'l the iiiiiuilc scales iiientiuiied by Sir. J. Eichai-dsou. VOL. vm. ,, 18 STMBKANCHID^. 1. CMlobranchus dorsalis. Cheilobranclius dorsalis, Richards. I. c. pi. 30. figs. 1-5. aptenodvtum, Richards. I. c. p. 51. The length of the head is somewhat less than one-half of the distance between the giU-opening and the vent. Vert. 21/52. Australia and Van Diemen's Land. a. Adult. Penguin Island. Presented by Sii' J. Eichardson. — Type of CJi. apienodijtiim. b-c. Fine specimens, 90 millims. long. Van Diemen's Land. Pre- sented by R. Gunn, Esq. d-g. Adult and half-grown. North-west Australia. Presented by Sir J. Richardson. — Types of the species. h, i. Several examples. Australia. iirHJENin.K. J t) Fam. 28. MUR^NID^. Murrenoidei, Miiller, Ahhandl. Ah. JViss. Beii. 1840, p. 193. Body elongate, cylindrical or band-shaped, naked or with rudimentary scales. Vent situated at a great distance from the head. Ventral fin none. Vertical fins, if present, confluent, or separated by the project- ing tip of the tail. Sides of the upper jaw formed by the tooth-bearing maxillaries, the fore part by the in- termaxillary, which is more or less coalescent with the vomer and ethmoid. Humeral arch not attached to the skull. Stomach with a blind sac ; no pyloric appen- dages. Organs of reproduction without efferent ducts. Inhabitants of the freshwaters and seas of the temperate and tropical regions. Sjinopsh of the Groups and Gevern, First Subfamily. MUR^NIDiE PLATYSCHIST^. The branchiar openings in the pharynx are wide slits. I. The tail is CA-cccdingly elongate, the vent being close to the roof of the pectoral fins. Nostrils of each side close' toqether, in a hollow in front of the eye A. NEiriCHTHTrNA. .Taws produced into a long, slender bill 1. Nemichfhys, p. 21. II. The tail is longer or not much shorter than the trunk. The heart is situated immediatehj behind the gills. A. Tail exceedingly long. Muscular system very feebly developed ; hones very thin. Stomach extremely distensible. ' Gill-open- ings separate B. Saccophartngixa. Snout very short ; gape enormously wide 2. Saccopharynx, u. 22. B. Gill-openings ventral, tmited into a longitudinal slit. 3Iuscular and o.iseous .systems well developed. Stomach very di.stensible. C. SYNArnoBRANCniNA. Pectoral and vertical fins well dereloped 3. Si/iiajihohranckus, -p.^^i. C. Muscular and osseous systems ivell developed. (,fill-openin,)s separated by an interspace *. * Girard has described as a new genus and species a Mi/rwhiln/s tiarhnm froni Adair Bay, Oregon (Proc. Ac. Nat. Sc. Pliilad. 18.^>9, p. f)A), referring it to Kaup's subfamily Myrophina;. However, ho describes, " tlie nostrils approxi- niaU; the apex of tlic rostrum ; the upper ones very small and placed opposite tlie mferior ones, which are cons)ncuous and tubular;" so that it is a matter of uncertainty whether this writer understood the character on which the faiuilv " Ophimiridce" was founded. ^ c 1' 20 MUEJENIDJ3. a. Nostrils superior or lateral ; tongue free ; end of the tail sur- rounded by the fin. a. Pectoral fins present D. Angitillina. Skin with nidinientarj scales ; teeth in bands ; tlie dorsal fin commences at a considerable distance from the occiput 4. Anguilla, ^.'lo. Scaleless. Jaws with an outer series of closely set teeth ; dorsal fin commencing behind the base of the pectoral ; mouth extending at least to below the middle of the eye 5- Coyigcr, -^.'31. Scaleless. Fore part of the skull with large muciferous cavities. Teeth forming bands ; dorsal fin commencing nearly above tlie gill-opening ; mouth not ex- tending beyond the middle of the eye 6. Congromurmna, p. 40. Scaleless. Maxillary teeth biserial, vomerine teeth uniserial ; dorsal fin com- mencing above the root of the pectoral ; mouth extending slightly beyond the middle of the eye 7. f/Voww^CT-, p. 43. /3. Pectorals none E. Hetekocongrina. Exceedingly elongate ; snout very short 8. Heteroconger, p. 44. b. Nostrils superior or lateral ; tongue not free ; end of the tail surrounded hy the fin F. Mur^snesocina. Pectoral fins ; jaws with canine teeth in front ; vomer with large, strong teeth. 9. Murancsox, p. 45. Pectorals none. Posterior nostril superior, above the angle of the orbit. 10. Nettastoma, p. 48. Pectorals none. Posterior nostril lateral, in front of the orbit. 11. Saurenchelys, p. 48. Pectoral fins. Teeth of the jaws triserial, the middlg series containing long canine teeth ; vomer with a series of very small teeth. 12. Oxyconger, p. 48. Pectoi-al fins. Teeth of the jaws biserial ; vomer with a series of very long teeth 13. Hophmnis, ■p. 'i!d. Pectoral fins. Dorsal and anal fins rudimentary. 14. Neoconger, p. 49. C. Nostrils labial ; tongue not free ; end of the tail surrounded bij fJiefiu G. Myrina. Pectorals well develojoed ; dorsal commencing behind the gill-opening ; teeth in bands 15. Mgncs, -p. -iQ. Pectorals well developed ; dorsal commencing far behind the pectorals. 16. jSIyrophis, p. 50. Pectorals well developed ; dorsal commencing behind the giU-opening ; teeth in tne jaws biserial 17. Pammgrits, p. 51. Pectorals nearly invisible. Body short, much compressed. 18. Chilorhiniis, p. 51. Pectorals none. fJody long, vermiform 19. Murmnkhthys, -p. hi. d. Nostrils labial ; tongue not free; end of the tail free. H. Ophichthtina. Vomerine teeth none 20. Liuranus, p. 54. Vomerine teeth 21. Ophichthys, p. b^. III. TJie tail is much shorter than the trunk. The heart is situated at a great distance behind the gills . . I. Ptyobranchina. Pectorals none or small ; vertical fins but little developed. 22. Moringua, p. 90. J. >.'EiiitariiYs. 21 Second Subfamily. MUKENID.E ENGYSCHIST^. The branchial openings in the pharynx are narrow slits. K. MUR^NINA. Peflural and vertical fins well developed 23. Mi/rocovger, -p.^'S. Pectorals none ; vertical fins well developed ; posterior nostril a narrow round foramen 24. iV/w^wa, p. 93. Fins none, except a rudimentary one round the end of the tail. 25. Gymnomurcena, p. 133. Pectorals none ; vertical fins well developed ; posterior nostril a long slit. 26. Enchelycore, p. 135. First Subfamily. MUR/ENID.E PLATYSCHIST.E. The branchial openings in the pharynx are wide slits. First Group. NEMICHTHYINA. 1. NEMICHTHYS. Nemichthj-s, RkharcU. Voy. Samamnf/, Fish. p. 2-5. LeptorhjTicus, Loioe, Ann. ^- Mag. Nat. Hist. x. 1852, p. 54 ; Mem. Ac. St. Potersb. Sav. etrang. vii. 18-54, p. 171. Belonopsis, Brandt, ibid. p. 174. Exceedingly elongate, band-shaped; tail tapering into a point. Vent approximate to the pectorals, but the abdominal cavity ex- tending far behind the vent. Jaws produced into a long, slender bill, the upper part being formed by the vomer and intermaxilla- ries. The inner surface of the bill covered with small tooth-like asperities. Eye large. The nostrils of each side are close together, in a hollow before the eye. Gill-openings wide, nearly conHuent. Pectoral and vertical fins well developed. Atlantic. 1. Nemichthys scolopacea. Nemichthys scolopacea, Richards. I. c. pi. 10. figs. 1-3 (young, not good). Leptorhyncus leuchtenbergii, Loive, U. cc. Belonopsis louchteubergii, Brandt, I. c. c. fig. Dorsal fin commencing immediately behind the occiput, anal behind the vent. Atlantic. a. Young. South Atlantic. Presented by Sir J. Richardson. — Type of the species. h. Thirty-three inches long. Madeira. Purchased. — Head three inches, greatest depth of the head half an inch. ■J-J MrRvKiNir).«. Second Group. SACCOPHARYNGINA. ■J. SACCOPHARYNX. Saccopharynx, MitchiU, Ann. Lye, New York, i. 1824, p. 82. Opliiognat'luis, Harwood, Phil. Trans. 1827, p. 277. Ucep-sea congers, with the muscular system very feebly deve- loped, vnih the bones very thin, soft, and wanting in anorganic matter, connected by a lax, easily torn fibrous tissue. Head and gape enormous. Snout very short, pointed, flexible, like an appendage overlapping the gape. [Only one nostril can be found in front of the small eye *.] Maxillary and mandibulary bones very thin, slender, arched, armed with one or two series of long, slender, curved, widely set teeth, their points being directed inwards ; palate toothless. Gill-openings wide, at some distance from the head, at the lower part of the sides ; gills very narrow, free, and exposed. Trmik of moderate length. Stomach distensible in an extraordinary degree. Vent at the end of the trunk. Tail band- like, exceedingly long, tapering into a very fine filament. Pectoral small, present. Dorsal and anal fins rudimentary ; the former more so than the latter, and indicated by a groove bordered by a whitish line on each side, and commencing at a short distance behind the head. Now and then a short fine ray is visible towards the end of the trunk. Anal rays distantly placed, commence behind the vent, and are visible for some distance. Temperate parts of the North Atlantic. 1. Saccopharynx flagellum. Saccopharynx flagellum, MitchiU, I, c. Opliiogoathus ampullaceus, Harwood, I. c. Saccopharynx ampullaceus, Johnson, Ann. Jj- Mar/. Nat. Hist. 1862, x. p. 277. Uniform deep black. a. Madeira. Presented by J. Y. Johnson. — Length of head (to the mandibulary joint) 2| in., of trunk 6 in., of tail 25 in. b. Young. Presented by Mrs. Philips. Third Group. SYNAPHOBRANCHINA. y. SYNAPHOBRANCHUS. Synaphobranchus, Johnson, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1862, p. 169. Gill- openings ventral, united into a longitudinal slit between the pectoral fins, sepai'ate internally. Pectoral and vertical fins well developed. Nostrils lateral, the anterior subtubular, the posterior '■* This pari oC the head is not in a good state of preservation, and the other nostril is most probably near tlie end of the snout. 4. ANGUILLA. 23 round, before the lower half of the eye. Cleft of the mouth very wide ; teeth small. Body scaly. Stomach very distensible. Madeira. A deoji-sea fish. 1. Synaphobranchus pinnatus. Murrena, sp., Gronov. Mus. Ichth, ii. p. 11. no. 161. IMurtena pinnata, Gronov. Syd. ed. Gray, p. 19. Synaphobranchus kaupii, Johnmti, Proc. Zvol. Soc. 1862, p. 169. Jaws subequal in length, sometimes the lower, sometimes the upper the longer. Intermaxillary with an ovate patch of conical teeth, which are somewhat larger than the others ; maxillary teeth in a narrow band, those of the inner series being conspicuously the largest ; mandible with a single series gradually passing into a band behind. Vomerine teeth uniserial. Eye of moderate size. Tail twice as long as the body ; vent somewhat in advance of the origin of the dorsal fin. Uniform brown. Madeira. a. Adult. Madeira. Presented by the Rev. R. T. Lowe. b~c. Adult. Madeira. Presented by J. Y. Johnson, Esq. — Types of S. Icaupii. d. Adult. Madeira. Purchased. Fourth Group. ANGUILLINA. 4. ANGUILLA*. Murffina, sp., Artedi, Genera, p. 23. Anguilla, {Thimbery) Ciiv. Reyne Anim. Mursena, Bleeker, Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 1. Small scales arc imbedded in the skin. Upper jaw not projecting * 1. Anguilla eurystoma, Heck. ^- Kner, Siissuiasserf. p. 32.'). — Dalmatia. 2. Murrena serpentina, Lcsucur, Journ. Ac. Naf. Sc. Philad. i. p. 81. — Long Island, U.S. 3. Anguilla avisotis, Richards. Voy. Sulph. Fish. p. 104, pi. 51. fig. 1. — Canton. I hesitate to introduce this as a distinct species into the system, as it is known from a figure only, and has not been actually recognized in specimens. The distinctions between the species of eels are so slight that a mere figure ought not to be made the type of a spe- cies, unless it is known to have been made mider the eye of an expe- rienced ichthyologist. 4. clathrata, Richards. Vbi/. Sidph. Ichthyol. p. 104. — Canton. 5. fasciata, Kaup, Apod. p. 48, fig. 37.— Hab. — ? 0. macrops, Kaiip, Apod. p. 49, fig. 38. — Hab. — ? 7. Anguilla angustidens, Kaup, Apod. p. 49, fig. 39. — Hab. — ? 8. euryhema, Kaup, Apod. p. 50, fig. 40. — Hab. — ? 9. Mura^na halmaherensis, Bhek. Ned. Tydschr. Dierk. i. p. 159; or Atl. Ichthyol. Miircp/i. p. 12, tab. fi. fig. 4. — Halmaheiru. 10. Anguilla cantori, Kaup, Apod. p. 52, fig. 45. — Bombay. 11. Mura?na macrocephala, Rapp, Jahre.'ih. Vcr. Ntrk'. Wilrttcmh. 1849, p. 142, taf. 2. —Port Natal. 24 MUE^NID^. bej'oud tlie lower. Teeth small, forming bands. Gill-openings narrow, at the base of the pectoral fins. The dorsal fin commences at a considerable distance from the occiput. Cosmopolitan, but not extending into the arctic regions. An infinite number of species have been described ; but most are so badly characterized, or founded on individual or so trivial characters, that the majority of ichthyologists will reject them. For the pre- sent, I have retained those as species which are distinguished by such characters that we are enabled to recognize them ; but I am by no means certain whether really specific value should be attached to them. The form of the snout, the size of the eyes, the width of the bands of teeth, &c. ai-e evidently subject to much variation ; and probably other ichthyologists will still more reduce the number of species contained in the following synopsis : — Synopsis of the Species. I. IVte dorsal Jill commences considerably in advance of the vent. a. Eye considerably shorter than the snout. A. The mandibulary band of teeth is longitudinally divided by a groove, the outer strip containing a series of someichat larger teeth. 1. The length of the head is conspicuously less than the distance between the commencements of the dorsal and anal fins. 1. mauritiana, p. 25. 2. Tlie length of the head is nearly equal to the distance between the commencements of the dorsal and anal fins. The length of the head is one-half of its distance from the anal. 2. labiata, p. 26. The length of the head is more than one-half of its distance from the anal. 3. Jidjiensis, p. 26. 3. The length of the head is conspicuously more than the dis- tance between the commencements of the dorsal and anal fins. Tail considerably longer than body 4. benyalensis, p. 27. Tail not much longer than body 5. reinhardtii, p. 27. B. Lateral teeth tmiserial in both jaws. . . 6. macrophthalma, p. 28. C. Teeth in tian-ow bands ; the mandibulary band without longitudinal groove. 1. The length of the head is nearly equal to the distance be- tween the commencements of the dorsal and anal fins. The length of the head is more than one-half of its distance from the vent 7. mossambica, p. 28. The length of the head is less than one-half of its distance from the vent. 8. i-ulgaria, p. 28. 2. The length of the head is conspicuously more than the dis- tance between the commencements of the dorsal and anal fins. 12. Anguilla mannorata, Quoy ^ Gaim. Voy. Frcyc. Zool. p. 241, pi. 51. fig. 2. — Waigidu. I;}. olaheitensis, Kaup, Aale Hamburg. Mus. p. 17, tab. 2. fig. 2. — Tahiti. 11. — — capeiisis, Kuiip, I. c. p. 18, tab. 2. fig. 3. — Cape of Good Hope. 4. ANGUII.LA. 25 Angle uf the mouth below tlu' eye ; lips rather nan-ow. 9. bodoniensis, p. 31. Angle of the mouth below the eye ; lips well developed. 10. texana, p. 32. Angle of the mouth below the hind margin of the eye ; lips thick. 11. latirostris, p. 32. Angle of the mouth distinctly' behind the eye. 12. aucklandii, p. 33. D. Teeth vquaUij small, forminr/ broad Jiat bands. 1. Tlie vomerine band is scarcely or not broader than the max- illary band. The length of the head is less than the distance between the commence- ments of the dorsal and anal tins ; cleft of the mouth extending behind the eje 13. ddalandii, p. 33. The length of the head is more than the distance between the commence- ments of the dorsal and anal fins ; cleft of the mouth extending far behind the eye 14. aneitmsis, p. 34. Angle of the mouth below the hind margin of the eye. 15. amboinensis, p. 34. 2. The vomerine band is much broader than the maxillary band. 16. megastoma, p. 34. j3. Eye nut shoHer than the snout 17. kieneri, p. 35. II. The dorsal Jin commences above or nearly above the vent. A. The dorsal Jin commences .above or slightly in advance of the vent. 1. Vomerine band of teeth of moderate -n-idth. a. Vomerine teeth extending about as far back as the maxillary. Snout short, obtuse ; lips thin ; angle of the mouth below the hind mar- gin of the eye, which is of moderate size or rather large. 18. bicolor, p. 35. I^ips well developed ; angle of the mouth below the hind margin of the eye, which is of moderate size 19. viresceits, p. 35. Lips thin ; angle of the mouth behind the small eye. 20. "sidat, p. 36. b. Vomerine band of teeth considerably shorter than the max- illary band 21. australis, p. 36. 2. Teeth forming exceedingly broad flat bands. 22. aniblodon, p. 37. B. Origin of the dorsal Jin behind the vent. 23. du.ssnmieri, -p. 87 . I. The dorsal Jin cotnmences considerably in advance of the vent. 1. Anguilla mauritiana. Anguilla mauritiana, Bennett, Proc. Comm. Zool. Soc. 1831, p. 128. labrosa, Eichards. Voy. Ereb. ^- Terr. Ichth. p. 113. Muraeua maculata, JJlcck. JVed. 'Tydschr. Dierk. i. p. 237, or Atl. Ich- thyol. Mnran. p. 9, tab. 1. tig. 2 (not H. B.). — ? manillensis, Bleck. Atl. Ichtltyol. Miti Muran. p. 10, pi. 44. f. 2 : or Ned. Tydschr. Dierk. 1864, p. 31'. Anguilla johann;e, Gi'mth. in Fish. Zanz. p. 124. Munena marmorata, Kner, Novara, Fisch. p. 360. The length of the head is equal to the distance of the gill-opcning froui the origin of the dorsal fin, somewhat less than one-half of its distance from the vent, and less than the distance between the com- mencements of the dorsal and anal fins. Lips broad and tlcshv. 26 MlTK-ENIDJi. The cleft of the mouth extends to, or nearly to, and in old examples behind, the hiud margin of the eye, which is small. Tail consider- ably longer than the body. The band of mandibulary teeth divided by a longitudinal groove. Brown mottled with black, or uniform blackish. East-Indian Ocean and archipelago ; Formosa ; Pacific. n. Type of A. Jahrosa, 36 inches long. South Seas. h. Fine specimen. Amboyna. Purchased of Mr. Frank. c. Adult : skin. Almorah. From Capt. Boyd's Collection. d. Half-grown. Ceylon. e. Young. Philippine Islands. f,(l-h. Adult and half-grown. Formosa. From Mr. Swinhoe's Collection. i. Type of A. Johaance : stuffed. Island of Johanna. From Lieut.- Col. Playfair's Collection. I; I. Half-grown. I have long hesitated to unite the Murcena manillensis of Blocker with this species ; but after having examined all our examples, I came to the conclusion that the relative position of the eye and angle of the mouth is evidently subject to some variation in this species ; and especially an example from the Philippine Islands, which in all other respects agrees most closely with M. manillensis, has the mouth cleft at least to below the hiud margin of the eye. The principal character by which this species may be recognized is the advanced position of the dorsal fin. 2. Anguilla labiata. Peters, Wief/m. Arch. 18o5, p. 270, and Mossmnb. Flussjische, p. 94, taf. 17; Gi'mth. in Fish. Zanzibar, p. 124. The length of the head is nearly equal to the distance of the gill- opcniug from the origin of the dorsal fin, or one-half of that from the origin of the anal fiu. Lips broad and fleshy. The cleft of the mouth extends scarcely behind the eye, which is small. Tail con- siderably longer than the body. Mandibulary teeth divided into two strips by a longitudinal groove. East coast of Africa. a, b, c-d. Half-grown. Zanzibar. Presented by Lieut.-Col. Play- fair and Dr. Kirk. e,f. Half-grown. Port Natal. Purchased of Mr. Thomas Ayrcs. 3. Anguilla fidjiensis. The length of the head is more than the distance of the gill- opening from the origin of the dorsal fin, and more than one-half of that from the origin of the anal fin, equal to the distance between the origins of the dorsal and anal fins. Lips broad and fleshy. The cleft of the mouth extejids to below the hind margin of the eye. 4. ANGUILLA. 27 which is rather small. Tail longer than the body. Length of the pectoral two-fifths of the length of the head. Brown, mottled with darker. Feejee Islands. a. Twenty inches long. Kandavu. From the Godeffroy Museum, with the name M. mauiHeiisis. b. Three and a half feet long : stuffed. Nairai. Collected by T. M. Rayner, Esq. 4. Anguilla bengalensis. Murjena anguilla, llain. Bucli. Fish. Gan;/. p. 22. maculata, Ham. Buck. I. c. p. 23 (not Lacep.). bengalensis, Gray, in Hurdw. III. Ind. Zool. Anguilla elphinstonei, Si/kes, Tram. Zool. Sue. ii. p. 377, pi. 67. fig. 3. brevirostiis, M'Clell. C'alc. Juurn. Nat. Hist. v. p. 177, pi. 5. fig. 1. arracana, M'Clell. I. c. p. 178, pi. 6. fig. 2. nebidosa, M'Clell. I. c. p. 179, pi. 5. tig. 2 ; Bleek. Verk. Bat. Gen. XXV. Nalcz. Benr/al, p. 153. variegata, M' Clell. I. c. p. 179, pi. 9. fig. 7. marniorata, Kaup, Apod. p. 43, fig. 32 (not Quoy ^- Gaim.). Very closely allied to A. latirostris. The length of the head is contained once and one-fourth or once and one-third in the distance of the gill-opening from the origin of the dorsal fin, and twice, or very nearly twice, in its distance from the vent. Distance from the commencements of the dorsal and anal fins rather shorter than the head. Lips broad and fleshy ; lower jaw prominent. Angle of the mouth immediately behind the eye, which is small. Tail con- siderably longer than the body. The band of mandibulary teeth is longitudinally divided by a groove. Indian continent. a, b-d. Adult and half-grown. Kiver Hooghly. e-f. Half-grown. Madras. Presented by Captain Mitchell. g. Adult. Nilgherrics. Collected by Surgeon F. Day. h. Adult : stuffed. India. Purchased of Mr. Warwick. 5. AnguiUa reinhardtii. ? Anguilla reinhai'dtii, 'S^e(«f/«c/(M<'r, Sifzqsber. Ak. Wiss. TFiVw, 1867, Iv. p. 15. The length of the head is contained once and one-third in the distance of the gill-opening from the origin of the dorsal fin, one- half of its distance from the vent, and conspicuously more than the distance between the commencements of the dorsal and anal fins. Snout long, depressed, spatulate ; lips fleshy. The cleft of the mouth extends to the vertical from, or scarcely beyond, the hind margin of the eye, which is small. A'omerinc teeth in a band, which is rather broad anteriorly, being broader in the middle than the maxillary band, and extending equally far backwards. The mandibulary band of teeth is longitudinally divided by a narrow groove. Tail not much 28 muk.enidj:. longer than the body. Upper parts greenish, with numerous bhick spots which disappear with age. North-eastern Australia. a. Twenty-seven inches long (tail 14 inches). Hawkesbury Eiver. Presented by G. Kreift, Esq. b. Youug. Sydney. Presented by G. Krefft, Esq. c-d. Several adult and half-grown specimens. Cape York. Collected by Herr Darnel. e. Adult : stuffed. Australia. Presented by Sir T. L. Mitchell. I should not have hesitated to identify these specimens with An:fuUla reinhanltii, Steindachner, if the author's description did not differ in one point of importance, viz. he describes the angle of the mouth as being situated one diameter of the eye behind the hind margin of the orbit. 6. Anguilla macroplithalma. Muvasna (Anguilla) niacrophthalmos, Peters, Monutsber. 'Ak. Wiss. Berl. 1852, p. 684. Anguilla macroplithalma, Peters, Mossamh. Flussfische, p. 99, taf. 19. The length of the head is contained once and one-fourth in the distance of the giU-opening from the origin of the dorsal fin, tAvice and one-fifth in that from the vent, and is more than the distance be- tween the commencements of the dorsal and anal fins. Lips mode- rately developed. The angle of the mouth is below the hinder half of the eye — which is large, rather more than one-half of the length of the snout. Lower jaw somewhat longer than the upper. Lateral teeth uniserial in both jaws. Tail considerably longer than bodv. {Ptrs.) Zambezi. 7. Anguilla mossambica. Tribrauchus anguiUaris, Peters in Miiller, Ganoid, p. 193. Anguilla mossambica, Peters, Monatsber. Ak. Wiss. Berl. 1852, p. 684 ; and Mossamb. Flussfische, p. 98, taf. 18. fig. 1. The length of the head is more than the distance of the gill- opening from the origin of the dorsal fin, and contained once and two- thirds in its distance from the vent ; it is nearly equal to the dis- tance between the commencements of the dorsal and anal fins. Lips narrow. The cleft of the mouth extends to the vertical from the hind margin of the eye, which is rather small. Tail considerably longer than body. Mandible prominent ; maudibulary teeth form- ing a narrow band without groove. (Ptrs.) River Molumbo, east of the island of Mossambique. S. Anguilla vulgaris. ]':el. Aal. Augiulle. "Eyx^^ys, Aristot. ii. c. l-'i, 15, & 17; iv. c. 8, 11, & 12; v. c. 5; vi. c. 1.3 & 1(J: viii. c. 2: Athen. lib. 7; A£lian, xiv. c. 8: Oppian, Hal. lib. 1. 4. ANGUILLA. 29 Aiiguilla, Bcllon. Dc Ammt. p. '2{)'>\ Ronih-l. ii. p. 198; Sdlv. fol. G4 ; Willtiijhhy, p. 109, tab. G. 5; Marsil. iv. tab. 1. iig. o. Muraena, .•^p. no. 1 , Artcd. Gen. p. 24 ; Spec. p. 0(3 ; and Synon. p. 39 ; Grunov. Zooiihi/l. no. lOG. anguillii, L. Si/st. i. p. 420; Bl. Fisch. Deutschl. iii. p. 4, taf. 7o; iy/. Schn. p. 48G ; Lacep. iii. p. 90; 3Ieidinger, tab. 31 ; Jurinc, Poiss. du Lac Lmian, pi. 1 ; Faher, Fisch. Islands, p. 60 ; Pall. Zoogr. Ross.-As. iii. p. 71 ; Gronuv. Si/st. ed. Gray, p. 18 ; Ekstroin, Vet. Akad. Handl. 1831, p. 285 ; Nilss. Skand. Faun. iv. p. GOl. Aal, Puntopp. Norg. Nat. Hist. ii. p. 174 ; Strom, Sondtn. i. p. 265. Eel, Penii. Brit. Zool. iii. p. 126, or edit. 1812, iii. p. 191 ; Dai'ij, Salmon. Lond. 1829, p. 228 ; Arderon, Phil. Trans, xliv. 1746, p. 395 ; Widdrinqfon, Ann. Nat. Hist. \\ii. 1842, p. 207. Rifaud, Vol/. Fgi/p't. pi. 18. tigs. 94 & 9o. Ang-uilla vulgaris, Tia-t. Brit. Faun. p. 87 ; Fleming, Brit. Anim. p. 199; G. V. Martens, Hal. ii. 1844, p. 334; Drewsen, in Kroger, Ntrhist. Tidskr. i. p. 21 ; Costa, Faun. Nap. Pesc. pi. 55 & 59. tig. 1 ; Giinth. Fisch. d. Neckarh, p. 128; Rapp, P'isch. d. Bodeniee's, p. 38 ; Siebold, Siisswasserf. p. 342 ; Malmgren, Wiegm. Arch. 1864, p. 303 ; Desmarest, Rev. et Mag. Zool. 1866, p. 161 ; Canestrini, Arch. Zool. Anat. ^-c. iv. p. 177. Anguilla canariensis, Valenc. in Webb ^- Berthel. lies Canar. Poiss. p. 88, pi. 20. fig. 1. calleusis, Guichenot, Explor. Alger. Poiss. p. Ill, pi. 7. fig. 1. acutirostris and inediorostris, Risso, Fur. Merid. iii. pp. 198, l!'9: YarreU, Proc. Zool. Sac. 1831, p. 133; or Zool. Journ. iv. p. 469 ; or Brit. Fish. 2nd edit. ii. pp. 381 & 399, or 3rd edit. i. pp. 44, 65; Parnell, Werner. Mem. vii. p. 384; Jeni/ns, Man. p. 474 ; Selgs-Longch. Faunc Beh/e, p. 225 ; Costa, Faun. Naj). Pesc. pi. 56 & pi. 59. figs. 4 & 6 ; Couch, Hist. Brit. Fish. iv. p. 306, pis. 34, 35. MurtBua oxyrhiua, Ekstrdm, Fisch. lldrko, p. 142. P Murpena pekinensis, Basilewsky, Nouv. Mem. Sac. Nat. Mosc. x. 1855, p. 246, tab. 3. fig. 2. Anguilla uiigiatoria, Kriiyer, Danm. Fisk. iii. p. 616. fiuviatilip. Heck. S,- Kner, Siissicasserf. p. 319 ; Heckel, T'erh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, ii. 1853, Sitzgsber. p. 29. cuvieri, bibronii *, savignyi, morena, marginata, niicroptera, niediorostris, altirostris, platycepbala, latirostris, acutirostris, ni- lotica, aigvptiaca, callensis, canariensis, Kaup, Apod. pp. 32-41, figs. 1(3-29. ? Anguilla noviBterrm, Kaup, Apod. p. 45, fig. 35. ? Anguilla wabasbensis, Kaup, Apod. p. 46. Anguilla hibernica. Couch, Brit. Fish. iv. p. 328, pi. 235. Costa, O. G., Storia ed anatomia dell' Anguilla e monograjia delle nostrali .specie di questo genere. Napoli, 1850, 4to, c. 9, tab. Organs of propagation: Leemrenhoek, Arcana natura; 1G92, p. 316; Allen, Philos. Trans. xLs. 1697, p. 6G4; Bale, ibid. xx. 1698, p. 90; J'allisneri, Ephemer. Ac. Nat. Cur. 1712, Append, p. 153; Mun- dinus, Comm. Bonon. Sc. et Art. Acad. vi. 1783, p. 410 ; Midler, Sckrift. Ges. ntrf. Freund. i. 1780, p. 204; Carlisle, Philos. Mag. * Hr. Kaup states that the diameter of the eve is contained only once in the length of the snout ; but in the figure the eye is represented exactly as it is in Cuvier's " Piinperneaux," tlie Aiigtiilld cuvieri of Knup ! 30 MUR^NID^. 1822, p. 109 ; Can; ibid. 1809, p. 272 ; RathJce, Wiegm. Arch. 1838, p. 209, and in Mull. Arch. 1850, p. 203 ; Deshmgclunnps. Imtihd. vi. 1838, p. 133; Joannis, Rev. Zool 1839, p. 48'; Hom- haum-IIornschuch, Dissert, de AnginUarmn se.rii ct propagatione, Grj'ph. 1842 ; ScJdiieser, Dissert, de Petromgzontum et Anguillarum se.vu, Dorpat, 1848. Skeleton : Agass. Poiss. Foss. v. tab; D. fig. 2. Monstrosity : Deslmgchamps, Mem. Soc. Linn. Nonnand. v. 1835, p. 47. The length of the head is contained once and one-half or once and one-third in the distance of the gill-opening from the origin of the dorsal fin, and twice and one-third or twice and two-thirds in its distance from the vent. Distance between the commencements of the dorsal and anal fins as long as or somewhat longer than the head. Lips narrow ; lower jaw prominent. Angle of the mouth below the ej-e — which is rather small or of moderate size, much shorter than the snout. Maxillary teeth equal and small. Tail considerably longer than body. Europe to 64° '40' N. lat. (Mahngren), but neither in the Danube nor in the Black or Caspian Seas ; Mediterranean region ; Northern Asia (?) ; North America *. a. Fine specimen. Abergeldie Castle. Presented by Dr. Th. Giinther. h, c, J, e-g. Young. Firth of Forth. From Dr. Parnell's Col- lection. h. Very large specimen. Tarporley. Presented by Sir Ph. de M. G. Egciton, Bart. i-m. Young. Tunbridge. Presented by J. G. Children, Esq. n-2\ Young. Poole Heath. Presented by W. Thompson, Esq. q, }■, s-t, u-v\ Adult and half-grown. England. .r, ?/-r. Half-grown and young. Bohusliin. Presented by Hr. A. W. Malm. a, /3. Adult. Holland. From the Collection of Dr. van Lidth de Jeude. y. Adult sldn. Holland. From Gronow's Collection. g. Many young specimens. Bavaria. From Dr. Gemminger's Collection. e. Half-grown. Lisbon. Presented by the Eev. R. T. Lowe. 4. Young. Madeira. Presented by the Rev. R. T. Lowe. r]~i;. Adult and half-grown. Azores. Presented by F. du C. God- man, Esq. — These examples agree more with Kaup's A. capi- tone than Valenciennes's A. canarioisis, having broad hps. X-r. Half-grown. Algiers. Presented by Lieut.-Col. Playfair (A.raJJensis). L o-TT. Adult. Mediterranean. — The head is somewhat longer thnn in examples from more northern latitudes ; and the eye is * T havn examined an example from New .Jersey; it is in tlie Liverpool Museum. 4. ANOXJILLA. 31 of moderate size, as in the so-called A. hihvonii. They differ from specimens from the Nile only in this larger size of the eye. p-T. Adult. Propontis. From Mr. Millingen's Collection. v-1^. Young. Bahr el Kclb (I'alestine). From the Collection of the Rev. H. B. Tristram. w, a' , b'-c', d'-f, g'-V. Adult and half-grown. Lower Nile, m', n, o', p', q'. Adult, half-grown, and young. r'. Adult : Skeleton. Propontis. From the Collection of Mr. Mil- lingen. (Yert. 4G/68.) s'. Adult : Skeleton. t'. Skulls of several examples. 9. Anguilla bostoniensis. Mursena anguilla, Schopff, Bmhacht. Gcs. ntrf. Frmnd. Berlin, viii. p. 138. Anguilla vulgaris, 3Iitch. Lit. S,- Phil. Trans. Nnc York, i. p. 300. Murajua rostrata, Lcsueur, Journ. Ac. Nut. Sc. Philad. i. p. 81. bostoniensis, Lesueur, I. c. argentea, Lestieiir, I. c. p. 82. macrocephala, Lesueur, I. c. Anguilla lutea {Mqfln.), Kirtland, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hi4. iv. p. 234, pi. 11. fig. 2. tenuirostris, Dc Kay, New York Faun. Fish. p. 310, pi. 53. fig. 173 ; ? Kaup, Apod. p. 44, fig. 34 ; ? Kner, Novara, Fi^ch. p. 370. bostoniensis, Ayres, Boston Journ. Nat. Hist. iv. p. 279 ; Storer, Mem. Am. Acad. viii. p. 408, pi. 33. fig. 1. no-\a3orleanensis, Kaup, Apod. p. 43, fig. .33. punctatissinia, Kaup, Apod. p. 44. cubana, Kaup, Apod. p. 44. Synonymy for extra- American Specimens. Anguilla japonica, Schley. Faun. Japan. Poiss. p. 258, pi. 113. fig. 2 (mouth not good) ; Bleek. Verh. Bat. Genootsch. xxv. Nalez. Japan, p. SI ; Kncr, Novara, Fisch. p. 370. The length of the head is contained once and three-fourths in the distance of the gill-opening from the origin of the dorsal fin, and twice and one-half in its distance from the vent. Distance between the commencements of the dorsal and anal fins shorter than the head. Lips rather narrow ; lower jaw slightly prominent. Angle of the mouth below the eye, which is rather small or of moderate size, much shorter than the snout. Tail considerably longer than the body. United States ; Japan ; Formosa ; China. a, h, c-J. Adult and half-grown. Boston, Massachusetts. e,f. Half-grown. Japan. f). Half-grown. North China. Purchased of Mr. Jararach. /'. Half-grown. China. From the Collection of the East-India Company. i, h. Several half-grown specimens. Formosa. 32 • MUR^NID.!;. 10. Anguilla texana. ? Anguilla texana, Kaiip, Apod. p. 45. ? Aiignilla tvraunus, Ginird, U. S. ^- 3Ie.v. BoidhI. Iclith. p. 75, pi. 40. The length of the head is contaiued once and three-fourths in the distance of the gill-opening from the origin of the dorsal fin, and twice and one-third or twice and two-thirds in its distance from the vent. Distance between the commencements of the dorsal and anal fins shorter than the head. Lips well developed ; lower jaw very pro- minent. Angle of the mouth below the eye, which is rather small. Tail considerably longer than the body. Mandibulary teeth in a single band without longitudinal groove. Islands of Grenada and Dominica ; ? Texas ; ? Mexico. This fish is scarcely specifically distinct from A. hosfontensis, fi-om which it difi'ers only by the greater development of the lips. a. Adult. Grenada. Purchased of Mr. Cutter. h-c. Ailult. Dominica. Purchased of Mr. Cutter. d. Young. Mexico (?). From M. Salle's Collection. e. Adult. Presented by the Royal College of Surgeons. 11. Anguilla latirostris. Grigs or Gluts, Fen». Brit. Ztiol. iii. p. 129. Rifaud, Vol/. Egypt, pi. 18. fig. 91. Anguilla latirostris, Bisso, Ivhth. Nice, p. 90, and Eur. Merid. iii. p. 199 ; Yarrell, Proc. Zonl. Soc. 18.31, p, 133, or Zool. Joxrn. iv. p. 4(39 ; Brit. Fish. 2ud edit. ii. p. 396, or 3rd edit. i. p. 62 ; Par- iiell, Werner. 3Iem. vii. p. 387 ; Thompson, Ann. Nat. Hist. 1839, ii. pp.21, 270; Jem/ us, Man. p. 474; Heli/s-Lonqcliamps, Faune Beige, p. 225 ; [? Couch, Hist. Brit. Fish. iv. p. 330, pi. 36. This figure is evideutlv taken fi-om a common Eel with broatlish snout] ; Cimtor, Ann. ^- Mag. Nat. Hist. 1842, p. 4S0 ; Kaup, Apod. p. 38, fig. 26. Muvajna platj-rhina, Ekstrom, Fisch. Morko, p. 142. Anguilla sinensis, M'CleU. Cak. Journ. iv. p. 406, tab. 25. fig. 2. macroptera, M'Clell. I. c. p. 407, fig. 1. diefienbachii, Grai/, Dieffenhach's Travels. Append, p. 225; Richards. Voi/. Ereh. '^- Terr. Ichthi/ol. p. 113. platyrhynchus, Costa, Faun. Nap. Pesc. tab. 58 & CO. fig. 3. ? Anguilla capitone, melanochir, ancidda, Kaup*, Apod. pp. 34, 35, & 37, and figs. 17, 19, & 22. 'S'ee also Anguilla virescen?, p. 36. The length of the head is contained once and a half or once and three-fourths in the distance of the gill-opening from the origin of the dorsal fin, and twice and a half in its distance from the vent. Distance between the commencements of the dorsal and anal fins shorter than the head. Lips broad and fleshy ; lower jaw promi- nent. Angle of the mouth below the hind margin of the eye, which is rather small, much shorter than the snout. Tail considerably * It is rather difficult to arrive iit ;i safe eonelusion with regard to certain spe- cimens described by Dr. Kaup under specilie names, as the measurements given are evidently frequently erroneous. 4. ANGT7ILLA. 33 longer than the body. Mandibidarj- teeth in a single band, without longitudinal groove. Europe ; Nile ; China ; New Zealand ; West Indies. a. Fine specimen. Itcheu. Purchased. b-c. Adult and hall'-grown. Nice. Purchased of Messrs. Gal Freres. d. Half-grown. Ningpo. Purchased of Mr. Cuming. e. Adult. China. From Dr. Cantor's Collection. f-g. Adult and half-grown. Chusan. From the Collection of the East-India Company. h. Typo of A. dicffcnbachii. Now Zealand. Presented by Dr. DiefFeubach. i. Half-grown. St. Croix. Purchased of Mr. Stevens, k: Young. This form alone of the numerous varieties of the common Eel is, in my opinion, entitled to specific rank. The width and length of the snout cannot be taken as a distinctive character, as there are found all intermediate forms between the extremes ; I am more in- clined to consider the situation of the origin of the dorsal fin, and the development of the lips, to indicate a distinct species. Indeed the specimens referred by me to A. latirostrls are more distinct from the tyj)ical European form than is the American Eel. Although it appears to be hazardous to identify specimens from localities so distant as England and New Zealand, I could not come to any other conclusion after a very careful consideration of the slight differences observable in our examples. The New-Zealand specimen has a somewhat shorter tail, the length of the body being to that of the tail as seven to nine, whilst in Chinese examples it is as seven and a half to ten. This, of course, cannot be of specific value. 12, AngfuiUa aucklandii, Eichards. Voij. Ereb. ^- Tcr. Fish. p. 113, pi. 45. figs. 7-13. The length of the head is contained once and one-third in the dis- tance of the giU-opening from the origin of the dorsal fin, one-half of its distance from the vent, and conspicuously more than the dis- tance between the commencements of the dorsal and anal fins. Snout broad, short, depressed, subtruncate ; lips broad. The angle of the mouth is distinctly behind the eye, which is small. Lower jaw scarcely longer than the upper. The band of vomerine teeth is ante- riorly as broad as the maxillary band. Tail not much longer than the body. Uniform brown. Auckland Island, rt, 6, c. Types of the species. Presented by Sir J. Richardson, 13. Angiiilla delalandii. Anguilla dolalandi, Kaup, Apod. p. 50, tiy. 41. ? Anguilla capousis, CuMi'lnau, Poiss. Afr. Austr. p. 73. The length of the head is somewhat less than the distance of the vol, VIII, D 34 MUR-ENID.^. }^ll-opcning from the origin of the dorsal fin, two-fifths of its distance from the vent, and less than the distance hctween the com- mencements of the dorsal and anal fins. Lips moderately developed. The cleft of the month extends behind the eye, which is small. Tail longer than the body. Teeth equally small, forming flat broadish bands ; the vomerine band is scarcely broader than that of the max- illary. Uniform brown. South Africa. a. Adult : stuff'ed. From the Collection of Sir A. Smith. 14. Anguilla aneitensis. The length of the head is contained once and a third in the dis- tance of the gill-opening from the origin of the dorsal fin, one-half of its distance from the vent, and conspicuously more than the distance between the commence- ments of the dorsal and anal fins. Snout depressed, rather broad, of moderate length, with the jaws even in front. Lips fleshy. The cleft of the mouth extends far behind the eye, which is rather small and situated above the third fourth of the length of the month. Teeth equally small, arranged in broad flat bands ; the vomerine band is scarcely broader than that of the maxillary ; it tapers behind, extending nearly as far back as the maxillary band. Tail considerably longer than the body. Uniform brown, lighter below. Aneitcum. a. Twenty-one and a half inches long (tail 12:^ inches). Collected by Mr. McGillivray. 15. Angtulla amboinensis. Peters, Monatsber. Ak. Wiss. Berl. 186(3, p. 523. Origin of the dorsal fin tAvice as far distant from the pectoral fin as from the vent. The length of the head one-third of the distance of the vent from the end of the snout. Angle of the mouth below the hind margin of the eye. Teeth small, in broad bands, that of the vomer rather narrower than that of the maxillary. Yellowish brown, spotted with dark brown. (Peters.) Amboyna. 16. Anguilla megastoma. Kaup, Apod. p. 50, fig. 42. Teeth equal in size, moveable, pointed, directed backwards, ar- ranged in broad flat bands ; the anterior part of tlie vomerine band is much smaller than that of the maxillary. Head much depressed. Total length 3;'5-4.5 inches, tail 21-25 inches. (Kanjj.) " Megarava " (? Midgrave archipelago). 4. ANGT7TI.LA. 35 17. Anguilla kieneri. Kmip, Apod. p. 32, fig. 1^^. Eye very larp;o, somewhat exceeding the short snout in length. Total length 11-03 inches ; to vent 4-U2, to the gill-opening 1-58, to the origin of the dorsal fin 3-43. (Kaup.) Toulon. II, Origin of the dorsal Jin opjwsite or nearly opposite to the tent. 18. Anguilla liicolor. Murtena anguilla, Russell, tab. 31. Anguilla bicolor, M^ Clell. Qdc. Journ. Nat. Hist. v. p. 178, pi. 6. fig. 1. moa, Bk'ck. Verh. Bat, Gen, xxiii. Java, p. 22 ; Kner, Novara, Fisvh. p. 369. mowa, Bleek. I. c. xxv. Mttr /i g-^t i~^'y ^-w''- Half-grown and young. Ceylon. 19. Anguilla virescens. Murrena (Anguilla) virescens, Peters, Monatsber. Ak. Wiss. Berl. 18o2, p. 684; and Mussamb. Fliessf. p. 101, taf. 18. fig. 2. The dorsal fin commences at a very short distance in advance of the vent. The length of the head is contained twice and one-third in the distance of the gill-opeuing from the vent. Angle of the moutli below the hind margin of the eye, which is of moderate size. Lips well developed. Teeth ecpially small, forming bands of moderate width, that on the vomer extending backwards about as far as the maxillary bauds. Tail longer than the bod)-. East coast of Africa. d2 3G MTTRJiNIDiE. a. Thirteen inches long. Zanzibar. From Lieut. -Col. Playfair's Collection. 6, c. Adult (31 inches long). Seychelles. Presented by Professor E. P. Wright. How uncertain arc the characters considered to be specific in this genus is evident from an examination of specimens b and c. There cannot be the least doubt that they belong to the same species ; yet in one of the examples (which is somewhat smaller than the other), the origin of the dorsal is only slightly in advance of the vent, as is stated to be characteristic of A. vlrescens, and is also the case in specimen a. But in specimen c (31 inches long) the distance between the origin of the dorsal and the vent is not less than 2|- inches ; in fact it agrees so perfectly with AngulUa latirostris that, if similar examples should be found to be of common occurrence, and not exceptional only, one could not hesitate to refer virescetis as a synonym to l4:tti7'ostns. 20. Anguilla sidat. Anguilla sidat, lileek. Verh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Murcen. p. 17 ; Kaup, Apod. p. 53 ; Kner, Nuvara, Fische, p. 368. bleekeri, Kaup, Apod. p. 52, fig. 45. celebeseusis, Kaup, Apod. p. 42, tig. 31. Mm-feua sidat, Bleck. All. Ichthjol. Murcen. p. 10, tab. 3. fig. 3. Scared}' distinct from A. virescens. The dorsal fin commences above or immediately in front of the vent. The length of the head is contained twice in the distance of the gill-opening from the vent. Snout rather short, depressed, slightly pointed. Angle of the mouth extending to behind the small eye. Lips thin. Teeth equally smaU, forming broadish flat bands of nearly equal width. The vomerine baud extends nearly as far backwards as the maxillary bands. Tail longer than the body. East-Indian archipelago. a. One of the typical si^ecimens. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. Anguilla malahanca, Kaup, Apod, p. 52, fig. 47, from Malabar, would appear to be very closely allied to this species ; but the dorsal fin is said to commence half an inch before the vent in an example 17^ inches long. 21. Anguilla australis. Anguilla australis, Richards. Trans. Zool. Soc. iii. p. 157 ; and Voy. Ereh. Sf Ter. Fish. p. 112, pi. 45. figs. 1-5; Jenyns, Vuy. Benyle, Fishes, p. 142 ; Bleek. Nat. Tydschr. Nedcrl. Ind. xiii. p. 389, and Atl. Ichth. Murcen. p. 12, tab.' 7. fig. 1. The dorsal fin commences at a very short distance in advance of the anal fin. Thegth len of the head is contained twice and a third or twice and two-thii'ds in the distance of the gill-opening from the vent. Anglo of the mouth below the posterior part of the eye. Lips fleshy. Teeth equally small, forming broadish flat bands, the man- 5. CONGER. 37 dibulary and vomerine bands being broader than the maxillary band. The vomerine band does not extend so far backwards as the maxil- lary band *. Tail rather longer than the body. New Zealand, Auckland Islands, Tasmania ; Timor. a. One of the typical examples. Tasmania. Tresented by Sir J. llichardson. h. One of the typical examples. Auckland Islands. Presented by Sir J. liichardson. c, d, e. Adult, New Zealand. /. Adnlt. Australia (?). Presented by the late Earl of Derby. (J. Adult. Stuffed, South Australia, 22. Anguilla amblodon. Gibith. in Fish. Zanz. p. 125. Origin of the dorsal fin opposite to the ventf. The length of the head is two-fifths of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent. The cleft of the mouth extends behind the small eye. Lips mo- derately developed. Teeth equally small, forming exceedingly broad flat bands. Tail longer than the body. Seychelle Islands. a. Type of the species, 43 inches long : stuffed. Prom Col. Playfair's Collection. 23. Angtiilla dussumierii. Kaup, Apod. p. 51, fig. 43. The commencement of the dorsal fin is behind the vent. Eye in advance of the angle of the mouth. Snout rather short and blunt. Vomerine teeth extending a little further backwards than the maxU- lary. Total length 20-88 inches ; tail 8-67 inches, to the pectoral 2-76 inches, to the dorsal 9-06 inches. {Kaup.) Mahe. 5. CONGER +. Conger, sp., Cuv. Regiie An. Conger, Kaup, Apod. p. 111. Scaleless. Cleft of the mouth wide, extending at least to below the middle of the eye. Maxillary and mandibulary teeth arranged * This is a constant character in this Bpecics. t The statement in the original descrijjtion with regard to the position of the origin of the dorsal fin is erroneous ; the example is not 2 feet, but 43 inches long. X 1. Conger orbignyanus, Valcnc, in D'Orh. Voy. Am. MMd. Poiss. pi. 12. fig. 1 ; Kaup, Apod. p. 115.- — This is probably identical with one of the species described. D'Orbigny represents the origin of the dorsal at a short distance behind the extremity of the pectoral fin, whilst this distance is increased to the entire length of the latter fin in Dr. Kaup's description. 2. Congrus fasciatus, Richards. Ichth. Chin. p. 312. — China. — Known from a drawing only. 3. Conger rubcscens, Eamani, Nov. Comm. Ac. Sc. Inst Bvnon. 1840, p. 81, tab. 12. fig. 2. — Mediterranean. 38 MtJBiENID^. in scries, ono of which contains teeth of equal size, and so closely set as to form a cuttinj^-odgo. No canine teeth. Vomerine band of teeth short. Pectoral and vertical fins well developed, the dorsal com- mencing behind the root of the pectoral. Gill-opening large, ap- proximate to the abdomen. The posterior nostril opposite to the nppor or middle part of the orbit, the anterior in a tube. Eyes well developed. Seas of the temperate and tropical regions. The skeleton of Conger is distinguished from that of Angullla by the greater development of the transverse processes of the vertebra;, especially of the caudal. The caudal vertebra) of AnyuiUa have no transverse processes. 1. Conger marginatus. ? Murrena tota cinerea, Forsk. p. 22. no. 9. ? Conger ciuereus, Riq^p. Atl. Fisch. p. 115, pi. 29. fig. 1. Conger marginatus, Valenc. in Voy. Bon. Puiss. p. 201, pi. 9. fig. 1. altipinnis, Kaup, in Wieg^ni. Arch. xxii. p. 72; ox Apod. p. 114; Giinth. in Fish. Zcinz. p. 125. noordziclci, Bleek. Act. Soc. Sc. Ind. Neerl. ii. Amhoyna, viii. p. 86 ; or Atl. Ichth. 31nr. p. 26, pi. 23. fig. 2. The dorsal fin begins conspicuously in advance of the extremity of the pectoral. Posterior nostrU slightly below the level of the antero-posterior angle of the orbit. Upper jaw scarcely longer than the lower. The vomerine teeth reach backwards to or somewhat beyond the tip of the tongue. Greyish or blackish, vertical fins with a black edge ; pectoral fin frequently with a black spot. Vert. 51/94. Indian Ocean and archipelago. a-b. Adult : stuffed. Zanzibar. From lieut.-Col. Playfair's Col- lection. c,d-e,f-g. Adult, half-grown, and young. Zanzibar. h. Half-grown. East-Indian archipelago. From Dr. Bleeker's Col- lection.— One of the typical specimens of C. noordzicJii. i. Adult : skeleton. Zanzibar. Presented by Liout.-Col. Playfair. 2. Conger vulgaris. The Conger. Kdyypor, Aristot. i. c. 5 ; ii. c. 13, 15, 17; iii. c. 10; \i. c. 17; viii. c. 12, 1.3, 15 ; ix. c. 2. Congre, Bellon. De Aqiiat. p. 162 ; Rondel, i. p. 308. Broncho, Saloian. p. 06. Conger, Will. Hist. Pise. p. Ill, tab. G. 6 ; Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. p. 130, or ed. 1812, iii. p. 196 ; Yarrell, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1831, p. 158 ; Cotich, Fish. Brit. Id. IV. p. 340, pi. 238. Murrena, sp., Artedi, Gen. p. 24. no. 2 ; Synon. p. 40. no. 2. Mur.-Bna conger, L. Syst. Nat. i. p. 426 ; Bl. v. p. 37, taf. 155 ; Bl. Schn. p. 487; Lacep. ii. p. 208; Dojiov. Brit. Fish. v. pi. 119; Bisfio, Ichth. Nice, p. 92 ; Nilss. Skand. Faun. iv. p. 680 ; Gronov. Syst. ed. Gray, p. 19 ; Pall. Zoayr. Iioss.'As,s. iii. p. 72. Murajna myrus, Brihm. Pite. Mass. p. 12. 5. CONGER. 39 Anguilla conj^er, Mitch. Lit. Sf Phil. Trans. N. York, i.j). 3G0 ; Shaw, Zoul. iv. 1. p. 20, pi. 1 ; Turt. Brit. Faun. p. 87; Fie7n. Brit. A?i. p. 200 ; Jeni/ns, Man. p. 478 ; Kriiijcr, Damn. Fink. iii. p. 003. Coujjer vulgaris, Ciiv. lii-gne An. ; Yarr. Brit. Fish. 2iid edit. ii. p. 402 ; 3rd edit. i. p. 68 ; Parncll, Werner. Mem. vii. p. 388 ; Schleg. Faun. Japun. Poiss. p. 259 ; Bleek. Verh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Japan, p. 53 ; or Atl. Ichth. Miir. p. 2G, pi. 5. fig-. 2. uiger, Rim), Ichth. Nice, p. 93 ; Eur. Merid. iii. p. 201 ; Kaup, Ajmd p. 113. verus, Pisso, Fur. 3Ic'ricl. iii. p. 201. Congi-iis vulgaris, Richards. Voi/. Frch. i^- Terr. Fish. p. 107 (the en- tire desciiptiou bodily copied by Kaup, Apod. p. 111). leueoph;V!us, Richards. I. c. p. 108. Cougar commuuis, Costa, Faun. Nap. Pesc. occidentalis, Dckay, New York Faim. Fish. p. 314, pi. 53. fig. 172 (bad). ? Conger verreaiLxi, Kaitp, Ajwd. p. 115. Osteology : Owen, Catal. Osteol. 6'er. Cull. Surg. i. p. 15. Om Leptoceplialus morrisii, see pp. 137, 139. The dorsal fiu begins opposite, or nearly opposite, to the extre- mity of the pectoral. Posterior nostril on a level with the antero- superior angle of the orbit. Jaws nearly even in front. The vomerine teeth reach backwards nearly to the tip of the tongue. Body and pectoral fin immaculate. Coasts of Europe, Mediterranean, St. Helena, South America, East- Indian archipelago, Japan, Tasmania. Var, a. Body ashy grey or blackish ; vertical fins with a black margin. a. Six and a half feet long : stuffed. Old Collection. b. Adult : skin. Scotland. From Dr. ParneU's Collection. c. Half-grown : skin. Holland. From Gronow's Collection. d. e. Several specimens, adult, half-grown, and young. Guernsey. Presented by Dr. A. Giinther. /. Young. Cannes. Presented by Dr. Th. Giinther. (/. Half-grown. Lisbon. Presented by the Rev. K. T. Lowe. h. Young. Algiers. Presented by Licut.-Col. Playfair. i. Very young. South Europe. Presented by E. B. Webb, Esq. k. Half-grown. South America. From the Haslar Collection. 1. Adult. East-Indian archipelago. From Dr. Bleoker's Collection. m. Half-grown. Type of Comjrus hucojJiaiics. n, o-p, q-r. Adidt, half-grown, and young. s-u. Skxdls. V. Adult: skeleton. London market. — Yert. 5G/93. Var. ft. Entirely uniform black. w. Adidt. St. Helena. Presented by J. C. Melliss, Esq. X. Five feet long. Tasmania. Purchased of Hr. Schwarzschild. y. Adult : skeleton. Tasmania. Purchased of Hr. Sclnvarzschild. Vert. 55/97. Conger esculentus, Poey, Mem. Cub. ii. p. 'M6 ; and llepert. Fis.- 40 MUB.'ENIDiE. nat. de Cuba, ii. i). 246, is most probably identical with this species ; but it is stated that the angle of the mouth extends nearly to the posterior margin of the orbit, whilst in the common Conger it scarcely reaches beyond the middle of the eye. 3. Conger multidens. ? Ano'uilla oceanica, MitchiU, Jaurn. Ac. Nat. Sc. Fhilnd. i. p. 407. Conger multidens, Casteln. Anitn. Amer. Slid, Poiss. p. 84, pi. 44. fig. 1 ; Kaitp, Apod. p. 114. 'i Conger brasilionsis, Kavp, Apud. p. 115. The dorsal fin begins the length of the pectoral behind the ex- tremity of that fin. Uniform brown, vertical fins with a black edge, llio Janeiro. ? Coast of New York. 4. Conger macrops. Eye very large, equal in length to the snout, and two-elevenths of the length of the head. Lij)s very broad. The posterior nostril is small, before the middle of the eye ; the anterior is a small tube. Upper jaw longer than the lower ; the cleft of the mouth extends to below the middle of the eye. The patch of intennaxillaiy teeth nearly square ; vomerine teeth in a short band tapering behind. The outer series of teeth of the maxillary and mandible is composed of forty-two small, slightly truncated teeth. The length of the head is contained once and two-thirds in that of the trunk ; tail longer than the body. Tlie dorsal fin commences above the middle of the pectorals. Coloration uniform. Vertical fins with a broad black margin, which, again, is edged with white ; anteriorly the dorsal fin is black for two -thirds of its depth. Bahama Islands ; Madeira. a. Fourteen inches long. From the Haslar Collection. An example from Madeira, 19 inches long, is in the Liverpool Museum. Echehis caudoUmbatus, Poey, Report. Fis.-nat. Cuba, ii. p. 240 (with an outline figure of the head), does not appear to belong to Echelus or to the group Mipinn, the posterior nostril being described and figured as a very small aperture situated in front of the eye, approximate to the lip. Also the lips are double. The fish would appear to belong to this group, and to be allied to C macrops. 6. CONGROMUKiENA*. Congermur;ena, Kaup, Apod. p. 10b. Gnalhopliis, Kaup, Aale Ilamh. Mus. p. 7. Opliisoma, (Swainson) Bleak. All. Ichth. Mur. p. 27. Scaleless. Bones of the front part of the head with large muci- ferous cavities. Cleft of the mouth narrow, not extending back- wards beyond the middle of the eye. All the teeth small, fine, * 1. Anguilla iiiyriasler, Brccvuort, U. S. Kxpcd. Japan, Fish. p. 2b2, pi. 11. fig. 2. — Japan. — Known from a very bad drawing only. 6. CONGROMURiENA, 41 forming bands ; those of the jaws not forming a cutting edge. Vomerine band narrow, long. Pectoral and ^-ertical fins well deve- loped, the dorsal beginning nearly above the gill-opening. The posterior nostril opposite to the middle of the eye, the anterior with a very short tube. Eyes large. Tropical and subtropical seas. 1. CongromuTsena balearica. Mursena balearica, De la Roche, A)in. Mus. xiii. 1809, p. 327, fig. 8. cassini, Hissu, Ichth. Nice, p. 1)1 ; Eur. 3Icrid. iii. p. 20.3. Conger opistoplitliahnus, Ranzani, Nov. Conwi. Ac. Sc. Inst. Bunoti. iv. 1840, p. 78, tab. 12. fig. 1. auratus, Costa, Faun. Nap. Pesc. tav. 29. ? Conger balearicus, Costa, Faun, Nap. Pesc. tav. 84. Conger microstomas, Castel. An. Am6r. Sud, Poiss, p. 83, pi. 43. fig. 4. CongeiTuursena balearica, Kaup, Apod. p. 110. Conger impressus, Poep, Mem. Cub. ii. p. 318. Ophisoma impressus, Poey, Rtpert. Fis.-nat. Cuba, ii. p. 248. Lips thm ; the cleft of the mouth extends to below the front margin of the eye. Tail rather longer than body. Dorsal fin be- ginning above or immediately behind the giU-opening. "\''ertical fins ■with a narrow black margin. Mediterranean ; Atlantic coasts of Tropical America. a-h. Adult. Malta. From the Haslar Collection. c. Adult. From the Collection of the Zoological Society. d. Adult. Algiers. Presented by Lieut.-Col. Playfair. Our specimens show some variations which occur also in other Eels, but which may be mentioned here as they assist in deciding the value of characters on which species have been founded. The height of the body is one twenty-seventh of the total length in examples which are either males or individuals not sexually developed ; in another, which is a female, the height of the body is only one- thirteenth of the total. The appearance of rather large depressions on the lateral line is caused by a peculiar state of preservation of the examples. The depressions are very well marked on one side of a specimen, whilst on the other the lateral line is marked by small pores only, the cavities underneath being filled with some fluid, so that no depressions are visible externally. Thus, whilst I do not hesitate to refer Poey's C impressus to this species, I regard it as possible that his Cotu/er analis (Mem, Cub. ii. p. 318, or Ophisoma analis, Rcpert. Cub. ii. p. 248) is also identical with it. However, ho describes the cleft of the mouth as extending beyond the middle of the eye, and the lateral teeth as short and strong, so that, without further evidence, I am not yet justified in identif)*ing it with C. impre.'isus. 2. ? Congromuraeua punctus. Conger punctus, Jtui/ns, Zoul. Beagle, Fish. p. 143. The whole body, but not the head, thickly studded aU over with 42 MUH^NID^. small pores, much crowded, and appeariug like pinholes. Snout short and rounded ; upper jaw scarcely longer than the lower. Gape scarcelj" reaching beyond a vertical from the anterior part of the eye. Dorsal fin commencing above the pectorals. Tail much longer than body. Sides very regularly banded with fourteen or fifteen transverse reddish-brown fascite, extending on to the dorsal fin. (Jeni/ns.) Eeagle Channel (Tierra del Fuego). Three and a quarter inches long, 3. Congromurasna anago. Conger anago, Schleg. Faun. Japan. Poiss. p. 259, pi. 113. fig. 1 (2) ; Bleek. Vcrh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Nalez. Japan, p. 52. anagoides, Bleek. I. c. Mm: p. 76, or Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. vi. p. 112. Opbisoma anagoides, Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 27 ; Knei-, Novara, Fisch. p. 375. Congromurrena anagoides, Bleek, I. c. pi. 5. fig. 8. Lips moderately developed ; the cleft of the mouth extends nearly to below the middle of the eye. Tail but little longer than the body. Dorsal fin beginning above or immediately behind the gill- openiug. Vertical fins with a blackish margin. Japan ; East-Indian archipelago. a, h-c. Adult (22| inches long) and half-grown. Japan. d. Young. Amboyna. Purchased of Hr. Frank. e. Half-grown. East-Indian archipelago. From Dr. Bleeker's Col- lection.— Type of C. anagoides. 4. Congromuraena mellissii. Lips thin. Snout short, equal in length to the eye, which is one-fifth of the length of the head ; vpperjaiu but slightly projecting beyond the lower. Anterior nostril in a very short tube ; posterior nostril pore-like, opposite to the middle of the eye. Cleft of the mouth exteruling nearly to below the middle of the eye. Teeth in rather narrow bands, finely viUiform ; the vomerine band reaching to the vertical from the fi'ont margin of the eye. The length of the head is contained once and two- thirds in that of the trunk ; tail rather longer than the body. Dorsal Jin beginning immediately in front of the gill-opening. Greyish; vertical fins with a narrow black edge. St. Helena. a. Fine specimen, 17 inches long. Presented by J. C. MeUiss, Esq. 5. CoEgromuraena habenata. Congrus babenatus, Richards. Ichtli. Fnh. 6,- Terr. p. 109, pi. 60. figs. 1-5. Congermurasna kabenata, Kaup, Apod. p. 108, fig. 72 (copied from Bichardson). ? Opbisoma babenatus, Kiur, Novara, Fisch. p. 374, taf. 13. fig. 2. 7. UBOCONOEB. 43 Upper jaw much projecting beyond the lower. Lips moderately developed ; tlic cleft of the month extends nearly to below the middle of the eye. Tail rather longer than the body. Dorsal fin beginning immediately behind the base of the pectoral. Vertical fins with a narrow black margin. New Zealand ; ? St. Paul. a. Typo of the species. Cook's Straits, Presented by the R. Col- lege of Surgeons. 6. Adult, New Zealand. Presented by Capt. Drury. Conger neoguinaicus, Bleekcr (Act. Soc. Sc. Indo-Neerl. vi. Nieuw Guinea, p. 22), or Ophisoma neoguinaicum, Bleek. (Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 28), is founded on an example so badly preserved that no really distinctive characters can be pointed out. It is possible that it is identical with C. habenata. a. Type of Conger neogidnaiciis, in very bad state. New Guinea. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. Myroplds heierognatJms, Bleeker, Act. Soc. Sc. Indo-Neerl. v. Japan, v. p. 9, pi. 3. fig. 1, is another name given by Dr. Bleeker to a young congroid fish, in bad condition, from Nagasaki. The character by which, perhaps, it may be recognized is the great length of the tail (body=2 inches, tail=3| inches). On the other characters assigned to this fish by its original describer, Dr. Kauji has founded a new genus, GnatliopMs (Aale Hamburg. Mus. p. 7) ; but Dr. Blocker states (Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 29) that his original de- scription is not what it ought to have been, and that the fish is a second species of Uroconger. I cannot agree with him in this last conclusion, the fish having quite a diff"ercnt dentition ; it is, in fact, a CongromurcEna, and very closely allied to C. liahenata. a. Type of MyropMs Jieterognathus. Nagasaki. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. 6. Congromursena mystax. Mur?eua mystax, Dc la Roche, Atiti. Mus. xiii. 1809, p. 328, fig. 10 ; liinso, Eur. Merid. iii. p. 203. CongermursGna mystax, Kaup, Apod. p. 110. Upper lip much swollen and thickened ; upper jaw pointed, much projecting beyond the lower. Tail considerably longer than the body. Dorsal fin beginning immediately behind the gill-opcuing. Coloration uniform. Mechterrancan. 7. UROCONGER. Urocougor, Kaup, Apod. p. 110. Scalelcss. Jaws with the muciferous cavities moderately deve- loped. Cleft of the mouth of moderate width, extending somewhat beyond the middle of the eye. Teeth acicular, subequal in size ; maxillary and lateral mandibulary teeth biserial, not closely set. Vomoriiio tet'tli small, in a single series. Pectoral and vertical fins well developed, the dorsal beginning above the root of the pectoral. 44 MUBiEIflDJE. Posterior nostril a slit, situated below the level of the upper margin of the orbit ; anterior nostril not tubular. Eye rather large. East-Indian archipelago. Chinese Sea. 1. Uroconger lepturus. Congrus lepturus, Richards. Voy. Sulph. Fish. p. 106, pi. 56. figs. 1-6, and Vol/. Ereh. fy Terr. Fish. p. 109 ; Bleek. Act. Soc. Sc. Indo- Ncerl. iii. Sumatra, vi. p. 45. Uroconger lepturus, Kaiqj, Apod. p. 110; Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 29, pi. 5. fig. 1 ; Kner, Novara, Fisch. p. 373. Upper lip with large mucous openings like slits. Snout produced, depressed. Some of the intermaxillary teeth somewhat enlarged. Dorsal fin beginning above the base of the pectoral. Tail much longer than the body, tapering. Vertical fins with a black edge. China ; East-Indian archipelago. a. Type of the species, 10| inches long. China. Presented by J. R. lleeves, Esq. h. Twelve inches long. China. c. Twelve inches long. East-Indian archipelago. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. Fifth Group. HETEROCONGRINA. 8. HETEROCONGEE. Ileteroconger, Bleek. Versl. l^- 3Ie(ted. Ak. Wet. Amstcrd. 1868, ii. p. 331, Body, and especially tail, exceedingly elongate, subcylindrical, scalcless ; tail compressed. Snout obtuse, very short, with the cleft of the mouth obliquely ascending upwards, the lower jaw projecting beyond the upper. Mouth small, extending to below the front margin of the eye. Teeth small, acicular, in narrow bauds in the jaws and on the vomer. Nostrils very small, in front of the eye. Gill-openings lateral, narrow slits. Pectoral none. Vertical fins rather low, dorsal commencing at a short distance behind the gill- opening. Amboyna ; Canary Islands. 1, Heteroconger polyzona. Bleek. I. c. p. 332, c. tab. The length of the head is two-ninths of the distance between the gill-opening and the vent. Tail tvricc as long as the body. Eye of moderate size. Vertical fins well developed, about half as high as the body. Body light coloui'ed, with numerous brown cross bands half as wide as the interspaces between. Some on the trunk extend across the abdomen, those on the tail only to the lateral line ; they are very narrow on the head and fore part of the trunk. 9. MURiENE80X. 45 Total length 10^ inchos. Body 3^ „ Head ^ inch. Greatest depth i „ Amboyna. a. One of the typical specimens. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. 2. Heteroconger longissimus. The length of the head is one-sixth of the distance between the gill-opi^ning and vent ; tail more than twice as long as the body. Eye small. Vertical fins rather indistinct and low. Coloration nni- form blackish. Total length 19 inches. Body 6 „ Head 1 inch. Greatest depth ^ „ a. Lanzaroto. Presented by the Rev. 11. T. Lowe. Sixth Group. MUR^NESOCINA. 9. MURiENESOX. Murrcnesox, M'Clell. Calc. Journ. Nut. Hist. iv. p. 408. Cynoponticus, Costa, Faun. Nap. Peso. Mm-a3nesox ct Erachyconger, Blcek. Atl. Ichth. Miir. p. 19. Scaleless. Snout produced. Jaws with several series of small, closely set teeth ; anteriorly with canines ; vomer with several long series of teeth, the middle of which is formed by large, conical or compressed teeth. GiU-openings wide, approximate to the abdomen. Pectoral and vertical fins well developed, the dorsal beginning above the gUl-opcning. Two pairs of nostrils, the posterior opposite to the upper part or middle of the eye. Seas of the Tropics. 1. Muraenesox talabon. Tala Bon, Eussell, i. p. 27, pi. 38. Conger (Mura;na) talabon, Cav. Rhpie An. ; Cant. Mai. Fish. p. 312 ; Bleek. Nat. Tyds. Ned. Lid. iii. p. 78 (part.), and v. p. 4oG; and Verh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Miir. p. 18. Murffiuesox lanceolata, M'Clell. Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. iv. p. 409. exodon, SDClell. I. c. serradt'utata, 3PCkll. I. c, and v. p. 210. exodentata, M'Clell. v. p. 180, pl.8. fig. 4, and p. 210. pristis, Kaup, Apod. p. 110. talabon, Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 22, pi. 8. fig. 2 ; Kner, Novara, Fisch. p. 372. Vomerine teeth slender, conical, straight, widely set, none with lobes. Snout very long and narrow. East Indies. 46 MTn?,l!NTD.'E. a. Adult. East-Indian archipelago. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. b. Adult : not in good state. Malayan peninsula. From Dr. Can- tor's Collection. c. Adult : skin. Malayan peninsula. From Dr. Cantor's Collection. 2. Mursenesox talabouoides. MiirjBna myrus, Gronov. Syst. ed. Gray, p. 20. Conger talabonoides, Bleek. Verh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Mur. p. 20. Mui-a3nesox talabouoides, Bleek, Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 23, pi. 10. fig. 2. Anterior vomerine teeth slender, straight, the posterior com- pressed, with basal lobes, the teeth of the outer mandibulary series pointing outwards. Snout very long and narrow. Java. a. Type of the species. Java. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. 6. Adult : skin. From Gronow's Collection. 3. Mursenesox cinereus. Murrona cinerea, Forsk. Descr. An. pp. x and 22. arabica, Bl. Schn. p. 488. bagio, JZam. Buck. pp. 24, 364. Ophisurus rostratus, Quoy Sr Gaim. Voy. Uran. Zool. p. 242, pi. 61. Conger longirostris, Benn. in Life of Raffles, p. 692. oxyiiiyuchus, Eydoux ^ Soul. Voy. Bon. i. p. 203, pi. 9. fig. 2. Murtenesox tricuspidata, 3I'Clell. Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. iv. p. 409, pi. 24. fig. 1. hamiltonii, M'aell. I. c. v. pp. 182, 210, pi. 8. fig. 3. bengalensis, M'Clell. I. c. Cougrus tricuspidatus, Richards. Voy. Sulph. Fish. p. 105, pi. 51. fig. 2 (lialf-growu) ; Ichth. Chin. p. 312 ; or Voy. Ereb. cV Terr. Fish. p. 110. Conger hamo, Schley. Faun. Japon. Poiss. p. 202, pi. 114. fig. 2; Richards. Voy. Ereh. ^ Terr. Fish. p. 111. bagio. Cant. Mai. Fish. p. 316 ; Bleek. Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. iii. p. 777 ; or Verh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Mur. p. 22. Congrus protervus, Richards. Voy. Ereh. 8f Terr. Fish. p. 110. angustidens, Richards. I. c. brevicuspis, Richards. I. c. p. 111. Conger singapurensis, Bleek. Verh. Bat. Gen. Mur. xxv. p. 21. Murtenesox bagio, Peteis, Wiegm. Arch. 1855, p. 270 ; Kaup, Apod. p. 116, pi. 14. fig. 73 ; Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 24, pi. 26. fig. 2 ; K7>er, Novara, Fisch. p. 373. singapurensis, Bleek. I. c. p. 25, pi. 7. fig. 2 ; Kner, I. c. p. 373. Vomerine teeth compressed, with a basal lobe in front and be- hind ; the teeth of the inner series of the mandible similar in form to, and much smaller than, those of the vomer, and but rarely with basal lobes ; those of the outer series rudimentary, not bent out- wards. The length of the snout and the number and form of the teeth arc subject to slight individual variations ; but by the characters given the species will be readily recognized. Indian Ocean and archipelago to Japan and Australia. i*. MUn^NESOX. 47 a. Half-grown. India. Purchased. h-d. Young. Vizagapatam. Presented by Capt Mitchell. e. Half-grown. Ctdcutta. From the Collection of Messrs. von Hchlagintweit. /. Half-grown. Malayan peninsula. From Dr. Cantor's Collection. (/. Adult : skin. Malayan peninsula. From Dr. Cantoi-'s Collection. h, i. Adult. East-Indian archipelago. h. Adult. East-Indian archipelago. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection as M. singapurensis. I. Half-grown. Philippine Islands. Purchased of Mr. Cuming. m. Young. Formosa. From Mr. Swinhoe's Collection. n. Half-grown. Amoy. From Mr. Swinhoe's Collection. 0. Half-grown. China. Presented by J. R. Eeoves," Esq. — Type of C. brevicusjiis, Rich. p. Half-grown. China. — Typo of C. trieiispidatus, Rich. q. Adult : stuifed. China. Presented by J. R. Reeves, Esq. — Type of C. angustidens, Rich. r-t. Adult and half-grown. Japan. Purchased. u. Skin, 57 inches long. Australia. Purchased. V. Adult : head. Type of C. protervus, Rich. lu. Adult : skeleton. Japan. Purchased. The skeleton shows several peculiarities. The structure of the skull is very solid ; the frontal bones are swollen, forming a thick porous mass on each side of the skull ; a very distinct crest along the median line of the skull ; the prefrontals, ethmoid, and intcr- maxillaries are coalesced into a long narrow bone without any sutures. The transverse processes of the abdominal vertebrtc are split into two to the base, a long slender rib being attached to the anterior part of each process. A second series of long accessory ribs along each side of the vertebral column ; each of these ribs arises with two branches, one from the centre, and the other from the transverse process of the vertebra. Vert. 67/87. 4. Bluraenesox savanna. Murrena savanna, Ciiv. IU())ie An. (name onlj'). Conger savanna, Benn. Proc. Comm. Zool. Soc. 1831, p. 135. l)rasiliensis, Rnnzani, Nov. Comm. Ac. Sc. Instit. Bonon. iv. 1840, p. 79, tab. 13. fig. 1. CjTioponticus ferox, Costa, I. c. t.av. 28. Congrus curvideua, Rirhards. Voy. Ereb. 8f Terr. Fish. p. Ill, cop. by Kaup, Apod. p. 117. Conger limbatus, Casteln. An. Atnir. Sit^, p. 83, pi. 43. fig. 3. Murajnesox savanna, Katip, Apod. p. 117, ng. 74. Rrachyconger savanna, Bleck. Ned. Tyds. liierk. ii. p. 233. Vomerine teeth compressed, with basal lobes ; maxillary and niandibulary teeth obtuse, more or less molar-like. Snout not much elongate. Atlantic coasts of Tropical America ; found once in the Medi- terranean. 48 MURiENID.'R;. a. Large specimen. Jamaica. From Dr. Bancroft's Collection. Tj-pe of the species. b. Adult : stuffed. West Indies. Type of Conr/riis curvidens. 10. NETTASTOMA. Nettastoma, Rqfinesque. Scaleless. Snout much produced, depressed. Jaws and vomer with bands of cardiform teeth, those along the median line of the vomer being somewhat the larger. Vertical fins well developed, pectorals none. Gill-openings of moderate width, open. Nostrils on the upper surface of the head, valvular ; the anterior near to the end of the snout, the posterior above the anterior angle of the eye. Air-bladder present; pyloric appendages none. Mediterranean. 1. Nettastoma melanurum. Nettastoma melanura, Rafineitque ; Kauj), Apod, p. 119, fig. 75. Miu-penopliis saga, liisso, Ichth. Nice, p. 370, pi. 10. fig. 39, or Eter. Merid. iii. p. 193._ On Hyoprorus messinensis, see p. 144. The upper jaw is the longer. Cleft of the mouth extending to below the hind margin of the eye. Dorsal fin commencing imme- diately behind the gill-opening ; tail long, tapering into a point, nearly twice as long as the body. Fins with a black margin pos- teriorly. Peritoneum black. Mediterranean. a, h. Adult, Nice. 11. SAURENCHELYS. Saurenchelys, Peters, Monatsher. Ak. Hiss. Berl, 1804, p. 397. Scaleless. Snout much produced. Jaws, vomer, and palatine bones with several series of small pointed teeth, those along the median line of the vomer being somewhat the larger. Vertical fins well developed, pectorals none. Nostrils lateral ; the anterior near to the end of the snout, the posterior in front of the eye. Air-bladder and pyloric appendages absent. Mediterranean ? 1. Saurenchelys cancrivora. Peters, I. c. Very similar to Nettastoma ; tail tapering into a point. Gill- opening one-fifth more distant from vent than from the end of the snout. Eye one-third of the length of the snout. Dorsal fin com- mencing immediately behind the gill-opening. Upper jaw the longer. Vertical fins with a black margin posteriorly. Peritoneum silveiy. (Ptrs.) 12. OXYCONGER. Oxyconger, Bkek. At/. Ichth. 3htr. p. 19. Scaleless. Snout much produced ; maxillary and mandibulary teeth triscrial, the middle series containing long canine teeth placed 15. MYRUS. 49 at some distance from one another ; vomer with a series of very small teeth. Pectoral and vertical fins well developed, the dorsal beginning above the gill-opening. Postei'ior nostrils in front of the eye, anterior tnbular. Japan . 1. Oxyconger leptognathus. Conger leptognathus, Bhek. Act. Sac. Sc. Indo-Nvilerl. iii. Japan, iv. p. 27. Cleft of the moutli three-fifths of the length of the head ; tail shorter than liodj'. Nagasaki. a. Type of the species : in bad state. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. 13. HOPLUNNIS. Hoplunnis, Kaiip, Aale Hanihuri/. Mas. p. 10. Scaleless. Snout much produced : maxillary and mandibulary teeth biserial ; vomerine teeth long, pointed, in a single series. I'ectoral and vertical fins, the dorsal commencing above the gill- opening. Gill-opening small. Posterior nostril in front of the eye. Tail several times longer than body. Central America. 1. Hoplunnis schmidtii. Kaup, I. c. p. 20, taf. 2. fig. 4. Tail about four times as long as the body ; snout thi'ice as long as the eye. The posterior portion of the vertical fin black. (Kanj}.) Puerto Cabello. 14. NEOCONGER. Neoconger, Girard, U. S. ^- Mtx. Bound. IcJdh. p. 77. Body naked. Pectorals present. Dorsal and anal fins rudimen- tary, more developed towards the end of the tail. Maxillary teeth in several series, vomerine teeth uuiserial. Cleft of the mouth ex- tending behind the small eye. Posterior nostril near the anterior rim of the orbit. Coast of Texas. 1. Neoconger mucronatus. Girard, I. c. Head small, narrow, pointed, the upper jaw projecting bcj-oiid the lower. Tail not much longer than body. Dorsal fin beginning somewhat in advance of the vent. Coloration uniform. (Girard.) at. Joseph Island. Seventh Group. MYRINA. 1-3. MYRUS. Myrus, Kaup, Apod. p. '.M. Nostrils on. or very close to. the margin of the upper lip : the an- 50 MUEJKNIBiE. terior tubular, the posterior lobod. Vertical and pectoral fins well developed ; the dorsal commencing behind the gill-opening ; caudal rajs very short. Teeth cardiform, subequal in size, forming bands, Mediterranean. 1. Myrus vulgaris. P Mvpos, Arisfot. V. 0. 10. INIynis, Rondel, p. 407. Serpens marinus alter, Willuc/hhy, p. 108. ]\Iura3na, sp., Artedi, S>/nn?i. p. 40. no. 3, and Ge)icra, p. 24. no. 3. Murteua niyrus, L. Si/st. Ktit. i. p. 426 ; Lacep. ii. p. 265 ; Bl. Schn. p. 488 ; Hisso, Ichth. Nice, p. 90. Conger myrus, Cui\ Rhgne An. ; JRisso, Eu7\ Merid. iii. p. 202 ; Costa, Faun. Nap. Pesc. AnguiUa myrus, Shaw, Zool. iv. 1. p. 24 ; Jenyns, Man. p. 478. Congrus niyrus, Richaj-ds. Voy. Ereb. S,- Terr. Fish. p. 108. Myrus vulgaris, Kaup, Ajjod. p. 31, fig. 14 (cop. Richardson). The cleft of the mouth extends to below the hind margin of the eye. Dorsal fin commencing above the end of the pectoral. Tail twice as long as the trunk (without head). A white line across the occiput, joining another running over the root of the pectorals. White pores symmetrically arranged on the snout, nape, and along the lateral line. Vertical fins with a black edge. Mediterranean. a, h, e. Adult. Mediterranean. d. Half-grown. Algiers. Presented by Licut.-Col. Playfair. 2. Myrus uropterus. Conger uropterus, Schley. Faun. Japan. Foiss. p. 201. Opbisurus m-opterus, lileek. Act. Soc. Sc. Indo-Nederl. iii. Japan, iv. p. 28 ; and v. Japan, v. pi. 1. fig. 1. The cleft of the mouth extends nearly to below the hind margin of the eye. Dorsal fin commencing above the end of the pectoral. Tail twice as long as the trunk (without head). The front margin of the eye is conspicuously nearer to the end of the maxOlary than to the extremity of the snout. Coloration uniform. Japan. a. Seventeen inches long. From Dr. Bleeker's CoUectiou. 16. MYROPHIS. Myrophis, Lilthen, Vidensk. Meddel. naturh. Foren. KJobenh. 1851, no. 1 ; or IViegm. Arch. 1852, p. 270. Nostrils on the margin of the upper lip, the anterior tubular. Pectoral fins weU developed ; vertical fins low, surrounding the tail ; the dorsal commencing far behind the pectoral. Teeth bi- or tri- serial, uniserial on the hinder part of the vomer. "West Africa, West Indies, Panama. 1. Myrophis piinctatus. Muraena myrus, Lace}), ii. pi. 3. fig. 3 (not descr.). 18. CHILOKHINUS. 51 Miu'tena loiigicolli;?, Cuv. Rbyiie An. (namo only). Myrophis piinctatus, Liithen, I. c. longicoUis, Kuup, Apod. p. 30 ; Peters, Moyiatsber. Ak. Wlss. Bed. 1864, p. 397. Tail more than twice as loug as the trunk (without head). Eye small. Gill-opening rather nearer to the end of the snout than to the origin of the dorsal. Cleft of the mouth extending behind the eye ; upper jaw the longer. Coloration uniform. West Africa, West Indies, Panama. a. Panama. From Capt. Dow's Collection. Mjirophis microstlr/mius, Poey, Repert. Fis.-nat. ii. p. 250, from Cuba, would appear to differ from M. punctatus only in the more backward situation of the origin of the dorsal fin, which is said to be midway between the giU-opening and the vent, whilst in the specimens of M. punctatus examined by me the origin of that fin is distinctly nearer to the gUl- opening than to the vent. 17. PARAMYRUS. Nostrils on the margin of the upper lip. Vertical and pectoral fins well developed, the dorsal commencing behind the gill-opening. Teeth in the jaws biserial. Brazil, West and East Indies. 1. Paramyrus cylindroideus. Conger cylindroideus, Banzani, Nov. Comm. Ac. Sc. Inst. Bonon. 1840, p: 80, pi. 13. fig. 2. (" In utroque latere labii superioris tubi duo breves, sed latius- culi ; horum anterior acutus appendice filiformi.") Upper jaw longer than the lower ; cleft of the mouth extending behind the eye, which is of moderate size. The dorsal fin commences nearly above the middle of the pectoral. Tail twice as long as the body (with the head). Vertical fins with a narrow black edge. (Ranz.) Brazil. 2. Paramyrus microchir. Echelus microchir, Bleek. Ned. Tijds. Dierlc. ii. p. 40 ; or Atl. Irhth. Miir. p. 30, pi. 45. fig. 4. Cleft of the mouth extending to below the hind margin of tlie eye. Upper jaw projecting beyond the lower. Teeth subcqual in size, small, uniserial on the vomer and the side of the mandible. Tail nearly t^vice as long as the body. Dorsal fin commencing above the extremity of I he pectoral. Uniformly coloured. Hinder part of the anal fin with black margin. Celebes. a. Type of the species. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. 18. CHILORHINUS. Chilitup7ii.i). A. Pectoral developed ; dorsal commencing behind the base of pec- toral, p. 77. B. Pectoral developed; dorsal commencing in advance of the 'rill- opening, p. 80. C. Pectoral rudimentary ; dorsal commencing in advance of the o-ill- opeuing, p. 81. III. Teeth equally small, conical ; pectoral absent (rarely rudimentarv) ; gill-openings close together (Sphu(jebranchm\). A. The dorsal commences at some distance behind the gill-openino-, p. 84. B. The dorsal commences above or nearly above the gill-openin", p. 80. * L Ojihichtliys bracliyurus, Poey, liepert. Fis.-naf. Cnha, ii. p. 426.— Cuba. 2. risoodonopbis niagniflca, Abbott, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sc. Philad. 1860, p. 470.' — Sandwich Islands. 3. Ophiurus ciiliforniensis, Garrett, Proc. Calif. Ac. Nat. Sc. in. p. GO. Allied to 0. grandimaculatas. t I. Sphagebranchus rostratus, Bl. ix. p. 88, tab. 4(9. fig. 2 ; Bl. Schn. p. 535, tab. lo;?. fig. 2 ; Kaup, Ahhandl. nirwiss. Vcnin. Hamburg, iv. 2, 1800,' p. 15. — Surinam. 2. Splingcbmnclms (?) ccphalopoltis, Bhck. Verh. Holt. Maatsch. Haarlem. 1862, Guintc, p. 128.— Coast of Guinea. 56 MUR^NIDiE. C. The dorsal commeuces cuiispicuouslv in advance of the gill-opening, p. 87. D. Dorsal and anal fins absent, p. 89. 1. Teeth pointed ; pectoral Jin developed in adult examples, A. Maxillary teeth in a double series. 1. Mandihulanj teeth in a double series. a. Canine teeth very distinct. 1. Ophichthys rostellatus. Ophisurus rostellatus, liichards. Iclithijol. Ereh. S,- Terr. p. 105. porphyrt'us, Schley. Faim. Japan. Poiss. p. 265, pi. 116. fig. 1. Mystriopliis rostellatus, Kaup, Apod. p. 10. porphvrus, Kavp, Apod. p. 11. The length of the head is nearly one-third of the distance between the gill-opening and vent. Snout produced, somewhat flattened, contracted behind the extremity, like the snout of a Crocodile. Eye of moderate size, two-fifths or one-third of the length of the snout, situated in the anterior fourth of the length of the head. Teeth pointed, fixed, uiuquaJ in size ; those of the intermaxillary ai'e canine teeth forming a transverse series ; maxiUary and mandibulary teeth biscrial, those of the outer series are distant and canine teeth ; vo- merine teeth canines and uniserial. Gill-openings wide and close together. Vertical fins moderately developed. Origin of the dorsal fin immediately behind the extremity of the pectoral, which is M'ell developed, about one-fourth of the length of the head. Tail one-fourth longer than the body. Upper parts brown. West Africa ; Japan. a. Type of the species. Senegal. Presented by the late Earl of Derby. h. Adult: dried. Gambia. Purchased of Mr. Wlxitcly. c. Thirty-nine inches long. Japan. Purchased of Hr. Frank. d. Half-grown. 2. OpMchtliys piinctifer. Crotalopsis punctifer, Kaup, Abhandl. Kti-unss. Therein. ILnnhurg, iv. 2, 18()0 (1859), p. 12, taf. 1. fig. 3 (not good). Conger mordax, Foe)/, Mem. Cuba, ii. 1860, p. 319. Macrodonophis mordax, Poey, Repcrt. Fis.-nat. Cttba, ii. p. 252, tab. 2. fig. 9 (head). Snout narrowed, short, spoon-shaped, twice as long as the eye ; cleft of the mouth very wide. Teeth pointed, fixed, unequal in size-, those of the intermaxillary in a single arched series, the foremost being the longest of all teeth ; maxillary and mandibulary teeth in a double series, the outer containing canine teeth ; vomerine teeth <;•/§«•/«?, rather small. Li])s not frinr/ed. Gill-openings wide. The origin of the dorsal fin is at some distance behind the pectoral *, * Thi.s as well as other important charaetcrs are not attended to in Knup's deseription or figure. 21. ornicHTnYs. 57 which is well developed. Tail somewhat longer than the body, lirownisli, with numerous small roundish or ovate black spots. Puerto Cabello ; Cuba. 3. Ophichthys adspersus. The length of the head is contained twice and two-thirds in the distance between the gill-opening and vent. Snout short, depressed, with tlie jaws even in front. Eye of moderate size, two-thirds of the length of the snout, situated in the anterior fifth of the length of the head. Cleft of the mouth very wide, one-half of the length of the head ; lips not fringed. Teeth pointed, fixed, unequal in size ; those of the intermaxillary stand in an arched series, behind which a large canine tooth ; the other teeth biserial, the outer series of the maxillary and mandible containing canine teeth. Gill-openings of moderate width, close together. Vertical fins moderately developed ; the distance between the origin of the dorsal fin and gill-opening is about two-fifths of the length of the head ; pectoral fin one-fourth of the length of the head. Tail longer than the body. Body with numerous blackish-brown specks. China. «. Eighteen inches long. 4. Ophichthys intertinctus. Ophisurus intertinctus, Richards. Ereh. c^ Terr. Fish. p. 102. Echiopsis intertinctus, Kaup, Apud. p. 13. Two series of large ovate brown spots along each side of the body, one above, the other below the lateral line ; the spots of the lower series arc less in number, and placed alternately with the spots of the upper series ; upperside of the head with small brown spots ; dorsal fin with an interrupted brown margin ; anal fin with a brown edge. Gill-openings wide, more nearly a])proaclung to each other than is usual in this genus. The length of the head is two-sevenths of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent. Cleft of the mouth very wide, nearly one-half of the length of the head. Teeth sharply pointed, with canines ; posterior part of the maxillary teeth and the mandibulary teeth in a double series, some of the anterior and lateral teeth being canines ; the teeth of the inner maxillary series are depressible. Intermaxillary with some smaller teeth in front in a transverse scries, and with a large canine tooth behind the scries. Vomer with a double series, confiuent into one poste- riorly. Eye small, two-thirds of the length of the pointed snout, and situated in the anterior fifth of the length of the head. The length of the pectoral fin is one-fifth of that of the head. Dorsal commencing at a short distance behind tlie end of the pectoral. Tail ratlier longer than the body. West Indies. o. Type of the species, 1 2^ inches long. Purchased of Mr. !5crivener. b. t?ixteen inches long. 58 MUB^NID^. b. The teeth of each series are equal or subequal in size. a. Cleft of the mmdh wide, more than one-third of the length of the head. 5. Ophichthys triserialis. Murpenopsis triserialis, Kaup, Apod. p. 12. ? Herpetoichtbys callisoma, Abbott, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sc. Philad. 1860, p. 475. A series of large, transversely ovate brown spots along tlie back, alternating with another series of similar round spots running along each side of the body ; abdomen sometimes with one or two series of smaller brown spots. Head with small black spots ; an irregular black band across the occipital region. Dorsal fin with a black margin ; anal fin with black submarginal spots. Head with nume- rous longitudinal rugse. The length of the head is two-fifths or one- third of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent. Cleft of the mouth wide, more than one-third of the length of the head. Eye of moderate size, its diameter being contained once and two-thirds in the length of the snout ; it is situated in the anterior third of the length of the head. Teeth pointed, fixed, all biserial, except those on the vomer, which are uniserial. Pectoral Jin two-sevenths of the length of the head ; dorsal Jin commencing cdiove the terminal portion of the pectorcd. Tail rather longer than the body. Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Tropical America. a. Type of the species, 36 inches long. Pacific. Collected by Dr. (ioodridge. h. Large specimen. Caribbean Sea. Collected by Mr. Guilding. c. Adult, 42 inches long. Bahia. Collected by Dr. Wucherer. d. Half-grown. From the Haslar Collection. 6. Ophichthys grandimaculata. Ophichthys gi-andimaculata, Kner %■ Steindachner , Sitzgsher. Ah, Wiss. Wien, iSGO, liv. p. 389, fig. 13. Back with broad blackish cross bands extending downwards to below the lateral line, and alternating with large round dorsal spots extending to the lateral line only ; head with small round blackish spots. Dorsal fin with a broad blackish margin ; anal blackish. The length of the head is two-fifths of the distance of the gill-open- ing from the vent. Cleft of the mouth wide, more than one-thiixl of the length of the head. Eye of moderate size, its diameter being contained once and two-thirds in the length of the snout; it is situated in the anterior third of the length of the head. Teeth pointed, fixed, all biserial except those on the vomer, which are uniserial. TJie length of the pectorcd fin is more than one-third of that of the head, dorsal fin commencing above the hascd hcdf of the pectoral. Tail longer than body. Peru. «. One of the typical specimens, 24 inches long. From the Godef- froy Museum. 21. opiiicuTUYs. 59 7. Ophichthys parilis. Ophisuriis parilis, Richards. Erch. Sf Terr. Fish. p. 105. Scytalophis parilis, Kaup, Apad. p. 14, fig. 8. Ophichthys luacrurus, Puey, Report. Fis.-nat. Cuba, ii. p. 266. Gill-openings not very wide, but approaching nearer to each other than is usual in this genus. Coloration uniform. The length of the head is one-half of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent. Cleft of the mouth rather wide, its length contained twice and two- thirds in that of the head. Eye small, two-fifths of the length of the snout. Anterior nostril with an elongate tapering tube. Teeth pointed, fixed, in all the bones biserial, the anterior rather stouter than the others. The length of the pectoral fin is contained twice and one-fourth in that of the head ; dorsal fin rather low, commen- cing above the posterior third of the pectoral. Tail twice as long as the body. West Indies, Bahia. rt. Type of the species, 19 inches long. Cuba. Purchased of Mr. Scrivener. b. Adult. Bahia. 8. OpMchtliys dicellurus. Ophisurus dicellurus, Richardson, Voy. Sidph. Ichthyol. p. 106, pi. 48. figs. 2-4 ; Voy. Ereb. i^- Terr. Fish. p. 105. GiU-openings wide, approaching nearer to each other beneath than is usual in this genus. The length of the head is one-half of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent. Upper jaw slightly projecting beyond the lower ; cleft of the mouth rather wide, two- fifths of the length of the head. Eye of moderate size, two-thirds of the length of the snout, and situated in the anterior third of the length of the head. Teeth pointed, fixed ; intermaxillary teeth ? vomerine teeth in a single, maxillary in a double series ; anterior mandibulary teeth in a double row, the remainder being single. Pectoral fins two-fifths as long as the head ; dorsal fin rather low, commencing above the extremity of the pectoral. Body one-third shorter than the tail. Coloration ? China. rt. Type of the species, 10 inches long. Yang-tze-kiang. Presented by Sir J. Richardson. ^. Cleft of the mouth of moderate width, less than one-third of the lenyth of the head. 9. Opliichthys magnoculus. Scytalophis magnioculis, Knnp, Apod. p. l;i. fig. 7 (not 8). Ophichthys magnioculis, Kner, Novara, Fiscli. p. 870. Coloration uniform. The length of the head is rather more than (inc-hiilf of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent. Eye of moderate size, two-thirds of the length of the snout ; tube of the GO MVRJENIDJ.. anterior nostril not elongate. Teeth pointed, fixed, biserial in all the bones. The length of the pectoral lin is one-third of that of the head, the dorsal fin commencing above the posterior third of the pectoral. Tail twice as long as the body. {Kaup.) Brazil; St. Croix. 10. Ophichthys gomesii. Ophisurus gomesii, Casteln. A)iim. Amer. SmI, Potss. p. 84, pi. 44. fig. 2. Leptorhinophis gomesii, Kaup, Apod. p. 14. Coloration uniform ; vertical fins \vith a black edge. The length of the head is one-third of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent. Cleft of the mouth of moderate width, extending behind the eye. Teeth pointed, biserial in all the bones. The length of the pecto- ral fin is rather more than one-third of that of the head. Dorsal Jin commencinrj above the end of the pectoral. Tail not quite twice as long as the body. Rio Janeiro. Ophisurus chrysops, Poey, Mem. Cub. ii. p. 320, and Report. Fis.- nat. Cub. ii. p. 255, fi-om Cuba, may prove to be identical with this species. 11. Ophichthys pauciporus. Poey, Repert. Fis.-nat. Cuba, ii. p. 255, lam. 3. fig. 5 (head). Coloration uniform ; vertical fins with a black edge. The length of the head is contained thrice and one-third in the distance of the gill-opening from the vent. Cleft of the mouth less than one-third of the lcngt.h of the head. Eye of moderate size, one-half of the length of the snout. Teeth in the jaws biserial. Pectoral fin well developed ; dorsal Jin commencing at a considerable distance behind the CA'tremity of the pectoral. Body two-thirds of the length of the tail. (Poey.) Cuba. 12. Ophichthys piincticeps. Crvptopterus puncticeps, Kaup, Aale d. llamhury. Mus. p. 11, taf. 1. tig. 2. The dorsal and anal Jins disapp>ear for some distance before their termination near the end of the tail. Coloration uniform. Ail the teeth smaU ; those of the maxillary biserial, of the vomer nuiserial ; mandible with one series of teeth, and with a few others in front forming a second series. Eye of moderate size ; cleft of the mouth of moderate width. Pectoral fin well developed ; dorsal commencing at a short distance behind the end of the pectoral. Length of the body rather more than two-thirds of that of the tail. (Kaup.) Puerto Cabello. . 13. Ophichthys hyala. Ophisurus h_yala, Ham. Buck. Fish. Gany. pp. 20, 3G3, tab. 5. fig. 5 ; APCldl. Cak: Journ. Nat. Hist. v. p. 211 ; Richards. Voy. Erch, iff 21. opnicnTHYS. 61 Terr. Fish. p. 102 ; Bhek. J'cr/i. Bat. Gen. Mtircpn. xxv. Beuo. Sf Hind. p. J 58. Opliisuriis rostratus, M'Clell. I. c. pp. 184, 211. minimus, 31' CM. I. c. pp. 185, 212, tab. 10. fig. 3; Bleck. I. c. 3Iur(cn. p. 25. Opliiurus hyala, Cant. Mai. Fish. p. 325. Coloration uniform. The length of the head is two-sevenths of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent. Cleft of the mouth of moderate width, slightly extending behind the orbit, one-fourtli of the length of the head. Snout pointed ; eye small. Teeth pointed, fixed ; intermaxillary teeth stoutest, and, like the other teeth, biserial, except the posterior mandibulary teeth, which stand in a single series. Length of the pectoral one-fourth of that of the head ; dorsal commencing at a short distance behind the extremity of the pectoral. Length of the body two-thirds of that of the tail. Bengal. a. Fourteen and a half inches long. b. Numerous young specimens. From the Collection of the East- India Company. 14. Ophichthys paUens. Ophisurus harancha, liicltards. Ichth. Chin. p. 313 (not H. B.). pallens, Richards. Voy. Ereb. S,- Terr. Fish. p. 101. Pisoodouophis pallens, lump, Apod. p. 17. Scarcely distinct from 0. hyala. Coloration uniform. The length of the head is nearly one-fourth of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent. Cleft of the mouth of moderate width, slightly extending behind the orbit, two- nintlis of the length of the head. Snout pointed ; eye rather small. Teeth pointed, fixed, biserial, except the vomerine teeth, which stand in a triple series; intermaxillary teeth stoutest. Length of the pectoral two-sevenths of that of the head ; dorsal commencing at a short distance behind the extremity of the pectoral. Length of body two-thirds of that of the tail. China. a. Type of the species, 12 inches long. Presented by J. R. Reeves, Esq. 15. Ophichthys broekmeyeri. Ophism-us brookuieveri, Bkck. Act. Sue. Sc. Indo-Nederl. i. Man ado, p. 71. cclebicus, Bhrk. 1. c. p. 70. Ophichthys amboinensis, Bk-eh. Ned. Ti/dschr. Dicrh. ii. p. 45 ; or All. Ichfhi/ol. Murtrn. p. 54, tab. 45. fig. 1. broekmeyeri, Bleek. Atl. Ichthi/ul. Mura^n. p. 53, tab. 15. fig. 1. celebicus, Bleek. I. c. p. 54, tab. 15. fig. 3. Coloration uniform. The length of the head is contained twice and one-third or twice and three-fourths in the distance of the gill- opening from the vent. Cleft of the mouth of moderate width, slightly extending behind the orbit, two-sevenths of the lengtli of 62 MUR^NID^. the head; snout pointed. Eye of moderate size, two -thirds of the length of the snout, situated in the anterior fourth of the length of the head. Teeth pointed, fixed ; intermaxillary teeth stoutest, forming a group ; anterior maxillary teeth uui-, posterior biserial, whilst in the lower jaw the anterior are bi-, and the postorior uni- Berial. Vomerine teeth bi- or triserial. Length of the pectoral fin one-third of that of the head ; dorsal commencing above the pos- terior third of the pectoral. Body about three-fourths as long as the tail. Amboyna, Celebes. a. Type of 0. hroelcmeyeri, 12^ inches long. Makassar. From Dr. Eleeker's Collection. h. Type of 0. amhoinensis, 19 inches long. Amboyna. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. c. Type of 0. cehbicus, 7^ inches long. Manado. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. OpMchthys celebicus was founded on two very young examples, said to have the maxillary and vomerine teeth in three series. One of these t}^pical examples, which I have examined, has the max- illary teeth distinctly enough in two series on one side, whilst on the other the two series are a little more irregidar. The vomerine teeth ai'e biserial. The representation of the dentition in Bleeker's atlas is a schematic figure, like many others in the plates contain- ing the Muraenida3, and very diff"erent from the real arrangement of the teeth. 16. Ophichthys rhytidodermatoides. Ophiurus breviceps, Cant. Mai. Fish. p. '326, pi. 5. fig. 4 (teeth) (not Hiefiarch.). rutidodermatoides, Bleek. VerJt. Bat. Gen. xxv. Murcen. p. 31. lumbricoides, Bleek. I. c. p. .32. Pisoodonopliis rutidodermatoides, Kaup, Ajwd. p. 18. lumbricoides, Kaup, I. c. p. 21. Ophichthys rutidodermatoides, Bleek. All. Ichthyol. Mitrtpn. p. 55, tab. 16. fig. 1. lumbricoides, Bleek. I. c. p. 56, tab. 14. fig. 3. breviceps, Bleek. I. c. p. 57. Coloration uniform. The length of the head is one-fourth of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent. Snout pointed ; cleft of the mouth of moderate width, extending behind the eye, about two- sevenths of the length of the head. Eye small, two-fifths of the length of the snout, situated in the anterior third of the length of the head. Teeth pointed, fixed ; all biserial except the foremost of the maxillaries. Gill-openings rather close together. The length of the pectoral fin is one-third or two-sevenths of that of the head. Dorsal fin low, commencing nearly opposite to the extremity of the pectoral. Tail twice as long as the body. Pinang, Java. a-h. Tj^es of 0. brevicej^s (Cant.), skins. Pinang. From Dr. Cantor's Collection. 21. OPHICHTIITS. ^3 c. Type of 0. rutidodermatoides, 24 inches long, Batavia. From Dr. Blecker's Collection. d. Type of 0. Jiimhricoides, 16 inches long. Batavia. From Dr. Blecker's Collection. The differences in the dentition stated by Dr. Blocker to exist between the species named by him are not confirmed by an exami- nation of the typical specimens, or are merely slight accidental varia- tions in the arrangement ; and the figure which he gives of the dentition of 0. rutidodermatoides is entirely eri'oneous. 17. Ophichthys rhytidoderma. Ophisiinis rutidodernia, li/ccJc. J'crh. B/somoj)his horrirlus," as lie mentions them in his ' Catalogue of Apodal Fish,' although he omitted to trace their * The fringes are not develnpod in joung examples. 21. OPHUIITIIVS. ().) liistory. Uufortunately these valuable specimens, which were the types of the species, are now missing. Avhirophivhthtis typus, Bleek. Ned. Tjdschr. Dierk. ii. p. 42, and Atl. Ichthyol. Jlurasn. p. 8t), tab. 47. fig. 3, is founded on a single example from Celebes, 8 inches long. It is apimrently distinguished by the absence of pectoral fins, which induced Dr. Bleeker to create a distinct genus for it. However, its similarity to 0. crocodUinas is so great that I cannot help thinking that it will eventually prove to be merely the 3'oung of that species. Young Murajnoids have the fins generally less developed than adult ; and although there is certainly not a pectoral developed, yet distinct traces of it may be seen on one side of the typical specimen. Dr. Bleeker mentions as a second principal character the e(iuality of the jaws ; but in reality the lower jaw is a little prominent, and in other undoubted ex- amples of 0. crocodilinus, which are not full-grown, the lower jaw is much less prominent than in adult specimens ; so that also this character appears to be dubious, and is altogether useless for the creation of a genus. 21. Ophichthys cirrochilus. OphisuruscirrhocheiluSj^fceA-. Act. Soc. Sc. Indo-Nederl. li. Amhoyna, viii. p. 89. Braclivsomopliis cirrhochiliis, Bleek. Atl. Ichthyol. Murmi. p. ".8, tab.' 9. The length of the head is about one-third of the distance between tlie giU-opening and the vent. Snout short and rather flattened, at least thrice as long as the eye, which is situated in the anterior fifth of the length of the head. Teeth as in 0. crocodiUnus. Lij)s fringed. GUI-openings rather wide. Vertical fins well developed ; the distance between the origin of the dorsal fin and gill-opening is about two-thirds of the length rff the head ; the length of the pec- toral is one-fourth of that of the head. Body and tail of nearly the same length. Brownish, with large, irregular, dark, transverse spots ; fins yellowish, (^Iged with brown. Amboyna ; Formosa. a. Head and tail of a very large example. Formosa. From Consul Swinhoe's Collection. b. Type of the species. Amboyna. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. b. Lips not frinf/cd. a. Snmit much produced : lar-gc canine teeth. 22. Ophichthys serpens. Serpens mnrinus, Sah'ian. fob 57 & 58; Bellon. De Aquat. p. loO; Rondel, p. 4()'.»; inili/t/hhi/, p. 107, tab. G. 4. MuriBua, sp. no. 4, Artedi, (ien. 24: Syn. 41. MuriBna serpeu.s, L. Si/.it. Nat. i. p. A2^). Ophisuriis .serpens. Lacep. ii. p. 19f< : Hchley. Fann.Japutt. Poiss. p. »'04, VOL. VIII 66 ]uuE.5:xiD.E. pi. 115. fig. 1 ; Custa, Faun. Nap. Peso. tav. 28 bis. figs. 1 & 2 (skull) ; Eichards. Irhthijul. Ereb. S^ Terr. p. 100; Kaup, Apod. p. 7. Leptorliynclius capensis, Smith, III. Zool. S. Afr. Pise. pi. 6. Ophisur'us iiiacrorhynclnis, Pleek. Verh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Muran. p. 28. Miurena acutirostris, Gronov. Si/st. eel. Gray, p. 19. The Icngtli of the head is contained thrice and two-thirds or four times in the distance between the gill-opening and the vent. Snout slender, produced into a joint ; cleft of the mouth very wide, half as long as the head. Eye of moderate size, two-sevenths of the length of the snout, situated in the anterior third of the length of the head. Teeth pointed, fixed, unequal in size, those of the intermaxillary and maxillary biscrial, the others uniserial. The intermaxillary teeth and anterior of the mandible and those of the vomer are canine teeth. Gill-openings rather wide. Vertical fins moderately developed ; the distance between the base of the pectoral and origin of the dorsal is twice or rather more than twice the length of the pectoral, the length of which is about one-sixth of that of the head. The length of the body is somewhat more than one-half of that of the tail *. Uniformly coloured above, silvery below. ^Mediterranean ; Eastern Atlantic ; Japan ; Australia. a. Half-grown. Bay of Naples. Presented by S. P. Pratt, Esq. h, c. Half-grown. Mediterranean. d. Adult. Atlantic. e-f. Adult and young. Damara Land. f/\ Adult. Japan. From Dr. Bleeker s Collection. Type of 0. macrorhi/ncJius. h. Adult. Australia. Purchased of Mr. BoAverbank. /3. Snout moderately produced ; no large canine teeth. 23. Ophichthys regius. Opliisurus regius, (Shau-) Eichards. Toy. Ereb. S,- Terr. Fish. p. 10(3. Herpetoichtbus regius, Kaup, Apod. p. 8 (cop. Eichards.). Groimd-colour olive, with from 18 to 23 large round brown spots, each extending from the dorsal fin to the abdomen ; they are larger than the interspaces, which, again, are ornamented by vertical series of smaU. spots, the middle series being formed by somewhat larger spots. Head densely spotted with brown. Dorsal fin with nume- rous small spots, and with a series of larger spots along the margin. Anal fin nearly immaculate. The length of the head is one-third of the distance of the giU-opening from the vent. Cleft of the mouth very wide, nearly two-fifths of the length of the head. Eye small, two-fifths of the length of the snout, situated in the anterior * Viz. in Mediterranean examples = 29 : 48. Atlantic examples = 25 : 40, or = 15 : 25. Japanese examples = 22 : 35. Anstralian examples ... = 10 : 29. 2\. OPUICHTHYS. 67 fourth of the length of the head. Teeth sharply pointed ; maxillary and anterior vomerine teeth in a double, the others in single series ; the teeth of the inner maxillary series, of the vomer, and mandible depressible. The length of the pectoral is one-sixth of that of the head ; dorsal commencing at a short distauce behind the end of the pectoral. Tail rather shorter than the body. St. Helena. a. Type of the species, bleached. Old Collection. b-c. Fine specimens, 32 inches long. 8t. Helena. Presented bv J. C. Melliss, Esq. (I. Young. St. Helena. Presented by J. C. Melliss, Esq. — Body witii broad brown cross bauds. 24. Ophichthys ornatissimus. Herpetoichthys ornatissimus, Kaup, Apud. p. 7, fig. 4 (not 5). Sixteen or seventeen large round black spots along the lateral line, which are parted by another band of spots of ditferent sizes. Irregular dark spots on the head ; a transverse and two longitudinal series of white spots on the occiput ; curved whitish lines between the eyes. Dorsal wath black marginal spots and stripes. The length of the head is two-sevenths of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent. Cleft of the mouth very wide. Teeth pointed; maxillary and anterior vomerine teeth in a double, the others in a single series. The length of the pectoral is one-fourth of that of the head ; dorsal commencing behind the end of the pectoral. Tail shorter than the body. {Kemp.') Malabar. 25. Ophichthys havannensis. Ptirra, p. HG, lam. 37. fig. 2 (bad). Mmv-ena havannensis, HI. Schn. p. 491. Herpetoichthys sulcatus, Kaup, Apod. p. 8, fig. 5 (not (1). Ophisurus havaneusis, Poey, Mem. ii. p. 320. I'rauichthys havanensis, Pooj, Ihpert. Fk.-nat. Cuba, ii. p. 257. brachycephalus. Poet/, I. r. Head with numerous brown longitudinal folds ; body covered with dark lines, which may easily be taken for folds. Brown ; head with mmierous small dark spots. A series of large round dark spots along the side, the intei'spaees being as wide as the spots. Another series of alternate smaller spots along the back, and along the sides of the abdomen. Fins yellowish ; dorsal with a series of brown spots along the edge. Cleft of the mouth -n-idc. Eye large, its dia- meter being contained once and two-thirds in the length of the snout. Ma.villary teeth in a double, the others in a single series. Pectoral fin well developed, its extremity nearly opposite to the origin of the dorsal. Tail longer than the body. Cuba. This fish appears to be most closely allied to 0. trimrialix, j). 58. f2 68 MUR^NID.E. 20. Ophichthys versicolor. Ophisivrus versicolor, liichards. Ereb. i/dio of the species. Amboyna. From Dr. Bleeker's Col- lection. h. Half-grown. East-Indian archipelago. From the Collection of Dr. van Lidth de Jeude. C: Half-grown. Cape York, X. Australia. Collected by Hr. Damel. Varktii. — The nuchal band is less distinct ; the body and fins marked with irregular dark-brown blotches ; dorsal fin without white margin. <(. Adult. Japan. Purchased of Mr. Jamrach. e. Half-grown. Zebu, Philippine Islands. Purchased of Mr. Jam- rach. /. Half-grown. Cape York. Collected by Hr. Darnel. 31. Ophichthys apicalis. Ophisurus apicalis, Bciinctf, in Life nf liajflv^^, p. 602. s\mdiceus, liichca-ds. Ichf/ti/i)l. Vliiit. p. ol.3 ; Toy. Ereb.l^- Terr. Ichthijol. p. 103. conipar, Richards. Vui/. Ercb. S,- Terr. Ichthyul. p. 105. baogko, Bleek. Verh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Murcen. p. 07. Centrarophis spadiceus, Kemp, Apod. p. 2 (not fig.). bangko, Kaup, Apod. p. 3. Coecilophis compar, Kaup, Apod. p. C<. Ophisurus diepenhorsti, Bleek. Act. Soc. Sc. Indo-Xederl. viii. Sumatra, viii. p. 85. Ophichthys banko, Bleek. Atl. Iclithyol. Muran. p. 51, tab. 14. fig. 1. diepenhorsti, Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Muran. p. 52, tab. 15. fig. 4. Coloration uniform brown. The length of the head is two-fifths of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent. Cleft of the mouth extending somewhat behiiid the eye — which is of moderate size, and one-half of the length of the snout. Intermaxillary and anterior part of the vomerine teeth in a double series, maxillary and mandibulary teeth in a single series ; sometimes the foremost man- dibulary teeth form an irregular double series. The length of the pectoral is one-third, or rather more than one-third, of that of the head. Dorsal commencing above the middle or the posterior third of the pectoral. Tail not twice as long as the body. Indian and Chinese Seas. rt. Type of 0. .yjudiceus. China. Presented by J. R. Beeves, Esq. h, c. Half-grown and young. Cliina. 21. ovuicirriiYS. 71 d. Typo of Ophisurus hcuiyho. Java. From Dr. Blocker's Collection. e. Type of 0. compar, and probably also of 0. apiccdis. Humatra. /. Type of 0. diepenliursti. From Dr. Blceker's Collection. This example is evidently an 0. xpadiceus, and ornamented on the back with some irregular ■\vhitish blotches. The mandibiilary teeth of the typical specimen of 0. coinpar are decidedly one-rowed. Kaup has evidently merely copied Kichard- sou, and fonnded, ou his authority, the genus Ctecihphis. 32. Opliichthys grandoculis. Ophisurus grandoculis, Cantor, Mai. Fish. p. 324, pi. o. fig. 3 (teeth). Coloration uniform, dorsal and posterior part of anal edged mth black. The length of the head is two-sevenths of the dis- tance of the gill-opening from the vent. Cleft of the mouth ex- tending somewhat behind the ej^e — which is of moderate size, and cue-half of the length of the snout. Intermaxillary and anterior part of the vomerine teeth in a double series ; maxillary and mau- dibulary teeth in a single series. The length of the pectoral is one-tliird of that of the head ; dorsal commencing above the pos- terior third of the pectoral. Length of the body two-thirds of that of the tail. Pinaug. a-h. Typical specimens : skins. From Dr. Cantor's Collection. 33. Ophichthys bernsteinii. Muvreuopsis bernsteinii, Bleck. Ned. Ti/d^cJir. Dierk. i. p. 157. Ophichthys bernsteiui, Bleck. Atl. IchOiyol. Mta-wn. p. 48, tab. 24. tig. 1. Coloration uniform. The length of the head is one-fifth or rather less than one-fifth of the distance between the gill-opening and vent. Snout pointed, with the upper jaw projecting beyond the lower ; cleft of the mouth of moderate width, about one-third of the length of the head ; eye of moderate size, its diameter being more than one-half the length of the snout ; it is situated in the anterior third of the length of the head. Posterior nostril in advance of the eye, anterior with a short broad tube. Teeth of moderate size, pointed, fixed, uniserial, except the anterior on the vomer, which are biscrial. Pectoral nearly one-third of the length of the head; dorsal Jin com- meiicimj above the extremity of the pectoral. Tail rather longer than body. {Bllcr.) ■ Halmaheira. 34. Ophichthys singapurensis. Opliichthvs singapurent^is, L'lcck. Atl. Ichtln/ol. Mttrdn. p. 52, tab. 44, tig. 1. ^ Uniform brown. The length of the head is nearly one-fourth of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent. Snout pointed, with the upper jaw much projecting beyond the lower. Cleft of tho 72 MUR.ENID.K. mouth of moderate width ; eye rather small, its diameter being less than one-half of the length of the snout. Posterior nostril in ad- vance of the eye. Intermaxillary teeth in a double longitudinal series ; vomerine teeth in a triple series anteriorly, and in a double posteriorly ; maxillary and mandibulary teeth uniserial. Fins well developed ; the pectoral nearly one-third of the length of the head ; dorsal commencing above the end of the pectoral. Tail one-third longer than the body. Singapore. a. Type of the species, 21 inches long. Prom Dr. Blocker's Col- lection. 35. OpMchthys macrochir. Ophisurus macrochir, Ulcck. T'trh. Hut. Gen. x.w. Murccn. p. 27; Nat. Tydschr. Ned. Ind. vii. p. 44(i. Centrurophis maerochir, Kmip, Apod. p. 5. Ophiclithys macrochir, lileek. Ail. Ichthyol. Muran. p. 54, tab. 20. fig. 1. Coloration uniform. The length of the head is one-fourth of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent. Snout pointed ; cleft of the mouth of moderate width, extending behind the eye, two-sevenths of the length of the head. Eye small, one-half of the length of the snout, situated in the anterior fourth of the length of the head. Teeth pointed, fixed ; those of the intermaxillary and vomer biserial, the others uniserial. Gill-openings rather close together. Fins well developed ; the length of the pectoral is one-third of the length of the head ; the dorsal commences nearly opposite to the extremity of the pectoral. Tail twice as long as the body. Java. a. Type of the species, 20 inches long. liatavia. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. 3fi. Ophichthys hispanus. Ophisurus hispanus, Bellotti, Accad. Fisico-medico-statistica di Milano, Sediita del 2'.'> dicemhr. 18-")7. The length of the head is one-fourth of the distance of the gill- opening from the vent ; tail longer than body. Snout obtusely conical, projecting beyond the mouth, the cleft of which extends backwards behind the eye, and is two-sevenths of the length of the head. Eye of moderate size, half as long as the snout, situated in the anterior third of the length of the head. Posterior nostril in advance of the eye, anterior with a broad tube. The intermaxillary teeth in a double, the others in a single series ; all subcqual in size. The length of the pectoral is one-fifth of that of the head ; the distance of the origin of the dorsal from the base of the pectoral is conspicuously more than the length of the head ; anal higher than dorsal. Body powdered with brownish. Mediterranean. a. Twenty inches long. Cannes. Presented by Dr. Theodore Giinther. 21. uruicniHYs. 73 Although our specimen differs slightly from the Barcelona ex- ;uniiles described by Bellotti, which have the vomerine ar.d mandi- bulary teeth for a short distance arranged in two scries anteriorly, they agree so well in all other essential points that they evidently belong to the same species. 37. Ophichthys remicaudiis. Centrurophis remicaudus, Kaup, Apod. p. 3. Brownish, with numerous dark specks ; dorsal and anal fins with brownish and whitish spots along the base ; a series of small whitish warts across the occiput. The length of the head is one-fourth of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent. Upper lip without appendages. Eye large, near the angle of the mouth. Teeth pointed, uniserial (vomerine teeth biseriul?). The length of the pec- toral fin is somewhat less than one-half of that of the head ; the dorsal commences at a moderate distance from the tip of the pectoral. Tail rather longer than body. (Kemp.) Sicily. 38. Ophichthys brasiliensis. Centrurophis brasiliensis, Kemp, Apod. p. 4. Yellowish brown, with black dots. The length of the head is rather less than one-fourth of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent. Teeth pointed, uniserial (vomerine teetli biserial ?). Fec- I oral Jin one-fourth of the length of the head ; dorsal Jin commencing lit some distance behind the jicctoral . Tail longer than body. {Kaup.) Rio Janeiro. 39. Ophichthys urolophus. Conger lU'olophus, Sch/cr/. faun. Japan. Poiss. p. 260, pi. 114. fig 1. Coloration uniform, fins with a white margin. The length of the head is about one-third of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent ; cleft of the mouth one-third of the length of the head ; eye of moderate size, contained once and two-thirds in the length of the snout, which is pointed. Teeth uniserial, except those of the intermaxillary. Pectoral fins well developed ; the dorsal commences at a short distance behind the end of the pectorals. Posterior por- tion of the vertical fins somewhat elevated. (Schleg.) Japan. '2. lJur,<(d Jin coninicnciny above or neurhj above the gill-opcnimi. 40. Ophichthys polyophthalmus. Ophichtlivs polvophthalnuis, Blerk. Ned. Ti/dschr. Uierk. ii. p. 4-3: iuul .1^/. hhthyol. Mioym. p. 47, pi. 42. fig. 3. Brownish on each side, with three scries of large rounded brownish- black spots arranged alternately ; each spot of the dorsal series with a whitish centre. Siu)ut yellowish, liead with numerous white, dark-edged ocelli. Dorsal fin \\ith a basal scries of brown spots. /4 MUHJiMDJ:. each with a whitish centre ; margin of the fin black ; a series of elongate blackish spots along its middle ; anal fin nearly immaculate. The length of the head is two-ninths of the distance of the gill- opening from the vent. Snout tetraliedi-al, moderately pointed, with tlie upper jaw slightly projecting beyond the lower. Cleft of the mouth of moderate rndth, onc-tliird of the length of the head ; eye of moderate size, two-thirds of the length of the snout, situated in the anterior third of the length of the head. Posterior nostril in advance of the eye ; anterior with a rather long truncated tube. Teeth of moderate size, pointed, fixed, uniserial in aU the bones ; some of the front teeth rather larger than the otliers. Pectoral fin small, as long as the snout ; dorsal commencing opposite to the base of the pectoral. Tail as long as tlie trunk without head. Amboj-na. a. Type of the species, 15 inches long. From Dr. Bleeker's Col- lection. 41. OpMchthys altipinnis. Microdonophis altipinnis, Kaiip, Apod. p. G, fig. 3 (not 4). Murseuopsis altipinnis, lilcek. Ned. Ti/dschr. Dierk. i. p. 180. Ophichtbys altipinnis, lilcck. Atl. Ichthyol. diurcen. p. 50, tab. 13. fig. 2. melanocliir, Bleek. Ned. Tydschr. Dierk. i. p. 44 ; and Atl. Ichth. Mtu-an. p. 51, tab. 48. fig. 3. Coloration uniform ; anterior part of the dorsal blackish ; pectoral and margins of the dorsal and anal blackish. Dorsal fin elevated, its anterior portion being nearly as high as the body underneath. The length of the head is one-third or two-sevenths of the distance of the gUl-opening from the vent. Cleft of the mouth of moderate width, about one-third of the length of the head ; snout pointed, with the upper jaw much projecting beyond the lower. Eye of moderate size, rather less than one-half of the length of the snout, situated on the anterior third of the length of the head. Posterior nostril in advance of the eye. Teeth pointed, fixed ; the intermax- illary teeth form a double longitudinal series, and are opposed to the front teeth of the mandible, which are stronger than the others. Maxillary, vomerine, and lateral mandibulary teeth uniserial. Pec- toral two-fifths of the length of the head ; dorsal fin commencing above the giU-opcning. Body about three-fourths as long as the tail. Celebes and Amboyna. a. Type of 0. melanocliir, 27 inches long. Amboyna. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. 3. Dorsal Jin commcnchH/ in advance of tlie fjill-opening. 42. OpMchthys calamus. The length of the head is one-fifth of the distance of the gill- opening from the vent. Snout convex, obtusely conical ; cleft of the mouth of moderate width, one-fourth of the length of the head ; 21. OPHICHTUYS. 75 eye rather small, one-half of the lenj^th of the snout, situated above the middle of the mouth. Teeth small, uniserial, apparently in two .series on the vomer*. Li^^s fringed. Gill-openings narrow and elo.se together. Fins moderately developed. The dorsal fin com- mences at a short distance behind the angle of the mouth ; pectoral fin one-fourth of the length of the head. Tail nearly twice as long as the body. Erownish, lower parts whitish. Australia. u. Seventeen inches long. Freeman tie. C. Maxillart/ teeth equally small, fonniny bands; lips ffinged. 43. Ophichthys chinensis. CiiThimur?ena chinensis, Katip, Apod. p. 27. Ophisurus polyodon, Bleek. Act. Soc. Indo-Nederl. viii .Sumatra, viii. p. m. Cirrhimurrena polyodon, Bleek. Atl. Ichthyol. Murcen. p. 41, tab. 8. fig. 1. The Icngtli of the head is two-fifths or rather more than two-fifths of tlic distance between the gill-opening and the vent. Snout pro- duced, pointed, the cleft of the mouth being two-fifths of the length of the head. Eye small, situated in the anterior fifth of the length of the head. Teeth small, pointed, of equal size ; those of the inter- maxillary and maxillary form a rather broad band, and those of the vomer and mandible are arranged in a double or triple series t. Lips fringed. Gill-openings rather narrow and close together. Vertical fins moderately developed ; the dorsal fin commences above the gill-opening ; pectoral Jin narrow and long, nearly one-half of the length of the head. Tail t^vice or nearly twice as long as the body. Coloration uniform. China, Sumatra. a. Type of the species, 7 inches long. China. b. Type of C. polyodon, 11 inches long. Priaman. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. 44. Ophichthys tapeinopterus. Cirrhimurciena tapeinopterus, Bleek. Nederl. Tydschr. Dierk. p. 183 ; or Atl. Ichthyol. Muran. p. 41, tab. 8. fig. 3 ; ? K)ier, Norara, Fisch. p. 37l). The length of the head is contained twice and a third in the dis- tance of the gill-opening from the vent. Snout produced, pointed, the clift of the mouth being one-third of the length of the head. Eye small, situated in the anterior fifth of the length of the head. Teeth small, pointed, of equal size, forming a broadish band in the maxil- lary, and narrower ones along the vomer and mandibles. Lips fringed. Gill -openings rather narrow and close together. Vertical * All the bones are iiiucli softened by tlic fluid in which the speciuieu lias been preserved : and the teeth are very indistinct and partly destroyed, t Kaiip's description is erroneous. 7() MUK.i;NID.E. fins moderately developed ; the dorsal fin commences above the gill- opening ; pectoral fin long, one-half of the length of the head. Tail twice as long as the body. Coloration uniform. Java, Celebes. a. Type of the species, 11| inches long. Java. From Dr. Blceker's Collection. 45. Ophichthys chilopogon. Ophisiirus cheilopogon, Bh-ck. Act. 8oc. Sc. Indo-Xederl. viii. Celebes, xiii. p. 59. CiiTliimurffiua chilopogon, Bleek. Atl. IcMhijol. Muran. p. 42, tab. 19. fig. 2. The length of the head is contained twice and two-thirds in the distance of tlie gill-opening from the vent. Snout produced, pointed ; tlie deft of the mouth being two-Jifths of the length of the head. Teeth small, pointed, of equal size, forming a broadish band in the maxillary and mandible, and a narrower along the vomer. Lips fringed. Gill-openings rather narrow and close together. Fins well developed ; the dorsal fin commences immediately beliind the base of the pec- toral fin, which is two-fifths as long as the head. The lengih of the body is contained once and two-thirds in that of thetaU. Colo- ration uniform. Celebes, rt. Tj'pe of the species, 19 iixches long. Badjoa. From Dr. Bleekcr's Collection. 46. OpMchthys playfairii. The length of the head is nearly one-fourth of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent. Snout pointed, not quite thrice as long as the eye — which is small, .situated above the middle of the mouth ; cleft of the mouth of moderate width, one-third of the length of the head. Teeth small, of equal size, forming narrow bands. Lips fringed. Gill-0])enings narrow and rather close to- gether. Fins well developed ; the dorsal fin commences at a short distance behind the angle of the mouth ; pectoral fin one-fourth of the length of the head. Tail not quite twice as long as the body. Coloration uniform. Zanzibar. a. Twenty-one inches long. Presented by Lieut.-Col. Playfair. D. Maxillary teeth tri- or qaailr [serial ; lips not frincjed. 47. Ophichthys pacifici. Brown, a series of very small whitish dots along the anterior part of the lateral line ; some similar dots on the nape ; dorsal fin with a black edge. The length of the head is eontained twice and one-third in the distance hetiveen the gill-opening and the vent. Snout pointed, the upper jaw projecting beyond the lower ; cleft of the mouth wide, two-fifths of tlic length of the head. Eye of moderate size, two- 21. oriiicHTHYs. 77 thirds of the length of the snout, and situated in the anterior thii'd of that of the liead. Teeth jjointed, fixed, unequal in size ; the in- termaxillary teeth are the largest, arranged in a curved transverse series ; maxillary and maudibulary teeth forming a tri- or quadri- serial baud in adult examples, biserial in smaller individuals. Vomerine teeth in a single series. Length of the pectoral fin rather more than one-third of that of the head ; dorsal fin low, com- mencing opposite to the extremity of the pectoral. Tail longer than the body. ChUe and Peru. a. TVeuty-five inches long. Chile. From the Godeffroy Collection as 0. remiger. Teeth of the jaws quadriserial. b-d. Sixteen inches long. TamboKivor. Pui-chasedof Mr. Whitely. Teeth of the jaws biserial. Although this species is allied to 0. remi\/er (with which it lias been confounded by Prof. Kner), it is c^•idently distinct, having a longer head aud a different dentition. II. Teeth yramdar. A. Pectoral developed; dorsal commencing behind the base of th^ pectoral. 4S. OpMchthys boro. Ophisurus boro, Ham. Buch. Fish. Ganq. pp. 20, 363 ; Gray. III. Ind. Zool. ; MClell. Vale. Juurn. Nat. Hik. v. p. 211; Richard.^. Ichth. Chin. p. 313, and Voy. Ereb. ^- Terr. Fish. p. 99; Bleeh. Verh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Beng. p. 15G ; Cant. Mai. Fish. p. 322, pL 5. fig. 2 (teeth). haraucha. Ham. Buch. I. c. pp. 21, 363 ; Gray, I. c. ; M'Clell. I. c. tab. 12. tig. 4. caudatus, 3I'Clell. I. c. p. 185, tab. 12. fig. 3. Conger microstoma, Eyd. S,- Soul. Voy. Bonit-e, i. p. 205, Poiss. pi. 0. fig. 3 (if this identification of Ilr. Kaup is correct, the figure is eiToueous). Ophisurus potauiophilus, Bleek. Nat. Tydschr. Ned. Ind. v. p. 458, or Terh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Murccn. p. 68. Pisoodonopbis boro, Kaup, Apod. p. 17; Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Muran. p. 62, tab. 20. fig. 3 ; Day, Fish. 3Ialab. p. 248. potamophilus, Kaup, Apod. p. 20 ; Bleek. I. c. p. G3, tab. 28. fig. 2. Coloration uniform. The length of the head is coiitained from thrice and a half to four times and a half in the distance of tJie (jill-ojyenini/ from the vent; the length of the body is three-fourths or two-thirds of that of the tail. Cleft of the mouth of moderate width, extending behind the eye ; snout depressed, obtuse in old examples, aud rather more pointed in young. Eye small. Teetli granular, in several series, forming bands which are broader in adult examples than in young. Length of the pectoral fin one-fourth or (Hic-sixth of that of the head ; dorsal fin commencing at some dis- tance behind the end of the pectoral ; dorsal and. cspecialhj. anal Jins low. East Indies, sea and fresh waters ; ? Tropical America. lO MURJiNID.E. a. Large specimen, 50 inches long. River Hooghly. From the Collection of the East-India Companj'. b, c, d, e,f. Many half-grown and young examples. Eiver Hooghly. g. Adult. Bengal. Presented by General Hardwick. li-i. Half-grown. Bengal. Presented by G. II. Waterhouse, Esq. /•. Adult : skin. Pinang. From Dr. Cantor's Collection. I. Adult. Pinang. From Dr. Cantor's Collection. m. Adult. East-Indian archipelago. From Dr. Blocker's Collection. n. Type of 0. potamopMlus. Borneo. From Dr. Bleeker's Col- lection. 0. Adult. Zebu (Philippine Islands). Purchased of Mr. Jamrach. p, q, r. Many adult, half-grown, and young specimens. Formosa. s. ? Half-grown. Grenada (West Indies). Purchasedof Mr. Cutter. An examination of other specimens may prove this to be a dis- tinct species ; but at present I do not think myself justified in separating this single specimen from 0. horo, which varies rather considerably in the relative proportions of the parts of the body. 49. Ophichthys cancrivorus. ? Conger flavipiunatus, Bennett, Fnir. Conwi. Zool. Hoc. 18.31, p. 168. Opliism-us cancrivorus, Richards. Voy. Ereh. ^- Terr. Fish. p. 97, tab. 50. figs. G-9. sinensis, Richards. I. c. p. 98. Opbiurus baccideus, Cant. Mai. Fish. p. 320, tab. 5. fig. 1 (teetli). Ophisurus scbaapi, i?feeZ;, Nat. Ttjdschr. Ned. Lid. iii. p. 735 ; or Verh. Rat. Gen. xxv. Murcen. p. 53. bracliysoma, RIeek. I. c. 1°, p. 776 ; or /. c. 2", p. oo. Pisoodonophis cancrivorus, Kaiip, Apod. p. 15, fig. 9 (cop. from Richards. ) ■ Kner, Novara, Fisch. p. 379. bracliysoma, Kaiip, Apod. p. 19; B/eek. Atl. Ichth. Alurain. p. 60, tab. 18. fig. 2. schaapi, Kaup, I. c. ; Rleek. I. c. tab. 17. fig. 1. moluccensis, Rleek. Atl. Ichthi/ol. Muran. p. 72, taf. 49. (not 45 ) fig. 2. Coloration uniform. The length of the head is two -fifths or nearly one-third of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent ; the length of the body from three-fourths to nearly two-thirds of that of the tail. Cleft of the mouth rather wide, about one-third of the length of the head ; snout depressed, somewhat pointed. Eye of moderate size, nearly one -half of the length of the snout. Teeth granular, forming broadish bands. Length of the pectoral fin about two-sevenths or one-third of that of the head ; dorsal commencing above the middle of the pectoral ; dorsal and anal fins of moderate depth. A more or less distinct blackish spot anteriorly on the dorsal fin. East-Indian archipelago ; Australia. a. Adult. Pinang. From Dr. Cantor's Collection. Type of 0. haccidcns. b. Adult. Singapore. One of the typical specimcn.s of 0. can- crivorus. 21. Ol'UICHTHYS. 79 c. Adult. Makassar. From Dr. Blceker's Collection. Type of 0. hr achy soma. d. Adult. East-Indian archipelago. From Dr. Bleeker's Collec- tion. Type of 0. schaapi. e. Half-grown. Amboyna. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. Type of r. mohiccensis. f. Half-grown. Philippine Islands. One of the typical specimens of 0. cancrivorus. (J. Half-grown. Australia. Presented by the late Earl of Derby. h. Adult. Mauritius (?). From the collection of the Zool. Soc. Pro- bably tlie type of Conger jlavipinaatiis. None of the specimens transferred from the collection of the Zoological Society to that of the British Museum agrees better with Bennett's description than this. The end of the tail is slightly injured, so that Bennett may have been deceived in determining the genus. His note on the dentition is evidently incomplete. If future researches should prove that this species is really found at the Mauritius, every doubt as to the identity of CJlavipmnatus and 0. cancrivorus may be considered to be removed. 50. OpMchtliys hoevenii. Ophisurus hoevenii, iVt'c/i. Nat. Tijibchr. Xcd. Lid. v. p. 172; or Verh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Marten, p. (37. Pisoodonophis hoevenii, Kaup, Apod. p. 20 ; Bleek. Atl. Ichth. 31>ir(en. p. 59, taf. 10. fig. 2. Coloration uniform. The length of the head is contained twice and two-thirds in the distance of the gill-opening from the vent ; the length of the bo(h/ is equal to that of the tail. Cleft of the moutli rather wide, somewhat less than one-third of the length of the head : snout acutely pointed. Eye rather small, two-fifths of the length of the snout. Teeth granular, forming rather narrow bands. Length of the pectoral tin about two-sevenths of that of the head ; the dorsal commencing above the middle of the pectoral. Dorsal and anal fins well developed. Celebes. a. Type of the species, 12| inches long. Makassar. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. 51. Ophichthys hypselopterus. Ophisurus hypselopterus, Bleek. Xat. Tydschr. Ned. Ind. ii. p. C9 ; or Verh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Marcpn. p. 34. Pisoodonophis hypselopterus, Kaup, Apod. p. 19 ; Bleek. Atl. Icht/ii/ol. Murceu. p. 0;5,"taf. 17. fig. 2. Coloration uniform. The length of the head is two-sevenths of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent ; tail nearly twice as long as body. Cleft of the mouth rather wide ; snout depressed, somewhat pointed ; eye small. Teeth granular, in several series, forming broadish bands ; those of the intermaxillary are twice as large as the others. Length of the pectoral fin one-fourth of tliat of so muii^:nid^k. the head ; dorsal commencing at some distance behind the pectoral ; dorsal and, espccialhi, anal fins elevated, the latter being as deep as the body. Baiidjermassiug. a. Typical specimen. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. B. Pectoral developed ; dorsal comiiiencinf/ in advance of the (jUl-openinci. 52. Ophichthys semicinctus. Ophisurus semicinctus, lUchards. To;/. Ereh. S) Terr. Fish. p. 99. Body and tail with sixteen or seventeen broad black cross bands, broader than the interspaces between them, and not extending across the abdomen. Head with numerous small brownish-black spots. The length of the head is contained twice and two-thirds in the distance of the giU-opening from the vent, that of the body once and one-third or once and one-fourth in that of the tail. Snout of moderate length, depressed, rather obtuse. Cleft of the mouth rather wide, extending behind the eye, which is small and situated in the anterior third of the lengtli of the head. Teeth granular, forming broadish bands, narrower in young examples. Length of the pectoral fin two-sevenths of that of the head ; dorsal commencing somewhat in advance of the gill-opening, and, like the anal, well developed. West Africa. a. Tvpe of the species, 29 inches long. West Africa. Presented by the Eoyal College of Surgeons. h, c, d. Adult. West Africa. e. Adult : stuifed. West Africa. Presented by the late Earl of Derby. /. Adult. River Gambia. r/. Adult. Old Calabar. Presented by A. Murray, Esq. h. Adult. Brass River. 53. Ophichthys dromicus. Three series of large round brown spots along the side ; a single series along the median line of the back, the spots being arranged alternately. Three large spots on the upperside of the head. Body very slender, its depth being about one-ninetieth of the total length. The length of the head is one-sixth of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent ; tail longer than the body. Snout of moderate length, sHghtly compressed, rather pointed. Cleft of the mouth of moderate width, extending behind the eye, which is small and situated in the anterior fourth of the length of the head. Teeth granular, biserial ; uniserial on the side of the mandible. Pectoral fin short, but with distinct rays, one-seventh of the length of the head ; dorsnl com- mencing behind the occiput, and, like the anal, well developed. West Africa. a. Twenty-nine inches long. 21. opiiicnTTiYS. 81 C. Pectoral rtidimentary : dorsal commencing in advance of the ijill-opvn in;/. 54. Ophichthys colubrinus. I\Iumena coliibrina, Budduert, in Pidlass Ncue Noi-d. Beijtr. ii. 1781, p. 56, pi. 2. fi-. 3. anmilata, Ahl, Be Murcma et Ophichtho, 1780, p. 8, tab. 1. fig. 1. faaciala, Ahl, I. c. p. 9. Gyninothorax aiuiulatus, Bl. Schn. p. 527. — ^^ — fasciatus, Bl. Schn. p. 529. colubrtuus, Bl. Schn. p. 529. Opliisiirns faseiatu.'*, Lacep. iv. p. 086; Richards. Ereh. 6r Terr. Fixh. p. 100 ; Blevk. Atl. Ichthyol. Mureen. p. 04, tab. 21. fig. 1 ; Kner, Xovara, Fisch. p. .'379. altcrnans, Quoy k^- Gaim. Voy. Uran. i. p. 243, pi. 45. fig. 2. colubrinus, Richards. I. c. p. 100 ; Bleek. Nat. Tydschr. Ned. Ind. xi. p. lOG. Opbitliorax colubrina, M'Clell. Calc. Jutmi. Nat. Hist. v. p. 212 (not synon.). Pisoodouopliis fasciatus, Kaup, Apod. p. 23. Body surrounded with numerous brown ring.s. The length of the head is nearly one-eighth of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent ; the length of the body equals that of the taij. Snout short, pointed ; cleft of the mouth of moderate width, one-fourth of the length of the head, slightly extending behind the ej'e. Eye very small. Teeth obtusely conical, biserial. Pectoral Jin rudimen- tary ; dorsal commencing immediately behind the nape ; dorsal and anal fins rather low, the latter terminating at some distance from the extremity of the tail. East-Indian archipelago ; Pacific. Var. a. cohibnna s. annulata. Brown rings simple, narrower or broader than the interspaces, which are immaculate. a. Adult. Borneo. Presented by Sir J. Richardson. h, c, d. Adult and half-grown. East-Indian archipelago. e-f,(/-h. Adult, half- grown, and young. Fcejee Islands. Var. /3. fasciata. The intervals between the brown rings are ornamented by more or less regular ocellated spots. i. Adult. Borneo. I', l,m. Adult. 5.5. Ophichthys maculosus. Ophisurus ophis, Lacfip. ii. pp. 195, 196, pi. G. fig. 2 (not Bloch) ; Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Mmren. p. (55, tab. 16. tig. 3. Mur»na maculosa. Cur. Riyne Anim. Ophisurus maculosus, Richards. Frcb. lij- Terr. Fisli. p. 102. I'lsoodouophis maculosus, Kaup, Apod. p. 21. Five alternate series of round brown spots along the body ; the \i]>permost on the dorsal fin, the second partly on the back, partly on the dorsal. The length of the head is oue-iifth of the distance of the gill-opeuing from the vent ; the length of the body is three- fourths of that of the tail. Snout short, broad : cleft of the moutli vol.. vni. u 82 MUR."ENIDJ!;. of moderate width, one-fourth of the length of the head, extending to the vertical from the hind margin of the orbit. Eye of moderate size. Teeth obtusely conical (probably granular with age), biserial. Pectoral Jin extremeJij short ; dorsal commenclnrj on the nape ; dorsal and anal fins rather low. Indian Ocean. a-h. Twenty-two inches long. Madagascar. Presented by Dr. .J. E. Gray. c. Twenty inches long. Banda. From Dr. Blceker's Collection. 50. OpMchthys breviceps. Ophisurus breviceps, Richards. Voi/. Erei). ^- Terr. Fish. p. 99. Pisoodonophis bre-viceps, Kavp, Apod. p. 20. coronata, Kemp, Aale Hamburg. Miis. p. 14, tab. 2. fig. 1. The length of the head is two-sevenths of the distance of the giU- opening from the vent ; the length of the body is two-thirds of that of the tail. Snout short, broad, the muscles on the occiput being swollen, rendering the upper profile concave. Cleft of the mouth rather wide, somewhat less than one-third of the length of the head. Eye small. Teeth granular, forming a large, broad patch on the intermaxillaries, and being arranged in two or tliree series on the other bones. Pectoral Jin rudimentarif ; dorsal commencing imme- diatehf behind the nape ; dorsal and anal fins well developed. Body witli two alternate series of round brown spots. West Indies ; Pacific coast of Central America. a. Type of the species, 3S inches long. Presented by the Poyal Col- lege of Surgeons. b. Ten inches and a half long. Pacific coast of Central America. Presented by Capt. Dow. The characters are taken from the larger, typical example. Our second example appears to belong to the same species ; it is young, ornamented Avith two series of large brown spots on the body ; head with small black spots ; the dorsal fin with a black margin. The nape is not more prominent than in other species of this genus. 57. Ophichthys pardalis. Ophisurus pardalis, Valcnc. in Webb Sc Berthel. lies Canar. Poiss. p. 90, pi. 16. fig. 2, or Pichards. Ercb. i,- Terr. Fish. p. 100. Pisoodonophis oculatus, Kaiip, Apod. p. 22. Ophisurus latemaculatus, Poey, Pepert. Fis.-nat. Cuba, ii. p. 2-52, tab. 3. fig. 1 (head). Body with two series of brownish-black ocellated spots, each with a white centre ; dorsal fin with irregular diftuse brown spots. The length of the head is two-sevenths or two-ninths of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent ; the length of the body is from three-fourths to nearly two-thirds of that of the tail. Snout of moderate length and width ; cleft of the mouth of moderate width, 21. OPHICHTHYS. 83 one-fourth of the length of the head, extending behind the small eye. Teeth granular, triserial, except on the maxillaries, on which they are biserial. Pectoral fm extremehj short ; dorsal commencing immediatelji behind the occiput. Cape Verde Islands ; Canary Islands ; West Indies. a. Twenty-live inches long. Lanzarote. Presented by the Iicv. 11. T. Lowe. />. Half-grown. Cape Verde Islands. Presented by the I{ov. 1*. T. Lowe. c. Half-grown. West Indies. Presented by Ch. Darwin, Esq. I believe that this is the species named j^rdalis by Valenciennes, although he does not mention the white centre of the brown spots, which may have disappeared. Probably this is also the risoodonophix ocuJdtKS of Kauj), which is (evidently erroneously) described as having the body longer than the tail. Specimen r has Ix'cn named Piaoodo- nophis (/nttidatus by this gentleman. 58. Ophichthys quincunciatus. Four alternate series of round brown spots along the body, the uppermost on the back, partly extending on the dorsal. Dorsal fin with a scries of ill-detined spots along the margin, anal with a scries of spots similar to those on the body. The length of the head is one-fourth of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent ; the length of the body is four-fifths of that of the tail. Snoiit depressed, pointed ; cleft of the mouth of moderate width, nearly one-foui-tli of the length of the head, extending a little behind the eye. Eye of moderate size, one-half of the length of the snout. Teeth granular, those of the intermaxillarj', vomer, posterior portion of maxillary, and anterior of mandible in a triple series, the remainder biserial. PecforaJ Jin very short ; dorsal commenci)ig on the nape ; dorsal and anal fins well developed. Head with rather numerous round brown spots. Habitat ? a. Twenty-seven inches long ; tail sixteen inches. •')9. Ophichthys acuininatus. Munena acuminata, (ironov. Si/sf. ed. (irau, p. 21. Pisoodonophis guttulatus, Kaup, Apod. p. '2\, fig. 10. Ophisurus longus, Poei/, licpcrt. Fis.-ndt. Cuba, ii. p. 254. Two or three alternate series of round yellowish spots along the body ; head wilh numerous small yellow spots ; spots on the dorsal fin yellow, diffuse. The length of the head is one-fifth of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent ; the length of the body is three-- fourths of that of the tail. Snout rather short and obtuse; cleft of the mouth of moderate width, exf eiuling somewhat behind the small eye. Teeth granular, biserial in young examples, but form- ing broadish bands along the palate and mandibles, and narrower 84 MrRj?NiP.i]:. iu the maxillarics. Pectoral Jin c.rtrcmclij short ; dorsal commendng on the nape ; dorsal and anal fins well developed. West Indies. a, b, c. Tbirty-tlircc inches lonp;, and young. Cuba. From the Col- lection of the Zoological Society. d-e. Half-grown. Barbadoes. Purchased of Mr. Cutter. III. Teeth equally small, conical ; pectoral absent {rarely riiclimentani) ; gill- openings close together. Sphagebranchus. A. T7ie dorsal commences at some distance hchiml the gill-ojjening. GO. Ophichthys imberbis. Sphagebranchus imberbis, Be la JRoche, Ann. Mas. xiii. p. 300, pi. 25. fig. 18 ; Bisso, Ear. Merid. iii. p. 196 ; Costa, Faun. Nap. Pesc. tav. 32. figs. 2, 3, 4 ; Kaup, Apod. p. 25. ocidatus, Pisso, I. c. p. 197. Leptocephalus spallaiizani, Pisso, Ichth. Nice, p. 85. The length of the head is contained five times and a half in the distance between the gill-opening and the vent. Cleft of the mouth narrow, extending behind the eye, two-ninths of the length of the head. Snout pointed. Teeth uniserial, except on the intermaxillary, and sometimes on the anterior part of the vomer, where they are placed in a double series. A rudiment of the pectoral fin is gene- rally visible ; the dorsal fin is very low, and commences at a distance from the gill- opening, which exceeds the length of the head. Tail somewhat longer than the body. Coloration uniform. Mediterranean. a,b. Adult. Mediterranean. c. Adult. Algiers. Presented by Lieut. -Col. Playfair. d. Adult. Sicily. Presented by W. Swainson, Esq. e. Adult. Nice. From Dr. Deakin's Collection. f. Adult. Old Collection. 61. Ophichthys anceps. Dalophis anceps, Cantor, Mai. Fish. p. 327, pi. 6. The length of the head is contained nine times and three-fourths i.i the distance between the gill-opening and the vent ; body longer than the tail. The very minute eye is situated at the commencement of the second eighth of the head, nearly above the middle of the lip ; its distance from the muzzle is a little more than one-eighth of the length of the head ; the distance from the muzzle to the angle of the mouth is two-ninths of the length of the head. Snout pointed. Teeth pointed, in a doiible series on the intermaxillary, anterior part of the vomer, and near the symphysis of the mandible ; otherwise uniserial. Pectoral fin none ; the dorsal is low, and commences at a great distance behind the gill-opening. Coloration uniform. Sea of Pinaiig. a. Type of the species : skin. From Dr. Cantor's Collection. 2]. oi'iJicuTUYs. 85 (j2. Ophichthys moluccensis. Dalophis molucceusis, U/ack. Nat. Tydschr. Ned. Ind. v. p. 246 ; or 1'erhand. But. Gen. xxv. Muran. p. 70. Spha^'ebraiichus moluccensis, Kuup,Apod. p. 20 ; lilcek. Atl. Ichtlvjol. Murccn. p. 08, tab. 11. tig. 1. The length of the head is two-ninths of the distance between the giU-opening and the vent ; tail scarcely a little longer than the body. Cleft of the mouth rather narrow, extending behind the eye. Snout pointed. Teeth pointed ; those of the intermaxillary and anterior part of the vomer biserial, the others uniserial. Pectoral fin none ; the dorsal is weU developed, and commences ut some distance behind the giU-opening. Coloration uniform. Eatjan, Ceram. a. Type of the species. From Dr. I31eeker's Collection. 63, Ophichthys fuscus. Mursena fusca, Ziiiew, Nov. Act. Ac. Sc. Petron. vii. 1793, p. 290, tab. 7. fig. 1. Sphagebranchus brevirostris, Peters, Wiegm. Arch. 1855, p. 273; Katip, AbhaiuU. Ntnciss. Verein. Hamburg, iv. 2. 1860, p. 10. The length of the head is contained thrice and two-thirds in the distance between the giU-opening and the vent; tail longer than the body. Cleft of the mouth wide, more than one-third of the length of the head, the eye being situated above its anterior half. Snout pointed. Teeth pointed, iiniserial, except those of the inter- maxiUary, which are in a double series. Pectoral fin none ; the dor- sal is low, and commences at some distance behind the giU-opening. Coloration uniform. Madagascar. a-g. Adult and half-grown. Madagascar, Collected by Mr, Plant. 64. Ophichthys macrodon. Sphagebranchus macrodon, Bleek. Ned. Tydschr. Dierk. i. p. 184; or Atl. Ichth. Miir. p. 69, tab. 12. fig. 1. The length of the head is two-sevenths of the distance between the gill-opening and the vent; tail somewhat longer than the body. Cleft of the mouth rather wide, one-third of the length of the head, the eye being situated above its middle. Snout pointed. Teeth pointed, uniserial, except those of the intermaxillary, which are in a double series. Pectoral fin none ; the dorsal is moderately developed, and commences at a short distance behind the giU-openiug. Colo- ration uniform. {Blkr.) Coasts of Borneo and Rotti. Go. Ophichthys polyophthalmus. PCcecula pterygera, Vahl, Skrivt. Naturh. Selsk. iii. 1794, p. 149, taf. 13. Dalophis polyoplithaluuis, Blcvk. Nut. Tydschr. Ned. Lid. iv. p. 2!.»"J ; or Verh. But. Gen. xxv. Murccn. p. 09. Aiif^uisunis paiictulatus, Kaup, Apod. p. 24, fig-. 12 (head). Sphaoebraiiclms polvoplithalmus, Kaup, Apod. p. 2G; Bleek. Atl. Ichthyol. Muran. p. 70, taf. 10. %. 1. The length of the head is very little less than one-fourth of the distiineo between the giU-opening and the vent ; tail shorter than the body. C'left of the mouth wide, the ej-e being above its middle. 8nout narrow, much pointed. Teeth pointed, uniserial, except those of the intermaxillary, which are in a double series. Pectoral fin none ; dorsal wcU developed, commencing at some distance behind the gill-opening. A series of yellow ocelli along each side of the body ; a yellow band across the nape, and two series of oceUi between the band and the origin of the dorsal. Java, Sumatra, and Batjau. ((. One of the typical specimens. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. This is probably the fish described by Tahl ; but he represents the eye as minute. Perhaps this was merely an individual peculiarity. t)6. Ophichthys kaupi. Spliagebrauchus kaupi, Bleek. Act. Sac. Sc. Indo-Neerl. v. Celebes, xii. p. 3; or Atl. Ivhthyol. Murcen. p. 70, tab. 13. fig. 1. The length of the head is contained five times and one-half in the distance between the giU-opening and the vent; tail rather longer than the body. C'left of the mouth of moderate width, ex- tending behind the eye. Snout pointed. Teeth pointed, uniserial, except those of the intermaxillary, which are in a double series. Pectoral fin none ; the dorsal is well developed, and commences at some distance beliiud the gill-opening. Coloration uniform. Pivers of Celebes. (I. Type of the species, Vi\ inches long. From Dr. Bleeker's Col- lection. B. The dorsal Jin commences above or nearly above the gill-opening. G7. Ophichthys bicolor. Lamuostoma bicolor, Kaup, Apud. p. 24. Sphagebranchus bicolor, Kaup, Abhandl. Ntrwiss. Verein. Hamburg, iv. 2. 1860, p. 15; Blceh. Ned. Tydschr. Dierk. i. p. 185; and Atl. Ichthyol. Mur. p. (59, tab. 11. ^^.'-i. Tlie length of the head is one-fifth of the distance between the giU- o^wumg and vent ; tail scarcely longer than the body. Cleft of the mouth of moderate width, extending behind the eye. Snout pointed ; teeth pointed, uniserial. Pectoral fin none ; the dorsal is moderately developed, and commences immediately behind the gill- opening. Coloration uniform. Borneo. tis. Ophichthys timorensis. Sphagcbranclu).^ lumbiiciiidus, Bhck. Ned. Ti/dschr. Dierk. ii. p. 46: 21. iJl'lllCliTUYS. 87 or Ail. Ichthyol. Murrojecting much beyond tlie lower. Eyes not externally visible, (iill-i)penings ventral, ap- proximate. Teeth of the jaws uniserial. Coloration reddish, with dark dots. (Dc In Roche.) Mediterranean. • 90 MUK.3£NID^. 77. Ophichthys gracilis. Opliisuraphis gracilis, Kaiq), Apod. p. 29. Body slender ; tail rounded, longer than the body. Fins none. Anterior nostrils not denticulated. "The punctiform eyes are si- tuated nearer to the poiut of the snout." l^o vomerine teeth (?). Length to the angle of the mouth 0-24 inch, to the giU-openiug 0-(;7 inch, to the anus 4-02 inches; length of tail 5-81. {Kaup.) Hab. ? 78. Ophichthys acutirostris. Ichthyapus acutirostris, Brk. de Baniciilh; Hev. Zool. 1847, p. 219; Kaiip, Apod. p. 28. Body slender, tail rounded, longer than the body ; fins none. The border of the anterior nostril is deuticidated ; it is at the lower side of the snout. Eye over the middle of the jaws. Length to the gill-opening 0-79 inch, to the anus 4' 14 inches ; length of tail 4-92 inches. Open sea, under the equator. Ninth Group. PTYOBRANCHINA. 22. MOEINGUA. Moringua, Gray, Zool. Misc. p. 9. Raitaboura, Grai/, I. c. Ptyobranchus, 31' Clell. Cede. Jouni. Nat. Hist. v. p. 200. Aphthalmichthys, Kaup, Apod. p. 105. Pseudomoriugua, &c., Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 14. Body scaleless, cylindrical, with the trunk much longer than the tail. Pectorals none or small ; vertical fins but little developed, limited to the tail. Posterior nostrils in front of the small eye. Cleft of the mouth narrow. Teeth uniserial. Heart placed far behind the branchifc. Gill-openings rather narrow, inferior. East Indies ; Feejee Islands ; Japan. 1. Moringua raitaborua. Miu'fena raitaborua, Ham. Buch. Fish. Gam/, pp. 25, .364. Rataboura hamiltonii, Gray, Zool. Misc. p. U. hardwickii, Gray, I. c. ; and III. Ind. Zool. c. fig. Ptyobranclius arundinaceus, M' Clell. Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. v. p. 2U0, pi. 10. fig. 1. guthriauus, M' Clell. I. c. p. 201, pi. 10. fiir. 2. . erytlireus, M' Clell. I.e. pi. 9. fig. .3 (half-grown). multidentata, M'' Clell. I. c. pi. 9. fig. 4 (half-gi-own). brevis, M' Clell. I. c. p. 223 (young). parvidentata, 31' Clell. I. c. p. 202, pi. 9. fig. 5. gracilis, M' Clell. I. c. pi. 9. fig. 6 (yoiuig). Anguilla (Moiiugua) raitaborua, Ca7it. Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. iv. p. 228, tab. 1. Moringua raitaborua, Bleel;. Verh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Beny. &(■ Hind. p. 154; Kaup), Apod. p. 10(i. 2li. JIOKINOUA. 91 Moiiiifriia luacrocliir, lileek. Xat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. ix. p. 71, or Atl. Lhtli. Mm: p. 15, pi. i]. Hg. 1 (youug) ; Kiier, Novara, Fisch. p. .-J^). luuibi'iciformis, Kaup, Apod. p. 107 (half-grown). In adult examples (12 to 22 inches) the greatest depth of the body is not less than one-fiftieth of the total length. Lower jaw the longer. Pectoral fins present. Dorsal and anal occupying the greater part of tlie tail, both interrupted in the middle ; origin of the anal distant from the vent, the distance being generally about equal to one-half of the length of the head. Young examples (up to about 8 inches) are comparatively much shorter ; the pectorals are very small ; and the anal is nearer to the vent. Bengal ; Batu. a. Numerous adult, half-grown, and young examples. Hooghly. Presented bj' the East-India Company. b. Adult. India. Presented by General Hardwicke. f. Half-grown. India. Presented by General Hardwicke. — Type of J/, lumbricifonms, Kaup. (/. Half-grown. Batu. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. — Type of M. macrochir. e. Adult : skeleton. Hooghlj'. Slcehtoji. The abdominal vertebra; have the transverse processes short and dilated, terminating in three points, the middle of which bears a slender rib. A second series of similar ribs along the dorsal part of the vertebral column. No superior spinous processes. Vert. 90/40. 2. Moringua luinbricoidea. P Moriiifrua linearis. Gray, Zool. Misc. p. 9 ; and ///. Ind. Zool. c. fig. Moringua lunibricoidea, Richards. Voy. Stdph. Ichth. p. 113, pi. o6. figs. 7-11 ; Kaup, Apod. p. 107. microchir, Bleek. Nat. Ti/ds. Xed. Ind. iv. p. 124 ; or VcrJi. Bat. Gen. xxv. Mur. p. UG ; or Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. l(j, pi. 4. fig. 2. In specimens 10 or 11 inches long the greatest depth of the body is one forty-fourth or one forty-eighth of the total length. Pectoral fins very small or rudimentary. Dorsal and anal fins occupjing the greater part of the tail, the middle rays being rather shorter than the anterior and posterior ; anal commencing at a short distance from the vent. China ; Amboyna ; Sumatra. a. Tji^e of the species. China. Presented by J. E. Reeves, Estj. />. Type of i¥. microchir. Amboyna. From Dr. Bleeker's Col- lection. 3. Moringua bicolor. Kaup, Apod. p. 107 ; B/cek. Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. lo, pi. 3. fig. 1. In an example about 15 inches long the greatest depth of tlie body is not less than one-sixtieth of the total length ; in another of ;U inches it is only one-ninetieth. Lower jaw the longer. Pec- 92 JIUR.'EXID.T5. toral fius present. Dorsal and anal occupying the greater part of the tail, interrupted in the middle; their origins opposite to each other, and their distance from the vent exceeding the length of the head. Timor. a. Thirty-one inches long. Presented by the Royal CoUege of Surgeons. 4. Moringua javanica. AphthalmicLtliysjavaniciis, Kaup, Apod. p. 105, fig. 71; Bleek. Ned. Tyds. Dierk. i. p. 104 ; or Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 16, pi. 2. fig. 2. Pectorals none ; vertical fins reduced to a narrow fringe of the end of the tail. The greatest depth of the body is one seventy-fifth or one-hundredth of the total length. Java, Celebes, Ceram, Timor ; Fet^'ee Islands ; Japan. a. Adult. From Dr. Bleekor's Collection. b. Adult. Moluccas. c. Young. Feejee Islands. Purchased of Herr Darnel. d. Adult. Japan. 5. Moringua abbreviata. Aphthalmichtliys abbreviatus, Bleek. Ned. Tijds. Dierk. i. p. 163 ; or Atl. Ichth. 3fiir. p. 17, pi. 1. fig. ]. Pectoral and vertical fins reduced to sHght folds of the skin, with a few rudimentary rays at the extremity of the tail. The greatest depth of the body is one-fortieth or one forty-fourth, and the length of the head one-twelfth or one-thirteenth of the total length. East-Indian archipelago. a. Type of the species. From Dr. Bleeker's CoUectiou. 6. Moringua macrocephala. Aphthalmichtliys macroccphalus, Bleek. Ned. Tyds. Dierk. i. p. 165 ; or Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 17, pi. 3. fig. 2. Probably not distinct from the preceding species, from which it diff"crs only in having a longer head, its length being one-ninth of the total. Timor. a. Type of the species. Timor. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. h. Young. India. Presented by General Hardwicke. 24. MURJENA. 93 Second Subfamily. MUR^NID/E ENGYSCHIST.E. The branchial openings in the pharynx are narrow slits. Tenth Group. MUR^NINA. 23. MYROCONGER. Scaleless. Head without conspicuous rauciferous cavities. Cleft of the mouth ■wide. All the teeth acicular, suljequal in size, forming broadish bands, the vomerine band tapering into a single series ter- minating far back in the mouth. Pectoral and vertical fins well develo2)ed, the dorsal fin commencing in advance of the small gill- opening. The posterior nostiil is on the level of the upper margin of the orbit, the anterior in a tube. Eye of moderate size. St. Helena. 1. Myroconger compressus. Body compressed, rather deep ; snout of moderate length, de- pressed, with the lower jaw rather prominent. The cleft of the mouth extends somewhat behmd the eye, which is of moderate size, one-half of the length of the snout, and one-eighth of that of the head. The dorsal fin commences midway between occiput and gill- opening ; pectoral about as long as the snout. The length of the head is one-half of that of the trunk ; tail longer than the bod}'. The skin of the throat and chest shows traces of large scale-pouches, regularly arranged, each about half the size of the eye. Uniform whitish. St. Helena. a. Fine specimen, 22 inches long. Presented by J. C. Melliss, Esq. 24. MTJR.ffiNA*. Murrena, sp., Artedi, Linn., lihirh. Gymnotliorax, Bluch, Bl. ScJin. MuriEUophis, Lacej). Murmna, Ciii\, Bicharchm. Echidna, ,/. B. Fur.sfcr. Than'odoutis, Strophidon, Lycodontis, McClelland. SIuriBua, Sidera, Eurvmyctera, Tliyrsoidoa, Ijimamurffina, Polvura- nodon,Pa>cilopliis,CTymnomin\'ena, Priodouopliis, Ta'niopliis,A7«//). Pseudomurrena, J. Y. Johnson. Echichia, Gymnothorax, Priodonophis, Stropliidon, Thyrsoidea, Bleekcr. * 1. Gymnothorax vrilsoni, Bl. Schn. p. 529. — G-. (dentibiis palatinis nullis?) capito parro, crasso, viridi, Tiiaeulis roseis latis ornate, pinna dorsali lonpitudine dorsi, aiio capiti ])ropinquiore quam apici Cauda;. Hab. in Nova Ilollandia, Banning dictus. 2. Mura?nophis stcllata, Lace}:!, v. pp. (')29, G22, 044. — La dorsale tres basse et commonres do la nuque ; les deux niaehoires gamies de dents aigui's et clair-scmees ; deux rangees de dents serablables do chatpie cote du palais ; deux series longitudinalcs de taches on fortne d'etoilee irregulieres, dc chaque cote de I'aninial. Sa couleur geiurale 94 MUR-ENrD^E. Scaleless. Teeth well developed. GiU-openings narrow. Pectoral fins none ; dorsal and anal well developed. Two nostrils on each side of the upper surface of the snout ; the posterior a narrow round foramen, with or without tube, the anterior in a tube. Seas of the temperate and tropical regions. parait d'un jaune mele de blanc, les taclies etoilees sont d"un poiirpre tirant sur le noir ; la serie superieure de ces taelies en reuferme ordi- nairement vingt, et rinierieure vingt-une. — Nouvelle Bretagne. 3. Mura'iiophis haiiy, Lacep. v. pp. 629, G4fi, pi. 17. fig. "2. — Hab. — ? — Name of a drawing. 4. Miira'na fidva, liisso, Ichth. Nice, p. 367, or Eur. Merld. iii. p. 190.— Mediterranean. — Corpore fLdvo, brunneo fasciato. 5. marmorata, Quay i|'- Gaim. Vo>/. Freyc. Zool. p. 247. — Waigiou and Rawak. — Six inches long. G. Murajnophis lineata, Less. Toy. Coq. Zool. p. 127, pi. 11- fig. 1- — Island of Oualan. 7. flaveola, Less. I.e. p. 128, pi. 11. fig. 2. — Island of Ouala)i. 8. Muraena cerino-nigra, Richards. LcMh. Chin. p. 314. — Canton. — Known from a drawing only. 9. Thyrsoidea blochii, Kaup, Apod. p. 90 ; Gymnotborax borueensis, i?/ff/?-. Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 102, pi. .'J7. fig. 2. — East Indies. — Known from a single young example ! 10. Murffina mieropoecilus, Blech. Naf. Tyds. Ned. Ind. viii. p. 4.59 ; Gynnio- thoras mieropoecilus, Bkek.Ned. Tyd't. Dicrk. i. p. 246, ov Atl. Ichth. Miir. p. 10.1, pi. ;i8. fig. 1. — East-Indian archipelago. — Founded upon young examples in which the specific characters are not yet developed. a. Type of the species. Cocos. From Dr. Bleclcer'.s Collection. 11. Murana mauritiana, Kmtp, Apod. p. 65. — Mauritiu.-i. — Short, obtuse head ; blackish, with some brown dots or markings ; fins witli a yel- lowish edge. — An — M. flavomarginata ? 12. Mura-na nigrolineata, Kaup), Apod. p. 66. — Marquesas Islands. l.'l. flavimarginata, Kaup, Apod. p. 67. — Bourbon. — Spotted with yellow; a black strijie runs from the throat to the vent. 14. chrysops, Kemp, Apod. p. 70. — Otaheiti. — Teeth uniserial, man- dibulary 12. Snout considerably obtuse. Upper parts black, with yellowish-brown stars and star-hke figures. Lips and mandible yellowish brown, with black zigzag markings. lo. multiocellata, Pocy, Man. Cuba, ii. p. 324 ; and Eep)erf. Fis.-vaf. Culia, ii. p. 2.")8.— Cuba. 16. erebus, Locy, Mem. Cuh. ii. p. 426; and Bcpcrt. Fis.-nat. Cnha, ii. p. 2.")8.— Cuba,. 17. Murenophis appendicuLita, Guichcnot in Gay, Chile, p. 341. 15. porphyreus, Giiichcnot, I.e. p. 342, lam. 11. fig. 2. 19. Thyrsoidea 'kaupii, Ahhoff. Proc. Ac. Naf. Se. Philad. 18()0, p. 477.— Sandwich Islands. 20. eurosta, Alihott, I. c. p. 478. — Sandwich Islands. 21. concolor, Abbott, I. c. p. 479. — Vera Cruz. 22. Gymnotborax scriptus, Bl. tichn. p. 529. — Corpore tereti, serpentiformi, striis transver.sis et lituris figuras litterarum arabicarum imitantibus, fuscis, capite parvo, rictu angusto, cauda obtusa, naribus tubulosis. — Xew Holland. 23. Murana canina, Quoy S( Gaim. Voy. Uran. Zool. p. 247. — Uniform blackish ; cleft of the mouth wide, with large teeth ; eyes large ; vent nearer to the head than to the end of the tail ; dorsal fin beginning on the head. — Waigiou and Rawak. 24. mordax, A/prs, Proc. Calif. Acad. Naf. Sc. 1859, p. 30. — Cerros Island. — Oi'igin of the dorsal about at the commencement of the second third of the length of the fish. Coloration dark, with linear sliort mottlings of a lighter shade. 24. MUR.ENA. 9o Sir John llichardson has divided the species of this genus into smaller groups, distinguished by the dentition. Dr. Kaup has done nothing beyond adopting these groups and attaching generic names to thera. However, only in a comparatively small part of the species is the arrangement of the teeth of systematic value, as the dentition changes to a considerable extent with age. Young examples have generally more scries of teeth than mature or old individuals. Espe- cially with regard to the one, two, or three large teeth forming an inner maxiUary series, it appears that normally these teeth enter the outer series as the age of the individual advances. This change is by no means regular, and one or two inner teeth are sometimes found in examples of considerable size. Further, in some species thebiscriul arrangement appears to be persistent through life ; in other species, which are known from a few examples only, we have no means of judging of the extent of change. The uni- or biserial arrangement of the vomerine teeth is also subject to much variation. In the foUoAving synopsis the maxillary teeth are admitted to be biserial only when the inner series consists of several (more than three) teeth. Si/nojms of the Subgenera and Species. I. Teeth acute. A. Posterior nostrils tubular : Mura-na, p. 90. B. Posterior nostrils not tubular : Gi/nmot/iorax,'p. 100. 1. Body moderately elongate ; tail not (or not much) longer than the body; snout of moderate extent. a. Ornamented by well-defined white (in spirits) spots or oceUi. a. Maxillary and intermaxillary teeth biserial, p. 100. /3. Maxillary teeth only biserial, p. 101. y. Maxillary teeth uuiserial, p. 102. h. Ornamented b}- well-defined black cross bands, p. 104. r. Ornamented bv well-defined polvgonal or round blaek spots, p. lor.. (1. Ornamented by yellowisli lines forming a network, p. 110. e. Body with dark or light markings, which are not well de- fined and more or less irregular. a. Maxillarj- teeth biserial, p. 112. /3. Maxillary teeth uuiserial, p. 116. f. Snout ornamented with brown longitudinal bands, p. 122. p. Coloration uniform. a. Dorsal fin elevated, p. 122. ^. Dorsal fin not elevated, p. 123. 2. Snout slender, much elongate, p. 127. 3. Exceedingly elongate, the tail being twice as long as the bodj' {Thyrsoidea, Blkr. ), p. 127. 4. Exceedingly elongate, the tail being nearly as long as the body {Stnyphidon, Blkr.), p. 128. II. Most of the teeth are obtuse, molar-like : Pwcilophi", p. 128. 96 mur;enid.e. Skeleton.— Orhit generally a complete osseous ring. Suture be- tween maxillary and intermaxillary very distinct. Anterior verte- brcc with a broad inferior sjnnous process ; transverse process of the abdominal vertebra) deeply concave, sometimes cup-shaped ; caudal vertebric with short transverse upper and lower spinous processes. Vertebi'ir. Abdominal. Caudal. 3fura;na Menu 69-71 + 72-70 = 141 meleco/tis 60 + 6() = 120 umlidata 64 + 68 =132 moringa 65 + 79 = 144 unicolor 65 + 71 = 136 zchm 97 + 38 = 135 nehidosa 65 + 57 = 122 catenata 65 + 51 =116 I. Teetli acute. A. Posterior nostrils tubular : Murrena. 1. Mursena helena. Mvpawa, Aristot. i. e. 5, ii. c. 1-3 & ll, iii. c. 10, v. c. 10, viii. c. 2, LI & 15, ix. c. 2 ; ^lian, i. c. 82 & 50, ix. c. 40 & GO; Athen. lib. vii. Mim-ena, Plin. ix. c. 16,19, 20, 23, 54,55 ; xxxii. c. 2, 5, 7 & 8 ; Bellon. Do Aqiint. p. 158; Rondel, xiv. e. 5, p. 402; Salvian, pp. 59, GO; Will ughhj, Hist. Pise. p. 103, tab. G 1 ; AldroiK iii. c. 27,pp. 356, o57. Mura'iia, sp. no. 6, Artedi, Si/non. p. 41 ; Genera, p. 2o ; Gronov. Zoaphyl. no. 164. Murfena helena, L. Si/st. Xat. i. p. 425 ; Brlinn. Pise. 3Iass. p. 11 ; Block, Ausland. Fis'ch. ii. p. 31, taf. 153 ; Iiisso,IchtJi. Nice, p. 366, and Hur. Merid. iii. p. 189 ; Costn, Faun. Nap. Pesc, with figure of skull ; Jem/ns, Man. p. 479 ; Yarrell, Brit. Fish. 2nd edit. ii. p. 40(), and 3rd edit. i. p. 73 ; Couch, Fish. Brit. Isl. iv. p. 3-35, pi. 237 (not good); Guichen. F.vplor. Ah/er. Poi'/thon, Kaup. b. Fine specimen. Zanzibar. Presented by Lieut.-Col. Playfair. c. Half-grown : stufled. Zanzibar. Presented by Lieut.-Col. Play- fair. d. Adult. East-Indian archipelago. From Dr. Bleeker's Col- lection. e. Young. Presented by Sir J. Richardson. — Type of M. tessellata. jj. var. intermedia. f. Adult : stuffed. From the Collection of the Zoological Society. (/. Adult, From Dr. Kaup's Collection. y. var. isingfeena. h. Adult : stuifed. China. Presented by J. R. Reeves, Esq. — One of the types of 21. isingteena. i. Half-grown. China. Presented by J. R. Reeves, Esq. — One of the types of M. isingteena. k: Half-grown. East-Indian archipelago. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. /. Half-grown : stufled. Mauritius. From Dr. Janvier's Col- lection. m. Adidt : stuffed. Zanzibar. From Lieut.-Col. Playfair's Col- lection. n. Skull. 21. Muraena reevesii. Ricluirds. Ichthyol. Stdph. p. 109, pi. 48. fig. 2. Teeth uniserial, without basal lobe ; there are about 17 on each side of the mandible. Canines of moderate size, the jaws shutting 108 Aiuii.i;xiD.E. completely. Anterior nasal tubes short; gill-opening not wider than the eye. Snont compressed, rather short ; eye of moderate size, its diameter being more than one-half of the length of the snout, situated nearer to the end of the snout than to the corner of the mouth. Cleft of the mouth wide, its length being contained twice and one-third or twice and one-sixth in that of tlie head. Tail longer than the body ; the length of the head is contained twice and one-third in that of the trunk. Davl-lrown, with several series of indistinct blacl- round spots, longitudinally arranged, and of ahout the size of the eye ; head with spots similar to those of the body in size and form ; fins ivithout light margin. China ; Japan. a, b, c. Adult. Japan. Purchased of Mr. Jamrach. 22. Mursena tigrina. Riippell, Atl. p. 118, taf. 30. fig. 2 ; Eaiq), Apod. p. 69. Teeth uniscrial, except the vomerine series, which is forked in front. Tail nearly twice as long as body. Yellowish, with three alternate longitudinal scries of round brown spots, those of the middle series being the largest. Red Sea. 23. Muraena fimbriata. Murajna fimbriata, Bennett, Proc. Comm. Zool. Soc. i. 1831, p. 168. buUata, Richards. Ereb. ^- Terr. Ichth. p. 86 (cop. by Kaup, Apod. p. 81, fig. 60). isingleena, lileek. Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. ix. p. 277 (not Richards.). isingleenoides, lileek. Verh. Bat. Geii. xxv. Mur. p. 4S. Gymnotliorax isingleenoides, Bleek.Atl. Ichth. 3Lir. p. 91, pi. 35. fig. 1, pi. 36. fig. 1 (coloration of anal fin incorrect). Teeth uniserial, without basal lobe ; younger examples some- times with two or three additional teeth, forming an inner maxillary series. Canines well developed, but the mouth can be shut nearly completely. Anterior nasal tubes much shorter than the vertical diameter of the eye. Gill-opening not wider than the eye. Snout narrow, somewhat produced ; eye of moderate size, half the length of the snout, situated above the middle of the cleft of the mouth. Tail a little longer than the body ; the length of the head is contained twice and one-fourth or twice and one-third in that of the trunk. Body and tail with three or more more or less regular longitudincd series of round black spots, most of which are larger than the eye, but smaller than the interspaces of the ground-colour. Fins ivith a white margin. Head with small black sp>ots. East-Indian archipelago, a. Young. Borneo. Presented by Sir J. Richardson. — Type of M. bullata. b. Adult. Amboyna. Purchased of Hr. Frank. c. Adult. East-Indian archipelago. From Dr. Bleeker's Collec- tion.— Type of M. isingleenoides. 24. MaR^ENA. 1Q9 d, e. Adult. East-Indian archipelago. From the Collection of Dr van Lidth do Jeudo. *^' TT°'^P ^' ^'°^* J^ssington. From the Ilaslar Collection. y. Half-grown ; type of the species. Mauritius. From the Collec- tion of the Zoological Society. h. Half-grown. Presented by Sir A. Smith. 24. Muraena microspila. Gymnothorax bullatus, Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Mm- p 91 pi '>7 fi.r o ,o on plate), pi. 43. fig. 8 (not synonymy). • e- - ^ Teeth uniserial, without basal lobe ; there are about 20 on each side of the mandible. Canines rather smaU, the iaws shuttineniug luithout hlaclc spot ; fins without white margin. Celebes ; Amboyna. a. Tyi^e of the species. Celebes. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. 6. Body with dark or light markings, which are not well defined, and more or less irregular. a. Maxillary teeth biserial. 31. Muraena tile. Murrenophis tile, Ham. Buck. Fish. Gang. pp. 18, 363. Lycodontis literata, M^Clell. Calc. Juurn. Nat. Hist. v. p. 186, pi. 7. "fig. 2. punctata, M'Clell. I. c. p. 187, fig. 3. Strophidon literata, M' Civil. I. c. pp. 203, 215. punctata, M'Clcll. I. c. pp. 203, 215. niacidata, M'CMl. I. c. pi. 8. fig. 1. 24. llUKJiNA. 113 Muraena vermiculata, Richards. Voij. Ereh. Sf Terr. Fish. p. 92. gracilis, Richards. I. c. punctata et literata, Bhek. Verh. Bat. Gen. xxv. 3Iur. p. 42. tile, Bleek. I. c. Benq. p. 159 ; or Nat. Tijds. Ned. Lid. ix. p. 427. Tliyisoitlea tile, Kaup, Apod. p. 93 (copied from Richards. ), fig. CO. Gyiiinothorax tile, Bleek. Atl. Irhfh. Miir. p. 97, tab. 34. fig. 1; Kncr, Norara, Fische, p. 335. yiJl the teeth more or Zc.fS distinctly bisrrial, except the lateral of the mandible, which are iiuiserial. Canine teeth small. Anterior nasal tubes very short. Snout of moderate length, rather obtuse. Eye of moderate size, one-half or two-thirds of the length of the snont, situated somewhat nearer to the angle of the mouth than to the end of the snout. Cleft of the mouth of moderate width. Gill-opening about as wide as the eye. Tail as long as, or shorter than, the body. The length of the head is one-third of that of the trunk. Brown or brownish black, with numerous irregular very small light specks, uu- e(]ual in si/e. These specks disappear more or less with age on the anterior part of the body, but are distinct on the dorsal fin and tail. Indian Ocean. a, h. Several adult and half-grown specimens. Calcutta. c. Adult. India. Presented by General Hardwicke. — Type of M. vermicularis. d, e. Half-grown. India. — Types of M. gracilis. f. Adult. East Indies. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. 32. Muraena thyrsoidea. Muraena thyi'soidea, Richards. J'ui/. Sidph. Ichth. p. Ill (not fig). and Voy.'Ereb. ^- Terr. p. 90; Vant. Mai. Fish. p. 330, pi. 5. f. -y. griseobadia, Richards. Vuy. Ereh. Si- Terr. Fish. p. 89. prosopeion, Bleek. Nat. Ti/ds. Ned. Lid. iv. p. 300 ; or T'erh. Bat. Gen. xxv. 3Lir. p. 73. ThjTSoidea griseobadia, Kaup, Apod. p. 74 (cop. Richards.). areuatn, Kaup, Apod. p. 85 (cop. Richards.). Gyniuothorax prosopeion, Bleek. Atl. Ichth. 3Lir. p. 88, pi. 39. fig. 3. Ski7i with scale-pouches. Teeth short, biserial, except on the in- termaxillary and the sides of the mandible. Anterior nasal tubes very short. Gill-opening rather wider than the eye. Snout .. 81. SJiin distinctly folded, the folds crossing each other and forming scale-iwuches. Teeth of old examj^iles imiserial, without basal lobe ; in younger examples the anterior mandibulary and maxiUary teeth, and also sometimes tlie vomerine teeth, are biscrial. Manchble with from ten to fourteen teeth on each side. Canines rather small ; the mouth can be shut completely. The length of the anterior nasal tubes is rather less than the vertical diameter of the eye. Snout compressed, of moderate length. Eye of moderate size. Gill-opening as wide as the eye. Tail a little longer than the body. The length of the head is contained twice and one-third in that of the trunk. Gill-opening without black spot. Brownish, marbled with darker ; on the back the dark colour forms an incomplete network of wide meshes, and the tail is crossed by dark cross bands. Young specimens without white edge to the anal fin, whilst a larger example (from Australia) has the white edge. Indian Ocean and archipelago; Australia. 24. MUK^NA. ll'J a, b, c. Many adult, half-grown, and young specimens. Zanzibar. d. Young. East-Indiau archipelago. Erom Dr. Eleeker's Collection. — One of the typical examples of M. ceramensis. e. Half-grown. East-Indian archipelago. From Dr. Bleeker'a Collection. — Type of M. richurdsonii. f. Yoimg. Amhoyna. Purchased of Mr. Frank. g. Young. Sumatra. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. — Type of M. scoUodon. h. Twenty-two inches long : stuffed. Houtman's Abrolhos. From Mr. Gilbert's Collection. i. Half-grown. 43. Mursena tenehrosa. Richards. Voy. Ereb. Sf- Terr. Fish. p. 84 (copied by Kmtp, Apod. p. 78). Bodi/ much compressed ; shin smooth. Teeth without basal lobe ; the anterior teeth of the mandible subbiserial. the others uniserial ; however, there are two larger teeth inside of the anterior maxil- lary teeth. Canines large ; the mouth cannot he shut completely. Mandible with about twenty teeth on each side. Anterior nasal tubes short. Hnout produced, pointed. Eye small. Cleft of the mouth wide. Gill-openimj narrower than the eye. Tail somewhat longer than body. The length of the head is contained twice and three-fourths in that of the trunk. Dark purplish brown, with indistinct blackish, broad, numerous transverse bands and spots. Polynesia. a. Type of the species, ISj inches long, bleached. Society Islands ? Presented by the Royal College of Surgeons. 44. Mursena marmorea. Murfenopliis marmoreus, Valeric, in Voy. Venus, Zool. p. 347, pi. 10. tig, 1. Murtena marmorea, Konp, Apod. p. G6. Teeth uniserial. " Y''eUowish brown, with black reticiilations, whose longitudinal branching streaks are studded with oblong yellow spots. On the ventral aspect, the spots are larger, roimder, and near the throat coalescent. Dorsal fin yellowish brown, with black spots." {Kaup.) Galapagos Islands. 45. Mursena flavomarginata. ? Murnsnopliis ^nisea, Lacep. v. pp. 029, 042, 044. ? Mura>na trt'innelrica, liiipp. Ail. p. 118, taf. .''O. fig. 1. Muneua tiavouiargiuata, liiq^. Ail. p. 119, taf. 30. fig. 3; Giinth. Fish. /an:, p. 127. ? Murajiia bilineata, Riipp. N. W. Fisch.'p. 84. Mura^ia pratbornou, Richard.'!. Voy. Ercb. c^ Terr. Fish. p. 84. batupiisis, BUek. Xaf. Tyds. Ned. Ind. xii. p. 241. javanica, Bleek. I. c. xLx. p. 347. ? Thyrsoidea grisea, Kaup, Apod. p. 92, fig. 95. Gvmnotliorax javauicus, Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Miircrn. p. 05, pi. ;>5. tig. 2. tlavomarginatus, Bleek. I. c. pi. 32. tig. 2, and pi. 84. fig. 'i. Teeth uiiiserial, except the Yomerine series, which is forked in front. Canines of moderate size, the month shutting completely. Mandible with from eighteen to twenty-two teeth on each side, the two anterior being canines. Anterior nasal tubes very short. Snout rather high, of moderate length. Eye small, one-half or two- fifths of the length of the snout, situated above the middle of the cleft of the mouth, which is two-fifths of the length of the head. Gill-opening wider than the eye. Tail as long as the body. The length of the head is contained thrice and one-third or thrice and four-fitths in that of the trunk. Gill-opening in a blacJc spot. Body brown, densely marbled with black ; head and end of the tail quite black. In a variety (M. Javanica) the black spots are large, rounded, well-defined, forming about thi-ee longitudinal series. Sometimes two black depressed lines along the anal fin ; fins fre- quently with a white edge. Eed Sea ; Indian and Pacific Oceans. (I. Very large specimen. Port Natal. Purchased of Mr. Thomas Ayres. /). Adult: stuft'ed. Zanzibar. From Lieut.-Col. Playfair's Col- lection. c, d. Half-grown. Zanzibar. e. Large example. Seychelles. Presented by Prof. E. Perceval Wright. /'. Adiilt. Java. Erom Dr. Bleeker's Collection. — Type of M. Javanica. (j,li. Half-grown. East-Indian archipelago. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. — Types of M. hatueiisis. i. Skin of a very largo example, in spirits. Norfolk Island. Pre- sented by J. B. Jukes, Esq. 40. Muraena moringa. Ca(c6hi/, Carol, v.. tab. 20 & 21. Murffina, no. 5, Kkin, Pise. Miss. iii. p. 29 : Gronov. Zoaiihyl. no. 165. ? Murrcna brasiliensis, Bl. Sc/m. p. 529. Murrena moringa, Cuv. Regne Aniin. moringua, Richards. Voy. Ereb. & Terr. Fish. p. 89 (cop. by lump, Apod. p. 79). Gymnotliorax rostratus, Ar/ass. in Spi.v, Rise. Bras. p. 91, tab. 50 rt. ]\Iurenophis rostrata, Castcln. Anim. Am. Sud, Roiss. p. 80, pi. 42. lig.l. cuTvilineata, Castebi. I. c. p. 81, pi. 42. tig. 2. ?\Iurffina punctata, Gi-onov. Syst. ed. Gray, p. 18 (not Bl. Schn.). Teeth uniserial ; canines large, the jaws not shutting completely ; mandible with from twenty-three to twentj^-eight teeth on each side, of ^\]lich the three anterior are canines, the third being separated from the preceding by an interspace. The length of the anterior nasal tubes is less than the vertical diameter of the eye. Snout jiroduced, narrow. Ej^o of moderate size, two-fifths of the length 24. ilUR.EXA. 121 of the snout, situated ii little nearer to the angle of the mouth than to the end of the snout. Cleft of the mouth very wide, two- tifths of the length of the licad. (Jill-opening a little wider than the cje. Tail as long as, or somewhat longer than, the hody. The length of the head is one-half, or a little less than one-half, of that of the trunk. The entire fish with innumerable confluent, irregular, l)rownish-black spots separated hy a fine network of the white ground-colour. Each pore of the lower jaw generally situated in a round white spot. Eins without white margin. In ?/om/(^ examples the hiack spots are larger and less in number. Vert. 65/79. Tropical parts of the Atlantic. a, b. Adult and half-grown. Baliia. From Dr. Wucherer's Col- lection. c. Half-grown. Cuba. Pxirchased of Mr. Scrivener. d. Adult : stuffed. West Indies. From the Haslar Collection. e. Several skins. Jamaica. /. Half-grown. Jamaica. (J. Half-grown. Dominica. Purchased of Mr. Cutter. h,i. Adult. St. Croix. Purchased of Mr. Stevens. k. Adult. Island of Bonacca. Collected by Mr. Maegillivray. l,m. Adult and half-grown. St. Helena. Presented by J. C. Melliss, Esq. n, 0. Adult and half-groMii. From the Collection of Dr. van Lidth de Jeude. p. Adult: skeleton. From the Collection of Dr. van Lidth de Jeude. 47. Mursena vicina. Murenophis vidua, Casteln. An. Amer. Sud, Potss. p. 81, pi. 42. fig. 4. caramuru, Casteln. I. c. p. 82, pi. 43. fig. 1. Teeth uniserial, sometimes an additional tooth or tAvo forming au inner maxillary series ; mandibulary teeth about nineteen on each side ; canines strong, but the mouth can be shut completely. Gill- openings narrower than the eye. Snout produced, twice as long as the eye, wliich is large. Cleft of the mouth wide, its length being contained twice aiul one-fourth in that of tho head. Tail longer than the body. The length of the head is contained from once and three-fourths to twice and one-half in that of the trunk. Olive- coloured, densely and rather finely marbled with brown, the brown coloration being by f;ir the more prominent, and nearly entirely suppressing the ground-colour, which appears in irregular vermicu- lated lines or small spots. Angle of the mouth brown ; fins with a distiTict wliite margin ; gill-opening without bro\A'n spot. Bahia. ", 6. Adult. Bahia. Ennn Dr. Wucherer's Collection. 122 JIURiENIB,E. f. Snout with brown lunf/itudinul hands. 48. Muraena callorhyncha. Maxillary teeth and the anterior of the mandible biserial ; the others uniscrial. Canines short. Mandible with about twenty closely set teeth in the outer series on each side. Snout of moderate lengih, obtuse, nearly thrice as long as the eye, which is small. Gill-opening still narrower than the eye. The length of the cleft of the mouth is contained twice and one-third in that of the head. Fins very low, the dorsal commencing behind the gill-opening. Tail a little longer than the body. The length of the head is contained thrice and three-fourths in that of the trunk. Nearly uniform greyish olive (in spirits) ; snout white, with a brown band on each side, running from above the orbit over the front nostril to the edge of the upper lip. Freemantle, Australia. a. Nineteen inches long. g. Coloration unifurm. a. Dorsal Jin elevated. 49. Mursena hepatica. Murajna hepatica, llilpp. At!. Fisch. p. 120. albomarginata, Schkf/. Faun. Jupon. Poiss. p. 267, pi. 118 ; Bleek. Nut. Tyds. Ned. Lid. xii'i. p. 77. Gymnothorax albiuiargiiiatus, Bleek. Ail. lehlh. 3Iur. p. 107, pi. 37. 'fig-. 2, and pi. 40. fig. 3. Dorsal fin elevated, the posterior rays being as high as, or higher than, the body underneath, commencing in advance of the gill-oj)ening. Teeth uniscrial, canines scarcely enlarged ; the mouth can be shut completely. Length of the anterior nasal tubes less than the vertical diameter of the eye. Snout rather thick, of moderate length. Eye rather small, two-fifths of the length of the snout, nearer to the angle of the mouth than to the end of the snout. Gill-opening scarcely wider than the eye. Tail as long as, or shorter than, the body. The length of the head is contained thrice and two-thirds in that of the trunk. Uniform brown, fins luith a white margin. Red Sea ; East-Indian archipelago ; Japan. a. Adult. Amboyna. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. — Type of M. albomarginata. 50. Muraena euptera. Dorsal fin rather elevated, the posterior rays being nearly as high as the body underneath, commencing far in advance of the gill-opening. Teeth uniscrial, canines scarcely enlarged ; mandible with about sixteen conical acute teeth on each side ; the mouth can be shut completely. Length of the anterior nasal tubes a little less than the vertical diameter of the eye. Snout somewhat produced, at least twice as long as the diameter of the eye, which is large and wider 24. MUR.ENA. 12y than the gill-opening. Cleft of the mouth two-lifths of the length of the head. Tail longer than the body. The length of the head is two-tifths of that of the trunk. Skin with very distinct scale- pouchos. Uniform brown, fins with a white margin ; gular folds and angle of the mouth dark brown, llaoul Island. a. Twenty-four inches long. Collected by Mr. Macgillivray. 51. Mursena cinerascens. Riippell, Atl. Fisch. p. 120. Dorsal fin rather elevated, comme)icing above the gill-opening. Teeth ? Tail rather longer than the body. Uniform greyish ; fins with a narrow light edge. Black longitudinal lines from the mouth towards the gill-opening, {lii'qyp.) Ked Sea. ^. Dorsal Jin nut elevated. 52. Miiraena afra. (iymnotliorax afer, BI. Ausl. Fisch. vs.. p. 85, tab. 417; 131. 8ehn. p. 52G. Miirffiuophis afra, Lacep. v. p. 642. Gvninothorax funebris, Hanzani, Nov. Comm. Ac. Sc. Inst. Bonon. iv. '1840, p. 70. ^lurasua lineopinnis, Rirhards. Voy. Ereh. c^- Terr. Fish. p. 89. prasina, Richards. I. c. p. 93. boschii, Bleek. Verh. But. Gen. xxv. Mur. p. 52 ; or Nat. Tijds. Ned. Ind. vii. p. 103. uionoclirous, Bleek. Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. x. p. 384. tristis, Kaup, Apod. p. 62. Thyrsoidea lineopinnis, Kaup, Apod. p. 82. Muroena inferualis, I'uci/, Mun. Cub. ii. pp. 347, 354. Tainiopbis westpliali, Kaup, Aale Ilamhurcj. Mas. Nachtray, p. 1. Gymnothorax boscbi, Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 105, pi. 46. fig. 3. nionocbrous, Bleek. I. c. p. 100, pi. 47. fig. 2. jacksoniensis, Bleek. Versl. en Meded. Ak. Wet. Amstcrd. xv. 1863, p. 450. iufemalis, Poei/, Repert. Fis.-nat. Cuba, ii. p. 258. Teeth uniserial in old examples, except the vomerine teeth, which are sometimes biserial. Young examples generally with the anterior niandibulary and maxillary teeth biserial. Mandible with about twenty teeth on each side, the four anterior of which are much longer than the others, and, like the canines, rather elongate. An- terior nasal tubes half as long as the eye. Gill-opening nearly as tvide as the ei/e. Snout narrow, produced, pointed. Eye of moderate size, half the length of the snout, situated somewhat nearer to the angle of the cleft of the mouth than to the end of the snout. Cleft of the mouth wide, two-fifths of the length of the head. Tail longer than the body. The length of the head is contained twice and one- third or twice and two-thirds in that of the trunk. Broivnish black : Jius wiihout light edge. Tropical jiarts of the Atlantic : Indian Ocean ; Australia. 124 MUKJiXIDJi. a. Type of M. tristis, 15 inches long. Eivcr Niger. Collected by- Mr. Fraser. h. Type of M. lineojjinnis, 22 inches long. Puerto CabaUo. Pur- chased of Mr. Brandt. c-(/. Adult and young : skins. Jamaica. Purchased of Mr. Par- ncll. h. Half-grown. Island of Grenada. Purchased of Mr. Cutter. /. Type of M. monochrous. East-Indian archipelago. From Dr. Bleckcr's Collection. A'. Type of M. hoschii, young. Sumatra. From Dr. Bleeker's Col- lection. /, m. Adult and half-grown. Port Essington. From the Haslar Collection. n. Large specimen. Sydney. Presented by G. Kj-efffc, Esq. 0. Half-grown : stuffed. Australia. — Type of M. prasinu. p. Adult. From the Collection of Dr. van Lidth de Jeude. 53. Muraena aterrima. Thyrsoidea aterrima, Kaup, Aalv Ilamhurg. Mus. p. 22. Tieniophis aterrima, Kaup, I. c. tab. 3. fig. 1. ? Gymuothorax atenimus, Bleek. Ned. Tyds. Dierk. ii. p. 24-4. Closely allied to M. afra, but with a smaller eye. Teeth uniserial, except those on the vomer, which are more or less distinctly biserial ; in young examples two or three inner maxillary teeth. Canines rather small. Gill-opening rather wider than the et/e, which is smaU, less than one-half of the length of the snout. Snout of moderate length ; cleft of the mouth moderately wide, its length being contained twice and three-fourths in that of the head. Tail rather longer than the body ; the length of the head is contained twice and one-third in that of the trunk. Entirely uniform black. West Indies ; Atlantic coast of Central America. «. Half-grown. Dominica. Purchased. 54. Mursena macuUpinnis. Thyrsoidea maculipinnis, KuKp, Apod. p. 83 ; Dunieril, Arch. Mvs. X. p. 2(30, pi. 28. tig. 1 ; UheL Verh. Iloll. Maatsch. Haarlem, 1862, Gtiinee., p. 129, tab. 27 (coloration after a specimen preserved in spirits) ; Troschel, Wiegm. Arch. 1866, p. 237. connura, Kaup, Aule Hamburg. Mus. p. 23. Tseniopbis cormura, Kaup, 1. c. tab. 3. fig. 2. ThjTsoidea niargiuata, Kaup, 1. c. p. 24. Tfeniophis marginata. Kaup, I. c. tab. 4. tig. 1. ? Gymnotliorax funel)ris, lilech. Ned. Tyds. Dierk. ii. p. 245. Teeth uniserial, sometimes an additional inner maxillary tooth ; mandible with about 22 teeth on each side ; canines well developed, but the jaws can be shut nearly completely. GiU-openiivj iiarroiver than the eye. Snout narrow, produced, pointed ; twice as long as the eye, which is large. Cleft of the mouth wide, contained twice 24. MUT..ENA. 12") or twice and one-third in the length of the head. The length of the head is one-h;ilf of that of the trunk. Uniform hlaclcish-hroini ; dorsal with a black, anal with a narrow white edge. Tropical parts of the Atlantic. a, b. Fine specimens. Cape Verde Islands. Presented by the Rev. R. T. Lowe. c. Adult: stuffed. Fernando Po. d. Adult. Mexico. 55. Murseiia unicolor. Murfeiiophis unicolor, De la Roche, Ami. Mux. xiii. 1809, p. .359, %■ 15- ... . Murajna cristini, Risso. Ichth. Nice, p. .368, or Eur. Mend. iii. p. 10], nionaca, Cocco. unicolor, Loire, Trans. Zool. Soc. ii. p. 192 ; Costa, Faun. Nap. Peso. PThyrsoidea raicrodon, Kai/p, Apod. p. 89, fig. 64. Thyrsoidea unicolor, Kaup, Apod. p. 91. Teeth in front of the jaws, on the maxillary and, generally, on the vomer biserial ; the lateral teeth of the mandible uniscrial. Ca- nines small, scarcely larger than the others. Anterior nasal tubes extremely short. Gill-openings a little larger than the eye, which is very small. Snout short, obtuse, thrice as long as the cj'o, which is somewhat nearer to the angle of the mouth than to the end of the snout. Cleft of the mouth of moderate width. Tail a little longer than the body : the length of the head is contained twice and one- half or twice and two-thirds in that of the trunk. Nearly uniform brown or bro\\-nish black ; the head is darker than an obscure lighter cross band bcliind the angle of the mouth, which is black. Home- times the body or the anterior portion of it with an indistinct net- work of short black lines crossing each other. Fins with a light edge. Vert. 65/71. Mediterranean; Madeira; St. Helena ; (Madagascar?). a. Half-grown. Algiers. Presented by Lieut.-Col. Playfair. h, V. Half-grown. Madeira. Presented by J. Y. Johnson, Esq. d, e-f. Adult and half-grown. St. Helena. Presented by J. C. Melliss, Esq. (/. Adult. From the Collection of Dr. van Lidth de Jeude. h. Adult : skeleton. Madeira. From the Collection of the Zoolo- gical Society. 56. Muraena maderensis. Pseudomura-na madeireusis, J<)hn.io>i, Proc. Zool. Soc. 18G0, p. 107. Most closely allied to M. unicolor, from which it apparentlj' differs in the dentition. Known from two very old examples only *. Teeth uniserial, not numerous, slighthj serrated behind; anterior * I liave also to remark that a smaller example, 21 inches long, given by Mr. Johnson to the Liverpool Museum as Puudomurcena madeireusis, is nothing but Murcena unicolor. 126 MUR-ENIDiE. teeth scarcely larger than the others ; vomer toothless. Gill- opening scarcely larger than the eye, which is very small. Snout obtuse ; cleft of the mouth of moderate widtli. Tail shorter than the body ; the length of the head is two-sevenths of that of the trunk. Uniform blackish brown ; anterior part of the body with short, black undulating lines. Madeira. a. Type of the species, 41 inches long. Presented by J. Y. John- son, Esq. 57. Mursena sanguinea. Pythoniclitliys sanguineus, Poei/, Repvrt. Fis.-nat. Cuba, ii. p. 20.5, "pi. 2. fig. 7 (head). Teeth small, pointed, biserial in the jaws, plimserial on the vomer. Tail longer than the body ; the length ol' the head is one- half of the distance of the giU-opening from the vent. Mouth wide. Eye very small. Nostrils not tubular. Uniform pink. (Poey.) Cuba. 58. Murasna moluccensis. Priodoiiophis moluccensis, lileek. Ned. Tt/ds. Dicik. ii. p. 48 ; or AU. Ichth. Mur. p. 108, pi. 43. fig. 1. Teeth uniserial, v)ith the hinder edr/e serrated ; vomerine teeth subbiserial anteriorly ; mandible with about 22 teeth on each side. Canines small. Gill-opening wider than the ej'c. Snout depressed, obtusely rounded in front, of moderate length. Eye rather small, half as long as the snout. Tail shorter than the body ; the length of the head is one-third of that of the trunk. Skin with scale- pouches. Uniform brown. Amboyna. a. Type of the species, .399 millims. long. From Dr. Bleeker's Col- lection. 59. Muraena modesta. Kaup, Aale Hamburg. Mus. p. 21, tab. 4. fig. 2. Teeth uniserial, ivitli a hasal lohe ; mandible with twelve teeth on each side ; snout short, obtuse ; eye small, two-thirds of the length of the snout. TaU rather shorter than body. Brown, with irre- gular blackish venules. (A'aiyJ.) Valparaiso. 60. Muraena sathete. Mm'tenophis satbete. Ham. Bach. Fish. Gang. pp. 17, 3G.3. Lycodontis longicaudata, 3I'Cle/l. Calc. Jourii. Nat. Hist. v. p. 187. pi. 8. fig. 2. ^ Strophidon longicaudata, M'Clell. I. c. p. 21.5. Murffina sathete, Pichairls. Voy. Ereh. i^- Terr. Ichth. p. 91 : Cavt. Mai. Fish. p. .331. Thyrsoidea sathete, Kaup, Apod. p. 8G (cop. from Richards.). Maxillary, vomerine, and anterior onandilmJarij teeth hiserial, the others uniserial. Canines but little larger than the others. Snout of 24. MTJR.EiVA. 127 moderate length ; eye small. Cleft of the mouth of moderate width. Tail rather longer than the body ; the length of the head is about two- sevenths of that of the trunk. Upper parts dark coloured, the lower lighter. Bay of Bengal ; Pinang. a. Thirty-two and a half inches long : stuffed. 2. Snout slender, mticJi clanf/fifi: 61. Muraena schismatorhynchus. Miirrena scliismatorhynchus, Bleek. Kat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. iv. p. .^Ol ; or I'erh. Beit. Gen. xxv. 31ur. p. 71. congei'oides, Bleek, Act. Soc. Sc. Ind.-Neerl. viii. Sumatra, viii. p. 87. Euryiuyctera crudelis, Kaup, Apod. p. 72, tab. 11. fig. 56 (head, had). Gyiunothorax crudelis, Bleek. Ned. Tyds. Dierk. i. p. 168. schismatorbjmchus, Bleek. Atl. Ichth. 3Iur. p. 106, pi. 40. fig. 1. Snout narrow, much elongate, more than twice the diameter of the eye, which is large. Cleft of the mouth very ivide, half as long as the head. Teeth uniserial in adult examples ; mandihie luith about 36 teeth on each side ; canines large ; the mouth cannot be shut completely. Gill-opening at least as wide as the eye. Tail rather shorter than the body ; the length of the head is contained twice and one-third in that of the trunk. Uniform brown ; fins with a white margin. East-Indian archipelago. a. Type of M. schismatorhynchus. Sumatra. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. b. Type of M. congeroides. Sumatra. From Dr. Bleeker's Col- lection. 62. Muraena acutirostris. Abbott, Broc. Ac. Nat. Sc. Philad. 1800, p. 476. Head much compressed; jcnus greatly attenuated, very slender. Teeth uniserial, compressed and very acute ; canines long ; the an- terior tooth of the vomerine series much larger than the succeeding ; mandible with 26 teeth on each side. Eye large. Dark brown, irregularly reticulated with narrow bands of white. Tail longer than the body ; the length of the head is contained twice and one- third in that of the tnink. (Abbott.) Sandwich Islands. 3. Exceedingly elongate, the tail being txvice as long a.t the bodg. 63. Muraena macrurus. Mm-pena macrurus, Bleek. Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. \\\. p. 324. Thyvsoidea lougissima, Kaup, Apod. p. 82. — '— macrurus, Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. Ill, pi. 22. fig. 2; Ener, Novara, Finch, p. 386. E.rceedingly elongate, the tail being twice as long as the body. The 1 28 MirR.ENID^. length of the head is about one-tenth or one-twelfth of the total, and ouo-third of that of the trunk, ^[axillary and mandibular)' teeth biserial ; canines but little developed. F.ye of moderate size, at least one-half of the length of the snout, and much nearer to the end of the snout than to the angle of the mouth. Snout rather ob- tuse ; cleft of the mouth very wide, one-third of the length of the head. Gill-opening rather wider than the eye. Uniform blackish brown. Indian Ocean and archipelago. a. Forty-six inches long. Port Natal. From Mr. Ayres's Col- lection. b. Skin, ten feet long. Ceylon. Presented by — Nimmo, Esq. c. Large specimen : stuffed. Indian Ocean. Presented by T. C. Jerdon, Esq. d. Large specimen. Java. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. — Type of the species. e. Skin, in spirits, 9 feet long. Presented by Sir A. Smith. 4. Exceedimily dmigate, thi' tail hi'iiiij nvarh/ as lonr/ as the hort;/. 04. Miirsena brmnmeri. Murfeua brunimeii, Bleek. Nat. Ti/ds. Ned. Ind. x^^i. p. 1?>7. Strophidon brunimeri, Week. Atl.' lehfh. Mm: p. 109. Pseudecliidna brummeri, Bleek. 1. c. pi. 18. fig. 1. Body and tail very slender, the length of the head being one-sixth of that of the trunk ; tail a little longer than the body. Teeth uni- serial. Dorsal fin rather elevated, more than half as high as the body. Uniform brownish olive, head with brown dots, fins with a white margin. Timor, Ceram. a. Type of the species. Timor. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. 65. Muraena polyodon. Strophidon polvodon, Bleek. Ned. Ti/ds. Dierk. ii. p. 47; or Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 109, pi. 19. fig. 3. Body and tail very slender, the length of the head being one-sixth of that of the trunk ; tail longer than the body. Maxillary and an- terior mandibulary teeth biserial. Dorsal fin moderately developed, not half as high as the body. Uniform brownish olive, head with brown dots, fins with a white margin. Amboyna. a. Type of the species. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. II. Most of the teeth are obtuse, molar-like: Pcecilophis. 66. Mursena zebra. ? Seha, ii. p. 72, tab. 70. fig. 1 ; ii. p. 73, tab. 70. fig. 3. Gymnomurseua zel^ra, Shaiii, Zool. Misc. p. 101 ; Richards. Toy. Ereh. 8f Terr. Fish. p. 9o (copied by Kaup, Apod. p. 104, tig. 70). 24. MUK.ENA. 129 (iyninotliorax zehra, III. Schn. p. 528. (iymiioiiiuiwiia doliata, Lacfp. v. pp. 048, 049, pi. 19. fig. 4. Muriena iiioleiuliiiaris, liciniett, I'ruc. Zool.