FOR THE PEOPLE FOR EDVCATION FORSCIENCE LIBRARY OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY \ CATxVI,()(tUE FISHES BRITISH MUSEUM. BV ALBERT GUNTHER, M.A., M.D., PH.D., F.R.S., F.Z.S., ETC. ETC. VOLUME EIGHTH. LONDON: PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE TRUSTEES isTo. 5 9-1 '01 A ^- 0 V7-/4»5U- CATALOGUE PHYSOSTOMI, CONTAINING TITE FAMILIES (^YMNOTIDvE, SYMBRANCHID^, MUR^NIDvE, PEGASIl)^, AND OF THE LOPHOBRANCHII, PLECTOGNATHI, DIPNOI, GANOIDEI, CHONDROPTERYGII, CYCLOSTOMATA, LEPTOCARDII, BRITISH MUSEUM. BY DR. ALBERT GtJNTHER. LONDON: PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE TRUSTEES. 1870. PRINTKT) BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, KKU LION COURT, FLEET STUEET. PREFACE. Dr. GtJNTHEE observes, " Tliis 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 T have to refer to the following only : — " 1. Typical specimens of East- Indian Muraenoids, 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 gradual 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 iu mind in comparing the num ers of species given by me with the estimates prepared by other uatiu-alists. " In the present w^ork (584:3 species are regarded as well esta- blished and described, whilst 1682 others are doubtful and re- ferred 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 known at present as about 9000. •' At the respective dates of the prejjaration 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 Silliin. Amer. Journ. 1854, xvii. p. 360, that he knows at least 20 North- American species of Lepidosfeus ; 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 publislied the names of some 80 Sturgeons distinguished by him (^Nouv. Arch. Miis. d'lTist. 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, they are frequently mistaken, rarely recognized." Museum contains at the present time altoyether 5177 species, repre- 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 ichthyological 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 arc 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 have been described as diff"erent 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 aa 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 Englis^h 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: — Specimens Species Vol. enumerated. since added, in Brit. Mus. since added. 1.(1859) 2508 177i> 475 211 11.(1860) 3178 1269 531 198 111.(1861) 2625 1051 536 133 IV. (1862) 2877 1119 651 174 V. (1864) 1811 535 492 151 VI. (1866) 2173 278 268 34 VII. (1868) 3328 283 583 57 VIII. (1870) 4461 0 683 0" VUl PREFACE. 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 knoAV, at present, that at least some 140 different species of Sharks exist, a group of fishes which has always claipied 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 paheontologist takes the greatest interest. Yet, with the imperfect state of all collections of Sharks and Rays, 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 follow the changes which their dentition imdergoes 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 aa 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 entirely 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. Richardson 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 attached as naturalist. This gentleman made considerable col- lections, part of which were deposited in the British Mu.seum. The number of ppecimens 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 Avithout 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 o^Yn ships and of two or three collectors, a private museum 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 by 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 ichthyology ; and it is a fact that the foremost men in science have devoted a great proportion 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 Avith the variations of their mode of life and with the M-idely 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 ,vhole 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 affecting 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 ecjual imjjortance to the geologist nnd i)al;contf _ legist, the materials for conipariug the living 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 be solved iu the field of ichthyology. Although fishes ai*e 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 sufficient evidence to show that the pheno- mena of life are more varied in their difierent groups tlian in any of the higher Vertebrata, 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 Ichthyology is generally diffused in England ; but its study is much neglected. Nor could it be otherwise. Where is it taught ? Of the teachers of zoology in the numerous German, Scandinavian, Itussian, Italian, and Portuguese universities, there is scarcely one who has not been an author in Ichthyology; and consequently he takes care that this branch shall 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 author 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 diffusing 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 XI been regarded as new, many of them types of distinct genera. But it would have been a work rather of local interest if it had been confined to the objc^cts 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, published 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 critically 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 particular attention to the formation 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 proposed by Midler are most expressive of the fundamental difiercnces 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 i>rc! 1-1. iuieitensis, (Ithr .'54 15. amboinensi.-;, I^m. ... 34 IC). niegastoma, Kaup .... ;)4 17. kieneri, Kaup ;35 18. bicolor, M'Clrll 3o li). vircsceiLs, i¥/-.v 85 20. sidat, Blkr 36 inalabavioa, Kaup .... 36 21. aiistrali.-j, Rich 36 22. aniblodon, (Hlir 37 23. du.ssuniierii, Kauj) .... 37 euiy.-itoiua, Heck. .^Kner 23 .'serpentina, Lc.s 28 avisoti.'s, Kich 23 clathrata. Kir/i 23 fasciata, K((up 23 niacrops. K/inp 23 anjiu.stidens, Kaup .... 23 euryhi'iua, Kaup 23 halnialierensi.^, B/kr. . . 23 eantori, Kaup 23 macr .'>. cinereu.i, Forsk 46 4. .savanna, Cur 47 10. Nettastonia, Baf. 48 1. niolanurura, Itaf. 48 11. Saurenchelys, Ptrtt 48 1. canorivora, IHrs 48 12. Oxy conger, Blkr 48 1. Ieptognathu8, Blkr 49 13. Iloplunnis, Kaup 49 1. sclunidtii, Kavp 49 14. Neoconger, Girard 49 1. nmorouatus, Girard. ... 49 Sevciuth (iroup. Myhina. 15. Myrus, Kaup 49 1. vulgaris, Kauji 50 2. uroplerus, Schlccj 50 16. Myropliis, Lulkeii 50 1 . punctatus, Liitken . . 50, 515 microstigmius, Poey . . 51 1 7. Paraiuyrus, Gthr 51 1. cylindroideus, i2««zfint 51 2. uiicrofbir, Blkr 51 18. Chilorhinus, Liitken .... 51 1. Ruen.sonii, Liitken 52 m. Mura;nichtliy.s, i///.-; 52 1. luacropterus, Blkr 52 2. gyninopteru.i, Blkr 52 .",. schultzii, Blkr 52 4. gyninotus, Blkr 58 5. niDorii, Gthr 58 6. verniit'orniis, Pfrx 58 7. uiaorostonui.s, Blkr 53 Eighth ( Iroup. ( ) !• H I r; H T If Y I N A . 20. Liurauu.s, Blkr 54 1. seuiifiuclus, Bci\7i 54 21. ()pbiehthy.<. dicellurns. Rich 59 9. niagnoculus, Kaup .... 59 10. gome.'sii, Ciistcln (iO chrvsnps. Pocy (KJ SVSllvMATTC lM)I-\. Hatte 1 1 . pauciporus, Pocy (JQ 12. puncticeps, Kitup .... GO 13. Iiyala, H. U 60 14. pallen-s, Rich (il 15. bi-oekineyeri, lilkr til 10. rhytidoderiuatoideSj^/A;;-. 62 17. rliytidoJevnia, Blkr. . . 6o 18. maclellandi, Blkr 63 19. margiiiatus, Ptrs 64 20. crocodiliiuis, Benn 64 Achirophiehthys typus,2/?-. 65 21. cirrochilus, Blkr 65 22. serpens, L {Vt 2;). regiu.'s, BicJi 6(1 24. ornatissiuius, Kaup .... (57 25. havauiiensis, Bl. Schn. (57 26. versicolor, Mich (SS 27. oceUatus, Les iSS 28. ater, iY/w 68 2U. boiiapaitii, Kaup .... 69 .'iO. cephalozoua, Blkr 69 .'51. apicalis, Bonn 70 32. grandoculis, Cant 71 o3. bernsteinii, Blkr 71 34. singapiirensis, Blkr. . . 71 3o. macrochir, Blkr 72 36. hispanus, Bellotti 72 37. remicaudus, Kaup .... 73 38. brasiliensis, Kaup .... 73 39. urolophu.^, Schleg 73 40. polyophthalnius, Blkr. 73 41. altipinuis, Kaup 74 42. calr.mu.*, Gthr 74. 43. cbiuensis, Kaup 75 44. tapeinnpterus, Blkr. 45. chilopogon, Blkr 76 46. playfairii, Gthr 76 47. pacitici, Gthr 76 48. boro, H. B 77 49. cancri^orus, liidi 78 50. lioeveiiii, Blkr 79 51. hypselopterus. Blkr. . . 79 52. semicinctus, Rich 80 53. droiiiicus, Gthr 80 54. colubriuus, Boddacrt . . 81 55. niaculo.5us, Cuv 81 56. brevict'ps, Rich 82 57. pardalis, T'al 82 58. quinciinciatiis, Gthr. . . 83 59. acaminatu.*, Gronor. . . 83 60. imberbis, De la Roche . . 84 61 . anceps, Cant 84 62. niohiccensis, Blkr 85 63. fusoiis, Zuieu- 85 64. macrodoii, Blkr 85 Oii. polyophthalmii.'^, Blkr. 85 (>*l kaupi, Blkr 8() ^ , ] I o/. bu-olor, Kiiup Hf 1 68. tiuiorensi.s, Gthr 8() j (jO. orieiitali-;, M'CMl 87 j 70. melanot.'iE'nia, Blkr 87 71. niariuoratu*. Blkr 88 guiclienoli. Kauj) .... 88 72. loagipiinii.*. K/wr ^- St. 88 73. tenuis, Gthr 88 74. kirldi, Gthr 89 75. quadratus, Rich 89 76. caucus, L 89 77. gracilis, Ka7/p 90 78. acutirostris, Bariicc. . . 90 brachyurus, I'ooj ,5,") niagnifica, Abbott 55 californiensis, Garrett . . 55 rosliatus, Bl 55 cephalopeltis, Blkr 55 Ninth Group. Ptyoisranchina. 22. Moringua, Gra>/ 90 1. raitaborua, H. B 90 2. lumbricoidea, Rich 91 3. bicolor, Kaup 9] 4. javanica, Kaup 92 5. abbreviata, B'lkr 92 6. macrocepbala, Blkr. . . 92 MURJENID^ ExGYSCHISTiE. Tenth Group. MiTn.5?NiN.\. 23.. Myroconger, Gthr 93 1. conipressus, Gthr 93 24. Mura.nia, Gthr 9:1 1. helena, L 96 2. augusti, Kaup 97 3. melauotis, Kaup 'dS 4. pavonina, 7i'/<7/ J»8 5. pardalis, Schlcf/ 99 (>. lentigiuoL^a, Jai 99 7. meleagris, Show 100 8. niiliaris, Kaup 100 9. flavopicta, Kaup 101 elaborata, J'oej/ IQ] 10. stellifera, Rich IQl luargaritophorus, Blkr. 101 11. punctata, Bl. Schii 102 12. conspersa, Roei/ 102 13,. ocellata. A 123 52. afra, Bl. 123 53. aterrima, Kavp 124 54. maculipinnis, Kemp .... 124 55. unicolor, De la Roche . . 125 56. maderensis, Johns 125 57. sanguinea, Poe>i 126 58. moluccensis, Blkr 126 59. modesta, Kaup 126 60. sathete, //. -B 126 61. scliismatorliynchus,i>//cr. 127 62. acutirostris, ^6ioW .... 127 63. luacrurus, Blkr 127 64. brummeri, Blkr 128 65. polyodou, Blkr 128 66. zebra, Shaw 128 67. polyzona, -R/c/t 129 68. nebulosa, Ahl 130 69. catenata, Bl 130 70. xantliospila, Blkr 131 71. lecomtii, Kaup 131 72. polii, Kaup 132 73. Pasciguln, Ptrs 132 74. amblyodon, Blkr 132 75. rliodochilus, Blkr 132 7(). auloptera, Ue Filippi . . 132 wilsoni, Bl. Schn 93 stellata, Lacep 93 liaiiy, Lacep 94, fulva, Ri^su 94 marnioriata, Q. ^- G 94 lineata. Less 94 tiaveola, Less 94 ceriiio-uigra, Rich 94 blochii, Kaup 94 micropoeeilus, Blkr 94 niauritiana, Kaup 94 iiigroliiieata, Kaup .... 94 flavimarginata, Kaup . . 94 chrysop.s, Kaup 94 multiocellata, Poey .... 94 erebus, Poei/ 94 appendiculata, Guichcn. . 94 porphyreus, Guichen. . . 94 kaupii, Ahhoft 94 eiirosta, Abbott 94 coucolor, Abbott 94 scriptus, Bl. Schii 94 canina, Q. i^- G 94 mordax, Ayrcs 94 25. Gymiiomurasua, Blkr 133 1. ligrina. Less 133 2. inarmorata, Lacep 133 3. concolor, Riipp 134 4. fusca, Ptrs 134 5. vittata, Rich 134 6. bennettii, Gthr 135 26. Enchelycore, Kaup 135 1. nigricans, Bonnaf 135 bleekeri, K^mq? 136 Leptocepbalus, Gronoi\ . . 136 Wyo^xoxus,, Kdl I ikcr 144 Tilurus, Kiilliker 144 Stoniiasunculus, JSTflw^. . , . 145 Esunculus, Kaup 145 rorobronchus, Kaitp .... 145 Prymnothonus, Rich 145 Fam. 29. Pegasipte. 1. Pegasus, Z 147 1. draconis, L 147 2. Yolans, L 148 3. natans, L 148 4. lancifer, Kaup 149 Order V. LOPIIOBRANCHII. Fam. 1. SoLENOSTOMiP^. 1. Soleiiostoma, Lacep 151 1. cyanoptorun), Blkr 151 2. paradoxuni. Pall 152 3. brachyuruni, Jilkr 152 SYSTEMATIC INDEX. Fam. 2. Synoxathid.^.. Page First Group. Syngnathina. 1. Siphonostoma, Kaup .... 154 1. typhle, X 154, 61o 2. rotiindatum, iJ/(V/iaA. .. 155 2. Syiiguatluis, and 155 1. pblegon, Risso loG 2. peckianus, Storer 157 3. acus, L 157,515 4. louisiaufe, Gthr IHO 5. schlegelii, Kaup IGO 6. griseolineatus. At/res . . IGO 7. acicularis, Jen IGl 8. fistiilatus, Ptrs 161 9. alternans, GfM- 162 10. semifasciatus, Gthr 162 11. blainvillianus, JF^/d ^ G. 162 12. affinis, Gthr 163 13. rousseaui, Kaup 1G3 14. abaster, Risso .... 164, 515 15. algeriensis, Playf. .... 164 16. agassizii, Mkhah 164 17. temminckii, Kaup .... 165 18. dimidiatus, Gill 165 19. pelagicus, Osheck 185 20. modestus, Gthr. 166 21. crinitus, Jen 166 22. brevirostris, Rlipp 1G7 23. serratu-s, Schle;/ 167 24. lx)ngirostris, Kaup .... 167 25. intermediu-s, Kaup .... 168 26. ceylonensis, 6?^/*?- 168 27. zanzibarensis, Gthr 168 28. grayi, Kaup 169 29. tetrophthalmus, Blkr. . . 169 30. albirostris, Kaup 170 31. cyanosj^ilus, Blkr 170 32. margaritifer, Ptrs 171 33. penicillus. Cant 171 34. tapeinosoma, Blkr 172 35. bunnii, Blkr 172 36. spicifer, Riipp 172 heptagonus, Blkr 173 37. kaupi, Blkr 174 38. poecilolaenius, Ptrs 174 39. conspicillatus, Jen 174 40. martensii, Ptrs 175 41. flaveacens, Kaup 175 42. retzii, Blkr 175 43. bicoarctatus, Blkr 176 44. biidi, Blkr 176 hrachy vhynchns, Kai/p 155 suudaicus, Blkr 155 vittatus, Kaup 155 fiicicola Benn 155 vol,. Tin. Page flavofasciatus, Riipp. . . 156 punctipinnis, Gill 156 tenuis, Blyth 156 bracliycepbalus, Poey . . 156 tenuis, Poey 156 3. Ichthyocampus, Kaup .... 176 1. carce, H. B 176 2. belcheri, Kaup 177 3. scalaris, Gthr 177 4. lilum, Gthr 178 4. Nannocanipus, Gthr 178 1. subosseus, Gthr 178 5. Urocampus, Gthr 179 1. nanus, Gthr 179 6. Doryiclrthys, Gthr 170 1. beterosoma, Blkr 180 2. boaja, Blkr 180 3. deokbatoides, Blkr 180 4. bib'neatus, Kaup 181 5. mento, Blkr 181 6. cuncalus, H. B 181 7. caudatus, Ptrs 182 8. bleekeri. Day 182 9. auronitens, Kaup 182 bernsteinii, Blkr 183 10. niillepunetatus, Kaup . . 183 11. YmeRtus, Kaup .... 183, 515 12. brachyurus, Blkr 184 13. manadensia, Blkr .... 184 14. pleurostictus, Ptrs 185 15. dumerilii, Kauj) 185 16. sculptus, Gthr 185 17. dactylopborus, Blkr. . . 186 18. californiensis. Gill .... 186 19. excisus, Kaup 186 20. valencienuii, Kaup .... 187 pristipeltis, Kaup 179 deocata, H.B. 179 jagorii, Ptrs 179 Leptoichthys fistularius. A"/). 187 7. Caelonotus,'7^j-s 188 1. liaspis, i?//cr 188 2. biocellatus, Gthr 188 3. argulus, Ptrs 189 8. Stigniatophora, Kaup .... 189 1. argus, Rich 189 2. nigra, Kaup 190 9. Neropbis, Kaup 190 1. sequoreus, L 191 2. dumerilii, Steindachner 191 3. opbidion, L 192 4. heckelii, Kaup 192 5. papacinus, Risso 192 6. teres, Rathke 193, 516 7. lumbriciformis, Yarr. . . 193 violaceus, i??'?.«« 190 annulatus, Risso 190 h SYSTEMATIC INDEX. Page 10. Protocampus, Gthr 19.3 1. hymenolomus, liidi, . . 194 Second Group. HiPPOCAMPINA. 11. G astro tokens, ^ow^; .... 194 1. biaculeatus, Bl 194 12. Solenog-nathus, Swninson 195 1. hardwickii, Graji 195 2. spinosissinius, Gthr 196 3. lettiensis, lilkr 510 13. Pliylloptervx, Swainson . . 190 1. foliatus, Shaw 196 2. eques, Gthr 197 3. tainioplioriis, (jr(ty .... 197 14. Acentronura, /i-V»y.i 198 1. gracilliiiia, Kaxp 198 2. tentaculata, Gthr 516 15. Hippocampus, Leach .... 198 1. abdomiualLs, Lt'ss 199 2. anliquorum. Leach .... 200 3. brevipps, Ptrs 200 4. anguslas, Gthr 200 5. novas hollandijB, Steind. 201 G. ramulosus, Leach 201 7. longiroitris, Cuv 201 8. guttulatus, Cuv 202 deanei, Dioneril 203 9. trimaculatus, Leach .... 204 10. comes, Cant 204 11. camelopardalis, jy/«rtc. . . 205 12. coronatus, ScJdeff 205 13. Itevicaudatu.s, Kaup. . . . 205 14. bicuspis, Jv«M/j 205 15. lichtensteinii, A'w;^; .... 205 16. mohnikci, Bllr 206 17. hystrix, Kaup 206 18. erinaceus, Gthr 206 algiricus, Kanp 198 marginalis, Kaup 198 fascicularis, Kaup 198 fuscus, Riipp 198 brevirostris, Storer .... 198 gracilis, Gill 198 ingens, Girard 198 Order VI. PLECTOGNATHI. Fam. 1. SCLEROUERMI. First Group. Triacanthina. 1 Triacantliodes, Blkr 208 1. anomalus, Schleg 208 '2. Hollardia, Poey 209 1. hollardi, Poey 209 3. Triacanthus, L'uv 209 1. brevirostris, Schleg 209 Page 2. biaculeatus, Bl 210 3. strigilifer, Or//^ 211 Second Group. Balistina. L Balistts, Cuv 211 a. Liurus. 1. stellatus, iMcep 212 b. Balisten. 2. maculatus, Gm. . . 213, 016 3. aureolus, IRich 215 4. vetula, L 215 6. forcipatus, Gm 216, 516 6. vidua, Bich 210 7. capriscus, Gm 217 8. uiger, Minujo Park .... 218 9. uutis,i?w« 218,517 10. hm-a-A, Bl.Schn 219 11. conspicilluui, Bl. Schn. 220 12. viridescens, Bl. Schn. . . 220 13. ring.;ns,i 221 14. auromarginatus, Benii. . . 221 15. rivulatus, Biipp 222 16. fu,*cus, Bl. Schn 222 1 7. llavimarginatus,i?»}j/j. 223,517 18. aculeatus, L 223 19. assasi, Forsk 224 20. verrucosus, L 225 21. rectangulus, Bl. Schn. . . 225 22. cinereus, Bonnat 226 23. undulatuS; Munyo Park 226 24. oire, Bonn. 227 c. Melanicldhys. 25. buniva, Lacep 227 d. En/throdon. 26. erythrodon, Gthr 228 jacksonianus, Q. lV G. . . 211 gulturosus, Hollard .... 211 elongatus, Hollard .... 211 heteracanthus, Blkr. . . 21 1 tasniopterus, Poey .... 211 nebulosus, Poey 211 caprinus, Val 211 lima, Benn 211 , Monacanthus, Cuv 229 a. Monacanthus. 1. pardalis, Rilpp 230 2. scopas, Cuv 232 3. longii'ostris, Cuv 233 4. cryptodon, Blkr 233 5. curtorhynchus, Blkr. . . 234 6. prionurus, Blkr 234 7. trossulus, Rich 234 8. oculatus, Gthr 235 baueri, Bich 235 9. chinensis, Bl 236 10. megalurus, Rich 237 11. occidentalis, Gthr 237 8TBTEMATIC INDEX. XIX 12. tomentosus, L 238 13. aulc&tus, Roll. 239 14. setifer, Benn 239 15. nematophorus, Gth?: . . 241 16. oblongu.?, Schleff 241 17. choerocephalus, Blkr. . . 242 nemurus, Blkr 242 18. melanoceplialus, Blkr. . . 242 19. spilosoma, Bemi 243 20. granulosus, Wiiie 243 21. rudis, Rich 244 22. ayraudi, Q. ^- G 244 23. penicilligerus, Cuv 245 24. hippocrepis, Q. i^- G. .. 246 25. knei'ii, Steindachner .... 246 26. gunnii, Gthr 247 27. macrurus, Blkr 247 "8. convexirostris, Gthr. . . 248 29. multiradiatus, Gthr. . . 248 30. trachylepis, Gthr 248 31. peronii, IIoU. 249 scaber, Forst 249 32. brownii, Bich 249 33. spilomelanurus, Q. ^- G. 250 b. Aleutcrcs. 34. heudelotii, Hall. 251 35. raonoccros, Osb 251 36. convexifrons, IIoll. .... 252 37. scriptus, Osb 252 liturosus, Shaw 253 38. personatus, Lfiss 253 39. aurantiacus, Mitch 254 40. punctatu.s, Af/ass 264 41. nasicornis, Schleff 254 pusillus, itiipj} 229 Ireyciueti, Cuv 229 broccus, Mitch 229 maciilosus, Rich 229 brevispinosus, Holl 229 freycineti, Holl 229 platifrons, Holl 229 serrasquamosus, Holl. . . 229 tricuspis, Holl 229 dumerilii, Holl. 229 nitens, Holl 229 trachyderma, Blhr 229 holbrookii, Holl 229 cuspicauda, Mitch 229 lineolatu^, Rich 229 6. Anacanthus, Gray 255 1 . barbatus, Gray 255 Third Group. Ostraciontina. 7. Ostracion, Art 255 a. Ostracion. 1. triqueter, L 256 2. trigonus, L 256 3. bicaudalis, L 257 4. quadricoruis, L 257 5. gibbosus, L 258 6. coucatenatus, Bl 259 7. cubicus, L 260 8. sebre, Blkr 261 9. puuctatus, 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. Schn. . 264 16. foruasini, Bianc 264 17. cornutus, L 265 /3. Aracana. 1. aculeata, Houttiiyn .... 266 2. unistriata, Katip 266 3. aurita, Shaw 266 4. ornata, Gray 267 5. lenticularis, Rich 268 Ostracion boops, Rich 268 Fara. 2. Gymxodontes. First Group. Tiiiodontina. 1. Triodon, Reinw 270 1. bursarius, Reintv 270 Second Group. Tetbodontina. 2. Xonopterus, Bibr 270 1. naritus, Rich 271 2. modestus, Blkr 271 3. Tetrodon, L 271 a. Hemiconiatus. 1. guttifer, Benn 272 /3. Gastrophysns. 2. lagoceplialus, L 273 3. Ifevigatus, L 274 4. lunaris, Bl. Schn 274 5. sceleratus, Furst 276 6. bonckenii, Bl 276 7. hypselogenion, Blkr. . . 277 8. oblongus, Bl 278 9. ocellatus, Osb 279 10. rubripes, Schley 279 11. hamiltonii, Rich 280 12. vermicularis, Schley. . . 280 13. stictonotus, Schley 281 14. pardalis, Schley 281 15. politus, Girard 281 y. Cheilichthys. 16. testudineus, L 282 17. beraldi, Gthr 283 annulatus, Jen 283 18. tbrmosus, Gthr 283 19. spengleri, Bl 284 20. turgidus, Mitch 285 21. ricbei, Frhninv 285 SYSTEMATIC INBEX. Page 22. multistriatus, Rich 285 23. psittacus, Bl. Schn 286 8. Liosaccus. 24. cutaneus, Gthr 287 25. pachf gaster, M. ^ T. .. 287 26. porphyreus, Schleg 287 27. angusticeps, Jen 287 e. Crayracion . 28. palembangensis, Blkr. . . 288 29. liurus, Blkr 288 ^. Chelonodon. 30. patoca, H. B 288 31. viridipimctatus, Day . . 289 82. waandersii, Blkr 289 t], Monotretus. 33. cutcutia, H. B 290 6. Arothron. 34. fahaka, Hasselq 290 35. pustulatus, Murray . ... 291 36. immaculatus, Bl. Schn. 291 carduus, Cant 292 cochinensis, Day 292 37. nigropunctatus, Bl. Schn. 293 diadematus, Riipp 293 38. mappa, Less 293 39. stellatus, Bl. Schn 294 40. reticularis, Bl. Schn. . . 296 41. hispidus, Lacep 297 42. bondarus, Cajit 298 43. erythro taenia, Blkr 298 44. meleagi-is, Lacep 299 45. firmameiitum, Schleg. . . 299 46. Huviatilis, H. B 299 t. Anosmius. 47. margaritatus, Riipp 300 48. papiia, Blkr 301 49. bennetti, Blkr 301 60. janthinopteriis, Blkr. . . 302 61. punctatissimus, Gthr. . . 302 62. amboinensis, Blkr 302 63. rostratus, Bl. 303 64. caudacinctus, Rich 303 ornatus, Poey 303 65. caudofasciatus, Gthr. . . 304 66. sanctse helense, Gthr. . . 304 57. striolatns, Q. ^- G 304 58. rivulatus, Schleg. ..... 305 59. valeutini, Blkr 305 brunneus, Brevoort .... 271 lineolatus, Poey 271 grammatocephalus, Schl. 271 cochinchinensis, Steind. . 271 blochii, Casteln 271 . Diodon, Gthr 306 1. hystrix, L 306 2. spinosiseimus, Cnv 307 .3. iTiaciilatus, Gthr 307 Page bocagei, Steindachner . . 308 4. maculifer, Kaup 309 5. Chilomycterus, Gthr 309 1. calorii, Bianc 309 2. geometricus, Bl. Schn. . . 310 3. antennatus, Ctw 311 4. orbicularis, Bl. 312 5. echinatus, Gronov 312 6. jaculiferus, Cuv 313 7. reticulatus, L 313 8. tigrinus, Cuv 314 9. affinis, Gthr 314 6. Dicotylichthys, Kaup .... 314 1. punctulatus, Kaup .... 315 7. Atopomyctenis, Blkr 315 1. nychthemerus, Cuv 315 8. Trichodiodon, Blkr 316 1. pilosus, Mitch 316 9. Trichocyclus, Gthr 316 1. erinaceus, Gthr 316 Third Group. Molina. 10. Orthagoriscus, Bl. Schn. . . 317 1. mola, Z 317 alexandrini, Ranzani . . 319 analis, Ayres 319 2. lanceolatus, Lienard . . 319 3. truncatus, Retz 320 Subclass II. DIPNOI. Fam. 1. SiEENOiDEi. 1. Protopterus, Owen 322 1. annectens, Oiven 322 2. Lepidosiren, Fitz 322 1. paradoxa, Fitz 323 Ceratodus forsteri, Krefft . . 323 Subclass III. GANOIDEI. Order I. HOLOSTEI. Fam. L Amiid^. 1. Amia, L 325 1. calva, L 325 Fam. 2. POLYPXERIDiE. 1. Polypterus, Geofr 326, 517 1. bichir, Geoff. 326, 517 2. Calamoichthys, Smith .... 327 1. calabaricus. Smith .... 328 Fam. 3. Lepiduisteid^ 1. Lepidosteus, Lacip 328 1. viridis, Gm 329 2. platystomus, Kirtl. .... 329 productus, Cope 330 3. cspeus, L 330 SYSTEMATIC INDEX. xsx Order II. CIIOXDROSTEI. "^^ Fain. 1. AciPENSERiD.^i:. 1. Acipenser, Artcdi .... 333,517 1. rutbenus, L 33-5 2. glaber, Fitz 335 3. brandtii, Gthr 33G, 517 4. traiisiUDutauus, Rich. . . 336 5. naccarii, Bonap. . . 330, 517 G. bracliyrhynchus, Ayres . 337 7. nasiis, IRck 337, 517 8. buso, L 338 9. sinensis, Grai/ 338 10. rubicundus, Lesueur. . . . 338 11. maculosus, Lesueur .... 339 12. stellatiis, Pall 340 13. giildenstjidtii, Brdt. ^'- R. 340 • heckelii,i'Y^^. SfHeck. 341, 517 14. liopeltis, Gthr 341 15. brevirostris, Lesueur . . 341 16. mediorostris, Ai/res .... 342 17. sturio, L .' 342 18. agassizii, Dum 344 19. acutirostris, Ayres .... 344 Isevis, Ayass 333 schj'pa, Brandt §• R. . . 333 dauricus, Georyi 333 caryi, Dum 333 putnami, Dum 333 dabryanus, Dum 333 sturioides, 3Ialm 333 scbrenckii, Brandt .... 517 baerii, Brandt 517 2. Scapbirbynchus, HecJi 345 1. catapliractus, Gray .... 345 Fain. 2. Polyodontid^. 1. Polyodon, Lacep 346 1. folium, Lacep 346 2. gladius. Martens 347 Subclass IV. CHONDROPTE- IIYGII. Order I. IIOLOCEPHALA. Fam. 1. CHiM^RiDiE. 1. Chimsera, L 349 1. monstri^sa, L 349 2. colliei, Benn 350 3. affinis, CapelJd 350 2. CaUorhjTicbus, Gronov. . . 351 1. antarcticus, Lacep 351 Order II. PLAGIOSTOMATA. First Suborder. Selachoidei. Fam. 1. C.vBCH.ARiiD^. Group. A. Car CH.\Eiix.\. 1. Carcharia.s, Cuv 357 Page a. ScoUodun. 1. laticaudus, M. 8f H. . . 358 2. acutus, Ri'qip 358 3. diimerilii, Blkr 359 4. walbeehmii, Blkr 359 5. terrae novse, Rich 360 porosus, Poey .357 /3. Physodtm. 6. mulleri, M. ^- H. 360 y. Aprianodon. 7. brevipinna, M. S,- H. . . 361 8. punctatus, Mitch 361 9. acutidens, Riipp 361 S. Hifpuprion. 10. mac-loti, M. S,H. 362 11. bre^-irostris, Poey 362 signatus, Poei/ 362 12. bemiodon, M. ^ H. 362 13. playfairii, Gthr 362 e. Prionodon. 14. glaucus, L 364 15. munsing, Blkr 365 16. porosus, Ranz 365 17. obseurus, ie«<«/r . . 366,518 18. sorrab, M. Sf H. 367 19. dussumieri, M. Sf H. . . 367 20. gangeticus, M. 8f H. . . 367 leucas, M.8fH. 368 21. ambhTbvnchus, Blkr. . . 368 22. fasciatus, Blkr 368 23. brachyurus, Gthr 369 tiburo, Poey 369 24. melanopterus, Q. S,-G.. . 369 25. bleekeri, Dum 370 26. albomarginatus, Riijyj). . . 370 27. menison-ab, M. 4- IL . . 371 28. bomeensis, Blkr 371 29. amboinensis, M. S,- H.. . 372 30. lamia, Risso 372 31. glyphis, .iTf. Si- jr. 373 32. limbatus, M. df I£. 373 33. pleurotsenia, Blkr 374 34. temminckii, M. ^ H. . . 374 35. oxyrhyncbus, M. 8f H. . 375 zambezensis, Plrs 363 falciformis, M. Sf H. .. 363 henlei, Dum 363 remotus, Dum 363 caeruleus, Mitch 363 obtusus, Poey 363 maou. Less 363 2. Hemigaleus, Blkr 375 1. microstoma, Blkr 375 2. macrostoma, Blkr 376 3. Loxodon, M.S,-II. 376 1. macrorhinus, M. 4- H. . 376 4. Galcocerdo, M. S,- H. 377 SYSTEMATIC INDEX, Page 1. arcticus, Faher 377 2. rayneri, M'Bonald ^ Barron 377 3. tigrinus, M.^H. 378 5. Tlialassorhinus, M. 8r H. .. 378 1. vulpecula, M. i^ H. . . . . 378 2. platyrhynclius, Walb. . . 379 6. Galena,' Ciiv 379 1. c&xns, Bonap 379 2. japonicus, 31. Sr H. .... 380 Group B. Zygjenina. 7. Zygsena, Cuv 380 1. blochii, Ctiv 380 2. malleus, Risso 381, 518 3. tudes, Czw 382 4. tiburo, L 382 5. mokarran, Biipp 883 Group C. MUSTELINA. 8. Trisenodon, Gtkr 383 1. obesus, mipp 383 9. Leptocarcharias, Gthr 384 l.smithii,.'lf. S,- H. 384 10. Triads, M. ^ H. 384 1. scyllium, M. ^- H 384 2. semifasciata, Girard . . 384 lienlei, Gill 384 11. Mustelus, Cuv 385 1. Isevis, liisso 385 canis, Mitch 386, 518 2. vulgaris, M.8fH. 386 3. manazo, Blkr 387 4. antarcticus, Gtlir 387 5. maculatus, Kner Sf St. . . 387 dorsalisj Gill 388 californicus, Gill 385 Fam. 2. Lamnid^. Group A. Lamnina. 12. Lamna, Cuv 389 1. cornubica, Gm. . . 389, 518 2. spallanzanii, Bonap. 390, 518 3. glauca, M.SfH. 391 13. Carcharodon, M. S,- H 391 1. rondeletii, M. Sf H. 392, 518 14. Odoutaspis, Agass 392 1. americanus, ilfiVcA 392 2. ferox, Risso 393 15. Alopecias, M. 8f H. 393 1. Yulpes, Gm 393, 518 Group B. Selachina. 1. Selache, Cuv 394 1. maxima. Gunner . . 394,518 Pago Pseudotriacis, Capello .... 395 1. inicrodon, Cap 395 Fam. 3. Rhinodontid^. 18. Rhinodon, Smith 396 1. typicus. Smith 396 Fam. 4. Notidanid.^. 19. Notidanus, Cuv 397 1. griseus, Gin 397 2. cinereus, Gm 398 3. platycephalua, Tenore. . 398 4. indicus, Cuv 398 Fam. 5. Scylliid^. 20. Scyllium, M.Sfll. 400 1. marmoratum, Benn 400 2. niaculatum, Bl. Schn. . . 401 3. edwardsii, Cuv 401 4. canicula, L 402 5. stellare, L 403 6. capense, M.^ H. 404 7. biirgeri, M.^H. 404 8. laticeps, Du77i 404 9. bivium, M.i^K. 405 10. chilense, Guich 405 11. africanum, Gm 405 21. Pristiurus, Bonap 406 1. melanostomus, Bonap. . . 407 22. Ginglymostoma, M. ^ H. . 407 1. cirratum, Gm 408 2. miilleri, Gthr 408 3. brevicaudatum, Gthr. . . 408 4. concolor, Riipp. ...... 409 23. Stegostoma, 31. ^- H. .... 409 1. tigi'inum, Gm 409 24. Parascyllium, Gill 410 1. variolatum, Dum 410 25. Chiloscyllium, Gthr 410 1. ocellatuni, Gm 410 2. trispeculare, Rich 411 malaisianum, Less 411 3. indicum, Gm 411 4. punctatum, M. Sf H. . . 413 26. Crossorhinus, 3I.8fH..... 413 1. barbatus, Gm 414 2. tentaculatus, Ptrs 414 3. dasypogon, Blkr 414 Fam. 6. Cesteaciontid^. 27. Cestracion, Cuv 415 1. philippi, Lacep 415 2. quoyi, Frcminv 416 3. francisci, Girard 416 4. galeatus, Gthr 416 SYSTEMATIC INDKX. Page Fam. 7. Spinacidje. 28. Centrina, Ciw 417 1. salviani, liissu 417 29. Acanthias, M. ^11. 417 1. vulgaris, liisso 418 2. blainvillii, Ilisso 419 3. uyatiis, Bonap 419 30. Centropliorus, 31. S)- H. . . 419 1. grainilosus, Bl. !Schn. . . 420 moluccensis, Blkr 421 2. lusitaiiicus, Boc. Sf Cap. 421 3. ci-epidater, Boc. Sf Cap. . . 421 4. sqiianiosus, G»i 422 5. (lumerilii, Juluis 422 6. ring-ens, Boc. S,- Cap. . . 423 7. calcous, Lotce 423 8. coelolepis, Boc. cV Cap. . . 423 31. Spinax, iM.^Il. 424 1. niger, Bonap 424 2. pusilhus, Loice 425 32. Oentroscyllium, M. Sf II. . 425 1. fabricii, linhdt 425 33. Scymnus, Gthr 425 1. iichia, Can 42G 34. Lsemargns, Gthr 426 1. borealis, Scorcsh 426 2. rostratus, Risso . . . .427, 518 35. Euprotomicras, Gill 427 1. labordii, Q. ^- G 428 36. Echinorhinus, Blainv 428 1. spinosus, Gtn 428 37. Isistius, Gill 429 1. brasiliensis, Q. (^- G 429 Fam. &. Rhinid.b. 38. Ilhina,A7em 430 1. sqiiatiua, L 430 Fam. 9. Pristiophoridje. 39. Pristiopborus, M. ^- II . . 431 1. cirratus, Latli 432 2. nudipinnis, Gthr 432 3. owenii, Gthr 432 4. japonicus, Gthr 433 Second Suborder. Batoidf.i. Fam. 1. PRiSTiDiE. 1. Pristis, Lath 436 1. perrotteti, M. 8f II. 436 2. pectinatus, Lath 437 .3. antiquorum, Lath 438 4. zysron, Blkr 438 5. cuspidatns, Lath 439 Fam. 2. Rhinodatidje. 2. Rhyncbobatus, Gthr 440 1. ancylostomus, Bl. Schn. 440 2. djeddensis, Forsk 441 3. Rbinobatus, Gthr 441 1. tbouini, Lacep 442 la. spinosus, Gthr 518 2. balavi, Forsk 442 3. granulatus, Cuv 443 philippi, M. ^ H. .... 443 4. obtusus, 3L 6r H. 443 5. undulatus, Olfcrs 444 borkelii, 3L '8f H. .... 444 cemiculus, Geojf. 444 6. leucorbyncbus, GtJir. . . 444 7. bougainvillii, M. S,- H.. . 445 8. scblegelii, M. Sf II. 445 9. banksii, 31. ^ H. 446 10. columna?, 31. ^- II 446 11. blochii, 3I.8fH. 447 12. brevirostris, M. Sf H. . . 447 productus, Girard. .441, 518 ]arani, 3/Iontrouzier .... 441 4. Trvgonorbina, 31. 8f II. . . 447 1.' fasciata, 31. df H 448 Fam. 3. Torpedinid^e. 5. Torpedo, Dum 448 1. hebetans, Lowe 449 2. narce, Itisso 449 3. marmorata, liisso 450 4. pantbera, Ehrcnb 451 5. sniitbii, Gthr 451 0. fuscomaculata, Ptrs 451 occidentalis, Storer 448 sinus persici, Kdmpfcr. 448 cbilensis, Guichen 448 6. Narcine, Henle 452 1. tasmaniensis, Rich 452 2. timlei, Henlc 452 3. lingula, Rich 452 4. brasiliensis, Olf. 453 californica, Ayres 462 7. Hypnos, Dumeril 453 1. subnigrum, Dum 453 8. Discopyge, Tschudi 453 1. tschudii, Tsch 454 0. Astrape, 31. Sf H. 454 1. capensis, Gm 454 2. dipterygia, Bl. Schn. . . 454 10. Temera, Gray 455 1. bardwickii. Gray 455 Fam. 4. Rajid^. 11. Raja, Cuv. 1. clavata, L 456 SYSTEMATIC INDKX. Page 2. maculat.a, Mottay 458 3. punctata, Rtsso 458 4. maderensis, Lowe 459 5. undulata, Lace}) 459 6. radiata, Doiiov 460 7. asterias, M. ^-If. 4G0 8. miraletus, L 4G0 9. atra, 31. ^- 11. 461 10. radiila, Be la Roche 401 11. keuojei, M. S,- H. 401 12. eruleus, Philippi .... 500 laiulbecld, rhilippi .... 500 riiiloptoms, Philippi 500 a?pyptera, Abbott 500 caiiitscbaticus, Pall 500 2. lobthyomyzon, Gthr 506 1. tridentatus, Rich 506 2. a.«itori, Girard 507 3. castaneus, Girard 507 4. hirudo, Girard 507 3. Mordacia, Grai/ 507 1. mordax, liich 507 4. Geotvia, Grai/ 508 1. aiistvalis, Gray 508 2. chilensis, Gray 509 Fam. 2. Myxinid.^. 1. Myxine, L 510 1. glutinosa, L 510 2. amms, Gthr 511 3. australis, Jen 511 2. Bdellostonia, 3mi 511 1. ciiThatiim, Forst 511 2. polytrema, Girard .... 512 Subclass VI. LEPTOCARDII. Fam. CiRROSTOMi. 1. Branchiostoma, Costa .... 513 1. lanceolatum, Pall 513 GATAI.OGU \i OP F I 8 H E S. Subclass l. TELEOSTEI. (CONTINUEB.) OrdtT IV. PHYSOSTOMI. (CONTINUED.) Fam. 26. GYMNOTID.E. Gymnotini, Miill. ^- Trosvh. Hor. Ichthyol. iii. p. 18 ; Reinhardt, Vid. Meddel. naturli. Foren. KJobenh. 1852 (1853), p. 135 ; or in Wicc/m. Arch. 1854, p. 167. Head scaleless ; barbels none. Body elongate, eel-shaped. Margin of the upper jaw formed in the middle by the intermaxillaries, and laterally by the maxillaries. Dorsal fin absent or reduced to an adi- pose strip ; caudal generally absent, the tail termi- nating in a point. Anal fin exceedingly long. Ven- trals none. Extremity of the tapering tail capable of being reproduced. Vent situated at or a sliort fiYMNOTinyT;. distance behind the throat. Humeral arch attached to the skull. llibs well developed. Gill-openings rather narrow. Air-bladder present, double. Stomach with a csecal sac and pyloric appendages. Ovaries with oviducts. Freshwater fishes from Tropical America. Si/iu)2^sis of the Genera. A. Bod)' scaly; no electric organ. I. Caudal fm present. A rudimnntnrj dorsal fin 1. Steknarciius, p. 2. II. Tail terminating in a free point. Tectli none 2. RnAMiTiu htiivs, p. 4. Both Ja\v3 with a patch or band of vei-y small teeth. 3. STE.INOrYfiUS, ]). 7. A series of eonical teeth in each jaw ... 4. Carai-us, p. 8. H. Bodj- naked ; an electric organ. A series of conical teeth in each jaw ... [>. Gymnotus, p. 10. 1. STERNARCHUS. Steriiarclius, sp., IjL tScJui. p. 4i)7. Apteronotu.s, Lacrp. ii. p. 2J(S. Steriiarchus, Cuv. lii'i/uc Aiiiin. ; Miill. ^- I'rorich. Jlor. Icldlnjol. iii. p. 1-J ; Itcinliardt, ViJciisk. Meddcl. nidurh. Foren. Kjiihenli. 1852 (185:3), m- Wicijm. Arch. 1854, p. 183. Tail terminating in a distinct small candal fin. Teeth small. A rudimentary dor.sal fin is indicated by an adi})Oso band fitting into a groove of the back of the tail ; it is easily detached so as to appear as a thong-like appendage, fixed in front. Branchiostegals four. Brazil and tniyanas. The species may be divided into two subgenera : — a. STKRNARC'nus. >SnoHt compr<-fised, of moderate loiyfh. 1. Sternarchus albifrons. Cxymnotus albifrons, Z. !Sijst. Nut. i. p. 428; Pcdl. Spic. Zool. vii. p. .30, tab. (3. fig. 1. Apterouolus pas.san, Laccp. ii. p. 201>, pi. 0. fig. •] (bad). .Sternarchus albifrons, IJ/. b'chn. p. 4!)7, tab. !)4 ; Castebi. An. Anier. >Si/d, I'oias. p. !)1, pi. 45. fig. 1 ; Kaup, Apod. p. 12(3 ; SteindacJuiery ISUzijsh. Ah. IFin.i. Jf7e«, 18(38, Iviii. p. 24'J. Incepedii, Cdsfc/n. I. r. p. 9.">. pi. 45. lig. 3. nia.Yimiliaiii, C'ciMeln. I.e. p. i).'3, pi. 45. iig. 4. 8nout compressed, of moderate length ; eye small, nearer to the 1. STERNARCIIUS. ',i end of the snout than to the gill-opening ; the mouth is cleft to below the orbit ; vent immediately behind the 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. 140-102. Brazil and Surinam. a. Half-grown, Para. (A. 151.) h. Half-grown. Santarem. From ^[r. Bates's Collection. (A. 140.) c. Adult. (A. 153.) 2. Sternarchus brasiliensis, Reinhardt, Vidciii^l;. Medilel. natitrli. Foren. Kjoboih. 1852 (1853) ; or Wicc/m. Arc/i. lSo4, p. 182. Closely allied to St. aJhifrons. Uniform dark brown. Mouth rather short. Eyes very small. Vent at a short distance behind the eyes. A. 1 77-185. Rio das Velhas. 3. Sternarchus nattereri. SteiiKlncJi/icr, Sifz(/sl>cr. Ak. IJ'i'ss. Wicii, 18G8, Iviii. p. 251, taf. 2. fig. 1. The upper profile of the snout descends in a strong ciirve from the nape to the mouth. The length of the snout is rather less than one-half of that of the postorbital part of the head ; mouth small, scarcely extending to the minute eye. Vent below the eye. Inter- maxillary teeth none. The depth of the body is once and a half the length of the head. Uniform brownish. A. 197. (Steind.) Barra do Rio Ner;ro. 4. Sternarchus schotti. Stcindachner, I. c. p. 252, taf. 1. figs. 1, 2. The upper profile of the snout is but little convex ; length of the snout rather less than one-half of that of the postorbital part of the head. Mouth small, not extending to the eye. Intermaxillary teeth forming a double series. The depth of the body equals the length of the head. (Steind.) Barra do Rio Negro. 5. Sternarchus bonapartii. Casteht. I. c. p. 92, pi. 45. fig. 2; Kaup, Apod. p. 12G. UnifoiTu b^o-s^^ai■sh ; head blackish. Cleft of the mouth very wide, extending behind the ej-es. Vent before the e}es, at a short distance from the mandibulaiy symphysis. A. 1G5. River Amazons. This species appears to have been described from a skin. Jt2 4 GYJINOTIDiE. /3. Rhamphosternarchus. ISnotd proiluccd iiito a hng hibe. 6. Sternarchus oxyrhynchus. Midi. 8f Trosch. Hor. IchtJnjol. iii. p. IG, taf. 2. figs. 1, 2 ; Kmip, Apod. p. 127. Snout produced into a long tube, slightly arched downwards, nearly twice as long as the postorbital part of the head. Mouth very small, its length being only twice the diameter of the eye. Vent below the eyes. Anal fin commencing in advance of the gill- opening. The depth of the body is half the length of the head. Uniform brown. A. 205-215. Essequibo. a. Sixteen inches long. British Guyana. Presented by Sir R. Schom- burgk. 7. Sternarchus macrostoma. Snout produced into a long, nearly straight tube, the small eye being midway between the root of the pectoral and the extremity of the snout. Cleft of the mouth wide, more than half the length of the snout. Mandible jvith a series of fine teeth on each side. Vent somewhat behind the vertical from the eye. Anal fin com- mencing in front of the gill-opening. The greatest depth of the body is two-thirds of the length of the head. Scales on the back and ventral parts very small, those in the middlfi of the side of moderate size. Uniform blacldsh bi'own, posterior part of the anal and caudal black with whitish margins. A. 202, Upper Amazons. a. Fourteen inches long. Xeberos. From Mr. Bartlett's Collection. 8. Sternarchus mormyrus. Steindachncr, Sitzysber. Ak. Wiss. Wien, 1868, Iviii. p. 253, 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 Amazons. a. Adult (tail IcJt, body 2| inches deep). Peruvian Amazons. From Mr. Bartlett's Collection. 2. EHAMPHICHTHYS. Rhamphichthys, Midi. ^ Trosch. Hor. Ichthyol. iii. p. 15. Caudal fin none. Teeth none. No trace of a dorsal fin. No free orbital margin. Braail and Guyanas. The species may be divided into two subgenera : — Z. RHAMPHICnTHYS. O a. Rhamphichthys. Snout produced into a tube ; vent below or in advance of the eyes: anal Jin commencing at the throat. 1. RhampMchthys rostratus. Seba, iii. tab. 32. fig. 5 (ii. tab. G9. no. 3 P P). Gymnotus, sp., Gronoo. Zoophyl. no. 107 ; Mus. Ichth. no. 73. Gymnotus rostratus, L. Syst. Nat. i. p. 428 ; Gronov. Stjst. ed. Gray, p. 22. longirostratus, Laccp. ii. p. 178. Rhamphichthys rostratus (part.), Midi. 4' Trosch. Hw. Ichthyol. iii. p. 15; Steindachner, Sitzysb. Ak. Wiss. Wien, 1868, Iviii. p. 256. schoniburgkii, Kaup, Apod. p. 135, fig. 10 ; Steindachner, 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, b-c. Fine specimens, 30-34 inches long. Surinam. From Hr. Kappler's Collection. d. Adult. Surinam. From the Collection of Dr. van Lidth do Jeude. e. Half-grown. British Guyana. 2, RhampMchthys bloclui Gymnonotus rostratus, £1. Schn. p. 522, tab. 106 (not L.). llhamphiclithys reinliardtii, Kaup, Apod. p. 132, fig. 8. blochii, Kaicp, Ajwd. p. 133, fig. 9. The distance of the centre of the eye from the giU- opening is two-thirds of that from the end of the snout. Scales very small, only those near the lateral Une being larger ; head, body, and anal fi.n with irregular brownish-black sj^ots and dots. The vent is below the eye in a specimen 19 inches long, some- what before the eye in one of 25 inches, and considerably in advance of it in a third of 29 inches. Brazil. a. Nineteen inches long. Para, (learned RJi.rostratiishj Dr. Kau]).) 3. Rhamphichthys pantherinus. Rhamphichthys marmoratus, Castcl. Anim. A?uer. Sud, Poiss. p. 86, pi. 40. fig. 2 ; Kaup, Apod. p. 132, fig. 7. pantherinus, Cast el. I. c. fig. 3 ; Kaup, Apod. p. 131, fig. 0. () , (; YMNOTID.i;. liliampliichtliys lineacus, Custcl. I. c. p. 87, pi. 47. fiu'. 1 ; Kuup, Apod. 0). 130, fig-. 5. The eye is not much more distant from the end of the snout than from the gill-opening'. Coloration apparently variable : — 1. Head without markings ; four dark longitudinal stripes on the side (line- aris). 2. Greater part of the head spotted Avith black ; back with three rows of black spots, surrounded by white dots ; lower part of the sides marbled and dotted (.iMoitherimis). 3. Head and body marbled with brown (marmuratus). Araguay. River Ucayale. This species is distinguished by its comparatively short snout, the situation of the vent evidently vaiying as in its congeners. f3. J)l{At'ilYi;H.v.\n'Hi(']iTHVS. >S/i(iiit not ti(J>if(irin ; cent hchind the ei/es ; anal -fin. commencinij below the pccturali. 4. Rhamphichthys artedii. tScha, iii. tab. ■')2. fig. 2. ILlianipliictliys artedi, Kaup, Apod. p. 12S. 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 hrov/n, marked with darker; fins without markings. Anal fin com- mencing under the extremity of the pectoral ; vent below the pos- terior tliird of the head. A. 220-223. {Kuup.) liiver ^fona (Frencli 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. U])])crside of the head and back imiform black ; lower part 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. (Kavp.) French Guiana. o. Rhamphichthys brevirostris. ^tcindachner, Sitzf/.-ibcr. Ah. IViss. Ificn, ]Hi.jK, Iviii. p. 254, taf. 2. lig. 2. Snout less tlian one-third of the length of the head ; eye of mode- laU' size. 'Tho depth of the body is a little more than the length of the head. Montli very luiri'ow. Body with niimerous irregular, narrow , obli(jue biownish cross bands. {Si/inffac/nicr.) l!io (iuapor('. .'i. .STKRNOPrGTJS. 7 3. STERNOPYGUS*. Stemopygus, Mull. Sf Trosch. Ilor. Ichthyol. iii. p. 13. Caudal fiii none ; no trace of a dorsal fin. Both jaws with a patch or band of small villiform teeth ; a patch of minute teeth on each side of the palate. Anterior nostrils on the upperside of the head. Snout short or of moderate length ; vent behind the orbit. Tropical America. 1 . Sternopygus carapus. Seba, iii. tab. 32. figs. 3-4. Gymnotus, sp., Gronov. Zoophyl. no. 1G8 ; Mus. Ichth. i. p. 29. no. 72. Gymnotus carapo, L. Syst. Nat. i. p. 427 j Block, v. p. 59, tab. 157. tig. 2 ; Gronov. Syst. ed. Gray, p. 22. niacrurus, Bl. Schn. p. 522. Carapus macrourus, Cuv. R'cyiie An. Stemopygus niacrurus, Mull. ^ Trosch. I. c. p. 14 ; Kaup, Apod. p. 137 ; Steindachner, Sitzysber. Ak. Wiss. Wten, 18G8, Iviii. p.' 259. Carapus arenatus, JEyd. t^ Soid. Voy. Bonite, Zool. i. p. 210, pi. 8. fig. 2. sanguinolentus, Casteln. An. Am. Sud, Poiss. p. 85, pi. 46. fig. 1. Sternopj'gus marcgi-avii, Eeinh. Vidensk. Meddel. naturh. Foren. Kjobenh. 1852 (1853) : or Wiegm. Arch. 1854, p. 180. Orbit with a free circular margin. Eye small, about one-fourth of the length of the snout. Mouth of moderate width. Unifonn 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. a. Half-grown. Essequibo. Collected by Hr. Ehrhardt. h, c-d. Adult (24 inches) and young. Surinam. Collected by Hr. Kappler. (jfig-^- Half-grown and young. Surinam. From the Collection of H. van Lidth de Jeude. i-k. Adult and young : skins. Prom Gronow's Collection. I, m-o. Adult and half-grown. Para. 2). Half-grown. Rio das Velhas. Presented by Prof. Reiii lardt. — One of the typea of St. marcgravii. 2. Stemopygus virescens. Stemarchus virescens, Valenc. . in If Orb. Voy. Amer. Merid. Poiss. pi. 13. fig. 2. Sternopygus tumifrons, Midi. Sf Trosch, Hor. Ichthyol. iii. p. 14. lineatus, Mull. 8f Irosch. I. c. ; Kaup, Apod. p. 138 ; Stettt- dachner, I. c. p. 261. * 1. Gymnotus requilabiatus, Humboldt, Observ. Zool. i. p. 46, pi. 10 ; Kaup, Apod. p. 142. — River Magdalena, New Granada. O GTMNOTID^. Sternopygus microstomus, Eeinh. Vidensk. Meddel. naturh. Foren. Kjobmh. 1852 (1853) ; or Wiegm. Arch. 1854, p. 181. virescens, Kaup, 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. 6-0. Half-grown. Lagoa Santa. Presented by Prof. Reinhardt. — Typical of St. microstomus. d-e. Half-grown. Xeberos. Collected by Mr. Edw. Bartlett. f-g. Adult. River Parana. Prom the Haslar Collection. h. Adult. From the Haslar Collection. i, k. Half-grown. From the Collection of Dr. van Lidth de 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 ; maxillary 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 Hne. A. 212. Para. a. Fifteen inches long. (Named Carapus macrourus, Cuv., by Dr. Kaup.) 4. Sternopygus troschelii. Sternopygus virescens, Milll. ^ Trosch. I. c. p. 14 (not Valmc). troschelii. Kaup, Apod. p. 139 ; Steindachner, I. c. p. 260. 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 uniform. A. 230. British Guyana. 4. CARAPUS. Carapus, sp. Cuv. Rbgne Anim. Carapus, Mull, fy Trosch. Hor. Ichthyol. iii. p. 13. Caudal fin none ; no trace ot a dorsal fin. A series of conical 4. CABAPtTS. 9 teeth in each jaw. Anterior nostrils wide, in the upper lip. Snout short or of moderate length, depressed. Vent behind the head. Tropical America. 1. Carapus fasciatus. Carapo, Marcgr. Hist. Pise. p. 170 ; cop. by Willtcghby, Hist. Pise. p. 115, tab..G 7. fig. 4. Gymnotus, sp., Seba, iii. tab. 32. fig. 1. Gymnotus fasciatus, Pall. Spicil. Zool. vii. p. 35. albus. Pall. I. c. p. 36 ; Bl. Schn. p. 523. bi-achyurus, Bl. taf. 157. fig. 1. putaol, Lacip. ii. p. 176. carapo, Bl. Schn. p. 521. Carapus fasciatus, Cuv. Regne ytnim. ; MUll. 8f Trosch. I. c. p. 13 ; Kaup, Apod. p. 139 ; Steindachtier,' Sitzgsber. Ak. Wiss. TVien, 18G8, iviii. p. 261. brachyurus, Cttv. I. c. inasquilabiatus, Valenc. in d'Orb. Voy. Amir. Merid. Poiss. pi. 14 (tail incorrect). 'albus, Kaup, I. c. p. 140. Lower jaw projecting beyond the upper. Eye very small. Scales of moderate size. Vent below the gill-opening. Anal fin com- mencing behind the point of the pectoral. Young examples gene- rally with more or less numerous obUque brown bars, which disap- pear with 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 form of the body and head. The " dorsum canaliculatum " 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 of the teeth cannot be used as a specific character, ,as it varies from 38 to 56 in the lower jaw, and from 26 to 40 in the upper. From Brazil to Guatemala. a. Half-grown. Brazil. Presented by Lord Stuart. h. Young. River Capim. Purchased of Mr, Stevens. c, d-e. Young. Bahia. Collected by Dr. Wucherer. /. Young. Surinam. From the Collection of Dr. van Lidth de Jeude. g, h, i-l. Adult, half-grown, and young. British Guyana. m-n. Young. Essequibo, Collected by Hr. Ehrhardt. 0. Adult (17 inches). Berbice. p. Adult, Trinidad, Purchased of Mr, Cuttei , q~r. Adult. Island of Grenada. Purchased of Mr. Higgins. $-t. Half-grown. Rio Motagua. Collected by F. Godman, Esq. u, V, w-x. Adult, half-grown, and young. y. Young. Brazil. Presented by Professor Reinhardt. 10 orMNOTIDJi. 5, GYMNOTUS. GymnotuSj sp., of elder authors. Gymnotus, Cuv. R^gne Anim. Electrophorus, 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 teeth 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 smaU. Vent behind the throat. An electric organ along each side of the lower part of the taU. Brazil and Guy anas. 1. Gynmotus electricus. Electric Eel. Hichter, Mem. Acad. Paris, vii. 1729, p. 325. De la Condamine, Voy. dans VAmer. Merid. 1743, 4to. Ingram^ Neue Physical. Belustig. i. 1750, p. 288 (Torpedo). Allemand (Gravesand),' Verhand. Maatsch- Haarlem, ij, 1755, p. 372, (Sidder-vis). Qumilla, Descr. de V Orinoque, iii. p. 136 (Poisson-Trembleur). Gronov. Uityezogene Verhandcl. iii. p. 468, tab. 26. fig. 8 (Beef-aal). Gynmotus, Gronoro. Act. Helvet. iv. 1762, p. 27, tab. 3. figs. 1-3, and Zoophyl. p. 41. no. 169; Seha., iii. tab. 34. fig. 6; Mt/sschenbroek, Introduct. ad Philos. Nat. Luyd. Batav. 1762, i. p. 290, and in Rozier, Journal de Physique, 1776, p. 331 ; Le Roy, Observ. et Me?n. sur la Phys. viii. 1776, p. 331 ; Schilling, Neue Abhandl. Akad. Berlin, 1770, p. 68. Congeraal, Van der Lott, Verhandl, Maatsch. Haarlem, 1762, p. 87. Lamproie du Para, La Condamine, Voy. a V Amazoiie, p. 154. Fei-min, Surinam, p. 59; Bancroft, Nat. Hist, of Guyana, p. 120; Bajon, Mem. pour servir a I'Mst. de Cayenne, 1777, ii. p. 288 ; and in Rozier, Journ. de Phys. iii. 1774, p. 47. Prinqle, A Discourse on the Torjjedo. Lond. Roy. Soc. 1775, 4to, pp. 32. Gymnotus electricus, L. Syst. Nat. i. p. 427 ; Bl. ii. p. 43, taf. 156 ; Williamson, Philos. Trans. Ixv. 1775, p. 94 ; Garden, ibid. p. 102 ; Hunter, ibid. p. 395, pis. 1-4 ; Lacep. ii. p. 146, pi. 6. fig. 1 ; Bryaivt, Tram. Am. Phil. Soc. ii. 1786, p. 166 ; Flagg, ibid. p. 170 ; Fahl- berg, Vetcnsk. Ak. ny Handl. 1801, pp. 122-156; Guisan, Bull. Sc. Soc. Philom. i. 1. 1797, p. 32 ; Cuv. Regne Anim. ; Geoff roy St.-Hilaire, Ann. Mus. d'Hid. Nat. i. 1802, pp. 15, with a plate ; Humboldt, Observat. Zool. i. p. 49 ; Knox, Edinb. Journ. Sc. i. 1824, p. 96 ; Bradley, in Charlesrvorth's Mag. Nat. Hist 1838, ii. p. 668 ; Faraday, Philos. Trans. 1839, p. 1 ; Valentin, Neue Denkschrift. Allgem. Schweitz. Gesellsch. vi. 1 842, with 5 plates ; Delia Chiaje, Nuov. Ann. Sc. Nat. Bologn. viii. 1847, p. 286; Gronov. Syst. ed. Gray, p. 23 ; Kupffer tmd Keferstcin, in Henle und Pfeifer, Zeitschr. f. rat. Med. ii. 1858, p. 344." Humboldt, Versuchc iibcr die electrischen Fische. Erfurt, 1806, 8vo. Langguth, Dissertatio de Torpedine recentiorum, genere AnguUla. Wit- tenburg, 1778, 4to, pp. 38. Guisan, Comment, de Gymnoto ekttrico. Tiibiug. 1819, 4to, pp. 34. 5. GYMNOTUS. 11 Schmhein, Beohachtungen iiber die elektrischen Wirkungen dcs Zit- teraales. Basel, 1841, 8vo. 3Iiranda, Esperimenti istituti std Gimnoto eletti-ico. Napoli, 1845, 4to, pp. 1^ Paciniy Sidla struttura del organo elettrico del Gimnoto e di altri pesci elettrici, sidle condizioni elettromotrici di questi organi e loro compara- zione a diverse pile elettriche. Fiienze, 1852, 8vo, pp. 35. Schnltze, Ziir Kenntniss der electrischen Organe der Fische. Halle, 1858, 4to, pp. 35, with two plates. {Abhandl, ntrf. Gesellsch., Halle, vol, iv.) Head much depressed ; jaws equal in length ; cleft of the mouth not extending to the eye. Blackish above. Brazil and Guyanas. a, h, c, d, e,f, g, h-i. Adult, half-grown, and young. /-. Adult: stuffed. 12 SYMBEANCHIDiE. Fam. 27. SYM BRANCH ID.^. SymbrancHi, Mutter, Ahhandl. Ak. Wiss. Berlin, 1846, p. 193. Body elongate, naked or covered with minute scales; baibels 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 csecal 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. Synojasis of the Groups and Genera. A. Amphipnoina. Vent in the posterior half of the length. Humeral arch not attached to the skull. Palatine teeth in a single series ; an accessory breathing-sac. 1. Amphipnous, p. 13. B. SrMBRANCHiNA. Vcut in the posterior half of the length. Humeral arch attached to the skull. Palatine teeth in a narrow band ; gills rudimentary ... 2. Monopterus, p. 14. Palatine teeth in a band ; gills well developed 3. Symhranchui, p. 15, C. Chilobranchina. Vent in the anterior half of the length. No teeth on the palate 4. Chilobranchus, p. 17. Osteological MemarJcs. The following remarks are made on the skeletons of Vertebra;. AmpMpnous cuchia 106 + 65 Monopterus javanensis 100 + 88 Symbranchus marmuratus 79 + 57 Si/mbranehus bengalensis 80 -|- 53 (^Chilobranchus dorsalis) 21 + 52 The skull of the Symbranchidoe is distinguished by solid, firmly- united bones, especially those of the temporal region being much 1. AMPHIPNOUS. 13 expanded, not leaving any non-ossified space between them. The skull of Monopterus and Symhranchus is considerably elongate, the entire branchial apparatus being below the skuU. It ia much shorter in Amphipnous, in which only a part of the branchial appa- ratus is below the skuU, the remainder being below the first four vertebrae. The maxillary and intermaxillary bones run parallel and are firmly attached to each other, the former extending further backwards, but being toothless. The ethmoid is distinct as a sepa- rate bone. The orbit is not marked by an osseous ring, its position being indicated only by 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 Ampldpnous, 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 Symbranchus and Monopterus 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-haK of a bivalve sheU. The caudal vertebrae are provided with superior and inferior processes, which in Symbranchus and Monopterus are dilated, lanceolate, and in Amphipnous styKform. 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. i. AMPHIPNOUS. Amphipnous, Miiller. Pneumabranchus, M'Clellnnd. Body covered with minute scales longitudinally arranged. Three branchial arches, with the branchial laminae rudimentary, and with narrow slits between them. A 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. Dondoq Paum, Russell, pi. 35. Unibranchapertura cuchia, Ham. Buck, Fish. Ganq. pp. 16 363 pi. 10. fig. 4. ' 14 SYMBRANCHID^, Amphipnous cuchia, Miiller, in Ahhandl. Akad. Wiss. Berl. 1839, p. 244 ; Cant. Mai. Fish. p. 338 ; Kaup, Apod. p. 120. Pneumabranchus striatus, iJf ' Clell. Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. v. pp. 192, 219, pi. 13. leprosus, M' Clell. I. c. pp. 196, 219. albinus, M' Clell. I.e. pp. 196, 219. Anatomy: Taylor in Gleanings of Science, ii. p. 173, and Edinb. Journ. Sc. v. 1831, p. 33 ; Hyrtt, Denkschr. Ak. Wiss. W^en, 1858, xiv. c. tab. Blackish or wHtish, with or without numerous dark spots. Yert. 106/65. Bengal. a, h, c. Several adult and half-grown specimens. Calcutta. d. Adult. ChUlian wallah. From Dr. Cantor's Collection. e, f, g. Adult. India. h. Adult: skeleton. Calcutta. Second Group. SYMBRANCHINA. 2.' MONOPTERUS. Monopterus, Lac&p. Fluta, Bl. Schn. p. 565. Ophicardia, M'Clelland. Apterigia, Bnsiloivsky. Body naked. Three branchial arches with the branchial laminjc rudimentary, and with moderately wide slits between them. No accessorj breathing-sac GiU-membrane nearly entirely grown to the isthmus. Palatine teeth small, in a narrow band. East Indies to Japan and Northern China. 1. Monopterus javanensis. Mursena alba, Zuiew, Nov. Act. Ac. Sc. Petropol. vii. 1793, p. 299, tab. 7. fig. 2. Monopterus javanensis, I. 22. B. Gill-openings ventral, united into a longitudinal slit. Muscular and osseous systems vjell developed. Stomach very distensible. C. Synaphobranchina . Pectoral and vertical fins well developed 3. Synaphobranchus, p. 23. C. Muscular and osseous systems well developed. Gill-openinqs separated by an interspace *. * Girard has described as a new genus and species a Myrichthys tigrinvs from Adair Bay, Oregon (Proc. Ac. Nat. Sc. Philad. 1859, p. .58), referring it to Kaup's subfamily Myrophmce. However, he describes, " the nostrils approxi- mate the apex of the rostrum ; the upper ones very small and placed o])posite the inferior ones, which are consjiicuous nnd tubular;" so tliat it is a matter of imcertainty whether this writer understood the character on which the family " Oph.isnrid(p" was founded. c-2 20 MURJiNICE. a. Nostrils superior or lateral ; to7igue free ; end of the tail sur- rounded by the Jin. n. Pectoral fins present D. Angtjillina. Skin with rudimentary scales ; teeth in bands ; the dorsal fin commences at a considerable distance from the occiput 4. Anguilla, p. 23. 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 6. Conger, -^.Zl. Scaleless. Fore part of the skull with large muciferous cavities. Teeth forming bands ; dorsal fin commencing nearly above the gill-opening ; mouth not ex- tending beyond the middle of the eye 0. Congromurana, p. 40. Scaleless. Maxillary teeth biserial, vomerine teeth uniserial ; dorsal fin com- mencing above the root of the pectoral ; mouth extending slightly bejond the middle of the eye 7. Uroconger, p. i3. 13. Pectorals none E. Hrtekocongeina. Exceedingly elongate ; snout very short 8 Heteroconger, p. 44. b. Nostrils superior or lateral ; tongue not free ; end of the tail surrounded by the fin F. Mur^nesocina. Pectoral fins ; jaws with caoine teeth in front ; vomer with large, strong teeth. 9. Murtsnesox, 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 middle eeries containing long canine teeth ; vomer with a series of very small teeth. 12. Oxyconger, p. 48. Pectoral fins. Teeth of the jaws biserial ; vomer with a series of very long teeth 13. Hophmnis, p. 49. Pectoral fins. Dorsal and anal fins rudimentary. 14. Neoconger, p. 49. c. Nostrils labial ; tongue not free ; end of the tail surrounded by the fin G. Myrina. Pectorah well developed; dorsal commencing behind the gill -opening; teeth in bands 15. Mgrus, -p. 49. Pectorals well developed ; dorsal commencing far behind the pectorals. 16. Myrophis, p 50, Pectorals well developed ; dorsal commencing behind the gill-opening ; teeth in the jaws biserial 17. Paramyrus, p. 51. Pectorals nearly invisible. Body short, much compressed. 18. Chilorhinus, p. 51. Pectorals none. fJody long, vermiform 19. Murcenichthys, p. 52. d. Nostrils labial; tongue not free ; end of the tail free. H. Ophichthyina. Vomerine teeth none 20. Liuranus, p. 54. Vomerine teeth 21. Ophichthys, p. 54. III. Tlie tail is much shorter than the trunk. The heart is situated at a great distance behind the gills . . I. Ptyobkanchina. Pectorals none or small ; vertical fins but little developed. 22. Moringiia, p. 90. 1. NEMICHTUYS. 21 Second Subfamily. MUK^NIDyE ENGYSCHISTtE. The branchial openings in the pharynx are narrow slits. K. MuRiENINA Pectoral and verticiil fins well developed 23. Myroconger, p. 93. Pectorals none ; vertical fins well developed , posterior nostril a narrow round foramen 24. Miirana, -p. %^. Fins none, except a rudimentary one round the end of the tail. 2^^. Gi/nmomurana, p. 133. Pectorals none ; vertic^il fins well developed ; posterior nostril a long slit. 26. Enchetycore, p. 135. First Subfamily. MUR.ENID.^ PLATYSCHIST^. The branchial openings in the pharynx are wide slits. First Group. NEMICHTHYINA. 1. NEMICHTHYS. Nemiclithys, Richards. Voy. Samarang, Fish. p. 25. Leptorhyncus, Lowe, Ann. 8f Mag. Nat. Hist. x. 1852, p. 54 ; Mem. Ac. St. Pctersh. Sac. etrang. vii. J8o4, p. 171. Belonopsis, Brandt, ibid. p. l74. 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 interraaxilla- 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 confluent. 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, Lowe, U. cc. Belonopsis leuchtenbergii, Bratult, I. c. c. fig. Dorsal fin commencing immediately behind the occiput, anal behind the vent. Atlantic. rt. Young. South Atlantic. Presented by Sir J. Kichardsou. — Type of the species. h. Thirty-three inches long. Madeira. Purcliascd. — Head three inches, greatest depth of the head half an inch. 22 JIVK.KNID-'E. Second Group. SACCOPHARYNGINA. 2. SACCOPHARYNX. Saccopharynx, Mitchill, Ann. Lye. Neiv York, i. 1824, p. 82. Ophiognathus, Hartvood, Phil. Tram. 1827, p. 277. Deep-sea congers, with the muscular system very feebly deve- loped, with 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. Trimk 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, Mitchill, I, c. Ophiognathus ampullaceus, II, Cf', b'-c', d'-f, (j'-V. Adult and half-grown. Lower Nile, m', n, 0, p , q. Adult, half-grown, and young. r'. Adult : Skeleton. Propontis. From the Collection of Mr. Mil- lingen. (Vert. 46/68.) s . Adult : Skeleton. t'. Skulls of several examples. 9. Anguilla bostoniensis. Mursena anguilla, Schopff, Beobacht. Gas. ntrf. Freund. Berlin, \iii. p. 138. Anguilla vulgaris, Mitch. Lit. 8r Phil. Trans. New Yoj-k, i. p. 360. Murrena rostrata, Lesueur, Journ. Ac. Nat. Sc. PMlad. i. p. 81. bostoniensis, Lesueur, I. c. argentea, Lesueur, I. c. p. 82. macrocepliala, Lesueur, I. c. Anguilla lutea (Pajln.), Kirtland, Bost. Jotim. Nat. Hist. iv. p. 234, pi. 11. fig. 2.^ tenuirostris, De Kai/, Nein York Faun. Fish. p. 310, pi. o3. fig. 173; ? Kaup, Apod. p. 44, fig. 34; ? Kner, Nornra, Fisch. p. 370. hostcniensis, Ayres, Boston Journ. Nat. Hist. iv. p. 279 ; Sforrr, Mem. Am. Acad. viii. p. 408, pi. 33. fig. 1. novaeorleanensis, Kaup, Apod. p. 43, fig. .33. punctatissima, Kaup, Apod. p. 44. cubana, Kaup, Apod. p. 44. Synonymy for extra -American Specimens. Anguilla japonica, Schleg. Faun. Japon. Poiss. p. 258, pi. 113. fig. 2 (mouth not good) ; Bleek. T / '' ^t. Genootsch. xxv. Nalcz. Japaii, p. 51 ; Kiier, Novara, Fisc, The length of the head is conl.i I once and three-fourths in the distance of the gill-opening from l e origin of the dorsal fin, and twice and one-half in its distance f'l ■ )m the vent. Distance between the commencements of the dorsal ai^ 1 anal fins shorter than the head. Lips rather narrow; lower jaw si; iitly 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-d. Adult and half-grown. Boston, Massachusetts. e, f. Half-grown. Japan. (7. Half-grown. North China. Purchased of Mr. Jamrach. h. Half-grown. China. From the Collection of the East-India Company. i, k. Several half-grown specimens. Formosa. 32 MUR^NID^. 10. Anguilla texana. ? Aiiguilla tt'xaiia, Kuup, Apod. p. 40. ? Anguilla tyramius, Giranl, U. S. i^- Mex. Bound. Ichth. p. 75, pi. 40. 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-third of 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. bo.'stomensis, from which it diflPers only by the greater development of the lips. a. Adult. Grenada. Purchased of Mr. Cutter. h-c. A lult. Dominica. Purchased of Mr. Cutter. d. Young. Mexico (?). From M. Salle's Collection. e. Adult. Presented by the lloyal College of Surgeons, 11. Anguilla latirostris. Grigs or Gluts, Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. p. 129. Rifaud, Vol/. Egypt, pi. 18. fig. 91. Anguilla latirostris, Risw, Ichth. Nice, p. 90, and Etir. Merid. iii. p. 199 ; Tan-ell, Proc. Zoo/. Sac. 1831, p. 133, or Zool. Jouni. iv. p. 4G9 ; Brit. Fish. 2nd edit. ii. p. 396, or 3rd edit. i. p. 02 ; Par- nell, Werner. Mem. vii. p. 387 ; Thompson, Ann. Nat. Hist. 1839, ii. pp.21, 270; Jenijns, Man. p. 474; Selys-Longchamps, Faune Beige, p. 22 >; [? Couch, Hid. Brit. Fish. iv. p. 330, pi. 30. This fisrure is evidently taken from a common Eel with broadish snout] ; Cantor, Ann. Sf Mag. Nat. Hist. 1842, p. 480; Kaup, A^ml. p. 38, fig. 26. Mursena platyrhina, Ekstrom, Fisch. Morko, p. 142. Anguilla shiensis, M^Clell. Calc. Jouv-n. iv. p. 406, tab. 25. fig. 9. macroptera, MClell. I. c. p. 407, fig. 1. diefienbachii, Grag, Dieffenhach's Travels. Append, p. 225 ; Richards. Voy. Ereb. i^" Terr. Ichthyol. p. 113. platyrhynchus, Costa, Faun. Nap. Pesc. tab. 58 & 00. fig. 3. ? Anguilla capitone, raelanochir, ancidda, Kaup*, Apod. pp. 34, 35, & 37, and figs. 17, 19, & 22. See also Anguilla virescens, p. 30. 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 t-wice 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 i.s rather difficult \o arrive at a safe eonclu.sion with regard to certain spe- oinipns described by Dr. Kaup undi^r spccifir uauies, as tlic nieasurenients given are evidently frequently erroneous. 4. ANGTJILLA. 33 lon1. Tj:!. iig. 172 (bad). P Coiigt'r verreauxi, Ji'aup. Apod. p. 11'). 0.- (]uarter inches long. 3. Congromurssna anago. Conger anago, Schley. Faini. Japou. foi'/v(/i. Vcrli. Bat. dm. xxv. X(drz. Jdjian, \i. n'J. aiiairuides, llUcl,-. I. c. Mnr. \^. 7(), or Xat. Tiiih. XaL hid. vi. p. 112." Opliisonia anagoidcs, lihik. Atl. lehtJi. Mnr. p. 27 ; Kncr, Xonini, Finch. }). '.j7o. (\iiigromm";eiia anngoidcs, Bhcl: I. c. pi. 5. tig. o. Lips moderately developed ; the cleft of the month extends nearly to below the middle of the C3T. Tail but little longer than the body. Dorsal tin beginning above or innnediately behind tlu- gill- opening. Vertical fins with a blackish margin. Japan ; East-Indian archipelago. a, Ji-c. Adult (221 inches long) and half-grown. Japan. d. Young. Amboyua. Purchased of Hr. Frank. c. Half-grown. East-Indian archipelago. From Dr. Dleeker's Col- lection.— Type of C. anar/oides. 4. Cougromuraena mellissii. Lips thin. Snout short, equal in length to the eye, which is one-fifth of the length of the head ; Kj^tpcr Jaw but slii/Jidi/ projectiiuj beyond die Ivivcr. Anti'rior nostril in a very short tube ; i)osti'rior nostril pore-like, opjjosite to the middle of the ijye. Cleft of die moi'lJi r.rtcndi));/ iicctrlj/ to bcloiu die middle of the eijc. Teetli in rather narrow baiuls, fijiely villiform ; the vomerine band reaching to the vertical from the front margin of the eye. The length of the Lead is contained once and two- thirds in that of the trunk ; tail rather lone/er than the hodij. Dorsal Jin bt(jinniii(j iminedtattlij in front of the (jdl-oinnintj. Greyish; vertical fins with a narrow black edge. St. llelona. a. Fine specimen, 17 inches long. I'rcscnted by J. C. Melliss, Esq. 5, Congromuraeua liabenata. Congrus liabcnatiis, liicliareh. Ichtli. Enh. S,- Tnr. p. 105), pi. oO. iigs. 1-5. CoDgernmrfena liabenata, lump, Apod. p. 108, lig. 72 (copied irnni litchardtion). ■'' ( )})hi.siini!i liabeuatub, Kinr, Novara, Fi.-ich. p. ."71, taf 1.". iig. 2 7. UROCONOER. 43 Upper jaw much projecting bcj'oiid the lower. Lips moderately dovolopod ; the cleft of the mouth extends nearly to below the middle of the eye. Tail rather longer than the body. Dorsal fin beginning immediately behind tlio base of the i)ectoral. Vertical fins with a narrow black margin. New Zealand ; ? St. Taul. a. Type of the species. Cook's Straits. Presented by the R. Col- lege of Surgeons. b. Adult. New Zealand. Presented by Capt. Drury. Conger neoguinaicus, Bleeker (Act. Soc. Sc. Indo-Ncerl. vi. Nieuw Guinea, p. 22), or Ophisoma neoguhiaicum, Bleck. (Atl. Ichtli. 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. hahcnata. a. Type of Conger neogubiaicus, in very bad state. New Guinea. From Dr. Ijleeker's Collection. Miiropliis heterognatJius, 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. Kaup has founded a new genus, Gnatliophis (Aale Hamburg. INIus. p. 7); but Dr. Bleeker 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 different dentition ; it is, in fact, a Congromuroina, and very closely allied to C. haberiata. a. T3'pe of Myroplds Jieterognathus. Nagasaki. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. 6. Congromuraena mystax. MuriBna mystax, De In Roche, Ann. Mits. .xiii. 1809, p. 328, fig. 10 ; liiaso, Eur. Mcricl. iii. p. 203. Congermura?na 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-opening. Coloration uniform. Mediterranean. 7. UROCONGER. Urocougcr, Kaup, Apod. p. 110. Scalelcss. Jaws with the muciferous cavities moderately deve- loped. Cleft of the mouth of moderate width, extending somewliat beyond the middle of the eye. Teeth acicular, subequal in size ; maxillary and lateral mandibulary teeth biserial, not closely set. Vomerine teeth small, in a single series. Pectoral and vertical fins well develoi)ed, the dorsal begiuniiig above the root of the pectoral. 44 MUR7ENID.T3. Posterior nostril a slit, situated below the level of the upper margin of the orbit ; anterior nostril not tubular. Eyo rather large. East-Indian archipelago. Chinese Sea. 1. Uroconger lepturus. Congrus lepturus, Richards. Voy. Sulph. Fish. p. 106, pi. 56. figs. 1-G, and Vmf. Ereb. 8f Terr. Fish. p. 109 ; Bleek. Act. Soc. Sc. Indo- Neerl. iii. Stimatra, vi. p. 45. Uroconger lepturus, Kaup, Ajwd. p. 110; Uleek. Atl. Ichth, Mur. p. 29, pi. 6. fig. 1 ; Ktier, No vara, 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. it. Itceves, Esq. b. Twelve inches long. China. c. Twelve inches long. East-Indian archipelago. From Dr. Meeker's Collection. Fifth Group. HETEROCONGRINA. 8. HETEROCONGER. Iloteroconger, Bleek. Versl. Sf Reeled. Ak. Wet. Ajnsterd. 1808, ii. p. 831. Body, and especially tail, exceedingly elongat' , subcylindrical, scaleless ; 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. GiU-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 poly zona. Bleek. I. c. p. 332, c. tab. The leugth of the head is two-ninths of the distance between the gill-opening and the vent. Tail twice as long as the body. Eye of moderate size. Vertical fins well developed, about half as high as the body. JJody light coloured, 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. MURiENESOX. 45 Total length 10^ inches. Body 31 „ Head 1 inch. Greatest depth | „ 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-opening and vent ; tail more than twice as long as the body. Eye small. Vertical fins rather indistinct and low. Coloration uni- form blackish. Total length ] 9 inches. Body 6 „ Head ]. inch. Greatest depth ^ „ a. Lanzarote, Presented by the E,ev. R. T. Lowe. Sixth Group. MUR^NESOCINA. 9. MURiENESOX. Muraenesox, M'Clell. Calc, Joum. Nat. Hist. iv. p. 408. Cynoponticus, Costa, Faun. Nap. Peso. Murajnesox et Brachyconger, Bleek. Ail. Ichth. Mur. 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. Gill-openings wide, approximate to the abdomen. Pectoral and vertical fins well developed, the dorsal beginning above the gill-opening. Two pairs of nostrils, the posterior opposite to the upper part or middle of the eye. Seas of the Tropics. 1. Mursenesox talabon. Tala Bon, RusseU, i. p. 27, pi. 38. Conger (Murtena) talabon, Cuv. Regne An. ; Cant. Mai. Fish. p. 312 ; Bleek. Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. iii. p. 78 (part.), and v. p. 450 ; and Verh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Mur. p. 18. Muraenesox lanceolata, M^Clell. Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist, iv. p. 409. exodon, M^Clell. I. c. serradentata, M^ Clell. I. c, and v. p. 210. exodentata, M'Clell. v. p. 180, pl.8. fig. 4, and p. 210. pristis, Kaup, Apod. p. 116. 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. 40 MtJEiENinjE. a. Adult. East-Indian archipelago. From Dr. IJleeker's Collection. b. Adult : not in good state. Malayan peninsula. From Dr. Han- tor's Collection. c. Adult: skin, ^^alay an peninsula. Irom Dr. Cantor's Collection. 2. Mursenesox talabonoides. Miirsena myrus, Gronov. Syst. ed. Gray, p. 20. Conger talabonoides, Bleck. Vcrh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Mur. p. 20. Mm-ajnesox talabonoides, 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. b. Adult : skin. From Gronow's Collection. 3. Muraenesox cinereus. Mursena cinerea, Forsk. Descr. Ati, pp. x and 22. arabica, Bl. Schn, p. 488. bagio, Ham. Buck. pp. 24, 364. Opbisurus rostratus, Quoy 8f Gaim. Voy. JJran. Zool. p. 242, pi. 51. fig. 1. Conger longirostris, Be7m. in Life of Itafjp.cs, p. G92. oxyrbjnchus, Eydoux ^" Soul. Voy. Bon. i. p. 203, pi. 9. fig. 2. IMurffinesox tricuspidata, M'ClelL Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. iv. p. 4U9, pi. 24. fig. 1. hamiltonii, M'ClcU. I. c. v. pp. 182, 210, pi. 8. fig. 3. bengalensis, M' Clcll. I. c. Congrus tricuspidatus, Richards. Voy, IStdph. Fish. p. 105, pi. 51. fig. 2 (half-grown) ; Ichth. Chin. p. 312 : or Voy. Ereb. i!r Terr. Fish. p. 110. Conger hamo, Schley. Faun. Japon. Poiss. p. 2G2, pi. 114. fig. 2 ; Richards. Voy. Ereb. <§• Terr. Fish. p. 111. bagio, Cant. Mai. Fish. p. 310 ; Bleck. Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. iii. p. 777 ; or Verh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Mur. p. 22. Congrus protervus, Richards. Voy, Ereb. i^ Terr. Fish. p. 110. angustidens, Richards. I. c. brevicuspis, Richards. I. c. p. 111. Conger singapurensis, Bleek. Verh. Bat. Gen. Mur. xxv. p. 21. Miirajnesox bagio, Peters, Wiegm. Arch. 18o5, p. 270 ; Katip, Apod. p. 110, pi. 14. fig. 73; Bleck. Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 24, pi. 20. fig. 2; Kner, Novara, Fisch. p. 373. singapui-ensis, 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 scries of the mandible simihir in form to, and much smaller than, those of the vomer, and but rarely with basal lobes ; those of the outer scries nxdiraentary, not bent out- wards. The length of the snout ;uid the number and form of the tooth are subject to slight individual variations; but by the characters given the species will be readily recognized. Indian Ocean and arcliipelago to Japan aiid vVustralia. 9. MTJR^NESOX. 47 a. Half-grown. India. Purchased. h-d. Young. Vizagapatam. Presented by Capt Mitchell. e. Half-grown. Calcutta. From the Collection of Messrs. von Schlagiiitwcit. /. Half-grown. Malayan peninsula. From Dr. Cantor's Collection. g. Adult: skin. Malayan peninsula. From Dr. Cantor's Collection. h, i. Adult. East-Indian archipelago. h. Adult. East-Indian archipelago. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection as M. simjapurensis. 1. Half-grown. Philippine Islands. Purchased of Mr. Cuming, m. Young. Formosa. From Mr. Swinhoe's Collection. n. Half-grown. Amoj. From Mr. Swinhoe's Collection. 0. Half-grown. China. Presented by J. R. Reeves, Esq. — Type of C. hrcvictispis. Rich. p. Half-grown. China. — Type of C. tricuspidatus, Rich. ([. Adult: stuffed. 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. tu. Adult : skeleton. Japan. Purchased. The skeleton shows several peculiarities. The structure of the skuU 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- maxiUaries are coalesced into a long narrow bone without any sutures. The transverse processes of the abdominal vertebras arc 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. Muraenesox savanna. Mura^na savanna, Ciw. Rhfjrie An. (name only). Conger savanna, Benn. Proc. Comm. Zool. Soc. 1831, p. 135. brasiliensis, Ranzani, Nov. Comm. Ac. Sc. Instit. Bonon. iv. 1840, p. 79, tab. 13. fig. 1. Cynoponticus ferox, Costa, I. c. tav. 28. CongTus ciirvidens, Richards. Voi/. Ereb. Sf Terr. Fish. p. Ill, cop. by Kanp, Apod. p. 117. Conger limbatus, Casteln. An. Amdr. Sud,^. 83, pi. 43. fig. 3. Murtenesox savanna, Kaup, Apod. p. 117, ng. 74. Bracbyconger savanna, Bleek. Ned. Tyds. Dierk. ii. p. 233. Vomerine teeth compressed, with basal lobes ; maxill'iry and mandibulary teeth obtuse, more or less molar-like. Snout not much elongate. Atlantic coasts of Tropical America; found once in the Medi- terranean. 48 MTJKiEKTD.^. a. Large specimen. Jamaica. From Dr. Bancroft's Collection. T)-pe of the species. b. Adult : stuffed. West Indies. Type of Co7igrus curvicUiis. 10. NETTASTOMA. NettRstoma, Rnfinesqiie. Scaleless. Snout much produced, depressed. Jaws and vomer ^vitll 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. Netiastoma melanurum. Nettastoma melanura, Rafinesqiie ; Kaup, Apod. p. 119, fig. 7o. Murtenophis saga, Risso, Ichth. Nice, p. 370, pi. 10. fig. 30, or Eur. Mend. iii. p. 103. 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. Wiss. Berl. 1804, p. 307. 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. Verticd 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 sUvery. (Ptrs.) 12. OXYCONGER. Oxyconger, Bleek. Ath Ichth. Mur, p. 10, Scaleless. Snout much produced ; maxillary and mandibulary teeth triserial, the middle series containing long canine teeth placed 15. jiYRus. 49 at some distance frora one another ; vomer with a series of very small teeth. Pectoral and vertical fins -well developed, the dorsal beginning above the giU-opcning. Posterior nostrils in front of the eye, anterior tubular. Japan. 1. Oxyconger leptognathus. Conger leptognathus, Bleek. Act. Soc. Sc. Indo-Xcdttl. iii. Japan, iv. p. 27. Cleft of the mouth three-fifths of the length of the head ; tail shorter than body. Nagasaki. a. Type of the species : in bad state. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. 13. HOPLUNNIS. Hoplunnis, Kaup, Aale Hamburg. Mm. p. 19. Scaleless. Snout much produced ; maxillary and mandibulary teeth biserial ; vomerine teeth long, pointed, in a single series. Pectoral and vertical fins, the dorsal commencing above the giU- opening. Gill-opening small. Posterior nostril in front of the eye. Tail several times longer than body. Central America. 1. Hoplimnis schmidtii. Kaup, ;. c. p. 20, taf. 2. fig. 4. Tail about four times as long as the body ; snout thrice as long as the eye. The posterior portion of the vertical fin black. {Kaup.) Puerto CabeUo. 14. NEOCONGER. Neoconger, Girard, U. S. ^ Mex. Bound. Ichth. p. 77. Body naked. Pectorals present. Dorsal and anal fins rudimen- tary, more developed towards the end of the tail. iTaxillary teeth in several series, vomerine teeth uniserial. 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. e. Head small, nan-ow, pointed, the upper jaw projecting beyond the lower. Tail not much longer than body. Dorsal fin beginning somewhat in advance of the vent. Coloration uniform. (Girard.) St. Joseph Island. Seventh Group. MYRINA. 15. MYRUS. Myrus, Kaup, Apod. p. 31. Nostrils on, or very close to. the margin ot the upper lip : the aii- VOL. VIII. E 50 MURJiNID-T:. terior tubular, the posterior lobed. Vertical and pectoral fius well developed ; the dorsal commencing behind the gill-opening ; caudal rays very short. Teeth cardiform, subequal in size, forming bands. Mediterranean. 1. Myrus vulgaris. ? Mvpos, Aristot. v. c. 10. Myrus, Rondel, p. 407. Serpens marinus alter, WUlnglihy, p. 108. Murajna, sp., Artcdi, Synon. p. 40. uo. 3, and Geirera, p. 24. no. 3. Murfena myrus, L. Si/st. Xat. i. p. 426; Lacep. ii. p. 26.5 ; Bl. Scfni. p. 488 ; Bisso, Ich'th. Kicc, p. 90. Conger myrus, Cuv. R'cgne An. ; Risso, Em-. Merid. iii. p. 202 ; Costa, Faun. Nap. Pesc. Anguilla myrus, Shaw, Zool. iv. 1. p. 24 ; Jcnt/ns, Man. p. 478. Cougrus myrus, Richards. Voij. Ereh. S,- Terr. Fish. p. 108. Mj-rus vulgaris, Kaiip, Apod. 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, c. Adult. Mediterranean. d. Half-grown. Algiers. Presented by Lieut.-Col. Playfair. 2. Myrus uropterus. Conger uropterus, Schlec/. Faun. Japo7i. Poiss. p. 261. Ophism'us uropterus, Bleek. Act. Soc. Sc. Indo-Nederl. iii. Japan, iv. p. 28 J 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 maxillary than to the extremity of the snout. Coloration uniform. Japan. a. Seventeen inches long. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection, 16. MYROPHIS. JNIyrophis, Liitken, Vidensk. Meddcl. naturh. Foren. Kjhbenh. 1851, no. 1 ; or Wicgm. Arch. 1852, p. 270. Nostrils on the margin of the upper lip, the anterior tubular. Pectoral fins well developed ; vertical fins low, surrounding the tail ; the dorsal commonciTig far behind the pectoral. Teeth bi- or tri- serial, uniscrial on the hinder part of the- vomer. West Africa, West Indies, Panama. 1 . Myrophis punctatus. Murrena myrus, Lacep. ii. pi. 3. fig. 3 (not descr.). 18. CniLOKHINUS. 51 Miirasna longicoUis, Cav. Reyxu An. (name only). Mvvophis punctatus, Liitkoi, /. c. longicollis, Kauj), Ajwd. p. 30j Peters, Monatsher. Ah. Wiss. Berl. 1864, p. 397. Tail more than twice as long as the trunk (without head). Eyo smaU. Gill-opening rather nearer to the end of the snout tlian to the origin of the do^'-sal. 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. Myroplils microstir/Diius, Poey, llepert. Fis.-nat. ii. p. 250, from Cuba, would appear to differ from M. ininctcttus only in the more backward situation of the; origin of the dorsal fin, Avhich is said to be midway between the gill-opouing and the vent, whilst in the specimens of M. pundatuA examined by mc the origin of that fin is distinctly nearer to the giU-opeuing than to the vent. 17. PARAMYRUS. Nostrils on the margin of the upper lip. Vertical and pcctoi'al fins well developed, the dorsal commencing behind the gill-opening. Teeth in the jaws biserial. Brazil, West and East Indies. 1. Param3rrus cylindroideus. Conger cylindi'oideus, Rnnzani, Nov. Conini. Ac. Sc. Inst. Bonon. 1840, p. 80, pi. 13. fig. 2. (" In utroque latere labii superioris tubi duo breves, sed Intins- 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 (witlj the head). Vertical fins with a narrow black edge. (Eanz.) Brazil. 2. Paramyrus microcMr, Eclielus microchir, Bleek. Ned. Tyds. Dierk. ii. p. 40 ; or Atl. Jdifh. Mtir. p. 30, pi. 45, fig. 4. Cleft of the mouth extending to below the hind margin of Die (>y«' Upper jaw projecting beyond the lower. Teeth sul)(N]n;il in size, small, uniserial on the vomer and the side of the maiuliMe. 'i'ail nearly t^vice as long as the body. Dorsal fin commenring above tlie extremity of the jjectoral. Uniformly coloured. Hi'i.lir ]>nvt of the anal fin with black margin. Celebes. a. Type of the species. From Dr. Blocker's Collection. 18. CHILOEHINUS. Chiloi-liinus, i/7//a';?, 77(/. 3/^fW<7. natnrli. Forcn. Kjdliciili 18;")1, iin 1; or iriec/in. Ai c/i. ISCrJ. \i. 27:.'. 52 MUE^NID^, Body short, much compressed. Nostrils ou the margin of the upper lip. Pectorals nearly invisible. Vertical fins well developed, dorsal commencing somewhat behind the gill-opening. West Indies. 1. Cliilorliiiiiis suensonii. lAitken, I. c. Snout short, obtuse, depressed; cleft of the mouth narrow. Tail somewhat longer than the body. (Ltk.) St. Croix. 19. MUEiENICHTHYS. Mursenichthys, Bleek. Verh. Bat. Gen. xxv. 1853, Mur. p. 71. Body long, cylindrical, vermiform. Nostrils on the margin of the upper lip. Pectoral fins none. Dorsal fin low, or rudimentary, commencing at a great distance behind the gill-opening. Gill- opening narrow. Eyes small. East- Indian archipelago. 1. MursenicMhys macropterus. Bleek, Act. Soc. Sc. Lido-Nederl. ii. Ambai/na, viii. p. 91 ; or Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 31, pi. 7. fig. 3. Origin of the dorsal fin nearer to the gill-opening than to the vent. Snout pointed, the greater part of the teeth biserial. The cleft of the mouth extends somewhat behind the eye. Amboyna, Solor. a. Type of the species, nine inches long. Amboyna. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. b. Fourteen inches long. Presented by the Hoyal College of Surgeons. 2. Muraenichthys gynmoptems. Mursena gymnopterus, Bleek. Verh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Mur. p. 62. Muraenichthvs gymnopterus, Bleek. I. c. p. 71 ; or Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. iv. p.' 506 ; or Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 32, pi. 6. fig. 1. microstomus, Bleek. Ned. Tyds. Vierk. ii. p. 39 ; or Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 32, pi. 6. fig. 2 (mouth too small). Origin of the dorsal fin far in advance of the vent, and nearer to it than to the giU-opening. Snout obtuse. Teeth obtuse, forming bands. The cleft of the mouth extends considerably behind the eye. Java, Celebes, Batu. a. Type of M. gymnopterus. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. h. Type of M. microstomus. Makassar. From Dr. Bleeker's Col- lectic^. — In this specimen the cleft of the mouth is of the same width as in the other. 3. Muraenichthys schultzii. Bleek. Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. xiii. p. 366 ; or Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 33, pi. 4. fig. 3. Body short. Origin of the dorsal fin nearly opposite to the vent. 19. MTTR^UICHTHYS. 53 Snout obtuse ; the greater part of the teeth biserial. Cleft of the mouth extending considerably beyond the eye. Java. a. Type of the species, 3^ inches long. From Dr. Bleeker's Col- lection. 4. MuraBnichthys gymnotus. Bleek. Act. Soc, Sc. Indo-Nederl. ii. Amboina, viii. p. 90 ; or Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 33, pi. 6. fig. 3. Body rather slender. Dorsal fin rudimentary, its origin being apparently opposite to the vent. Snout produced, pointed. Vome- rine teeth uni-, the others pluriserial. Cleft of the mouth extending somewhat behind the eye. Amboyna. a. Type of the species, 6 inches long. From Dr. Bleeker's Col- lection. 5. Muraenichthys moorii. Body very slender. The length of the head is two-sevenths of the distance between the gill-opening and vent. Tail but little longer than the body. Vertical fins low, the dorsal commencing oppo- site to the vent. Snout rather obtuse, not quite twice as long as the eye. Vomeiine and anterior mandibulary teeth biserial, the re- mainder uniserial. Cleft of the mouth extending somewhat behind the eye. Hah. ? a. Adult female, with mature ova, 190 miUims. long, the depth at the vent being 5 millims. — Three other examples are in the Liverpool Museum, the Curator of which, Mr. Thomas Moore, kindly lent them to me for examination. 6. Muraenichthys vermifonnis. Chilorhinus (Muraeniclithys) vemiiformis, Petem. Monatsoer. Ak. Wiss. Berl. 1866, p. 524. Origin of the dorsal fin conspicuously behind the vent. Angle of the mouth a little behind the eye. Teeth of the jaws and vomer uniserial. (^Peters.) Ceylon. 7. Muraenichthys macrostomus. Bleek. Ned. Tyds. Dierk. ii p. 38; or AH. Ichth. Mur. p. 33, pi. 41. fig. 1. Dorsal fin rudimentary, traces of its origin being visible near to the vent. Snout acutely pointed. Cleft of the mouth very wide, t^e smaU eye being above the second fifth of its length. Teeth in the jaws pointed, recurved, uniserial. Amboyna. Type of the species. From Dr. Blocker's Collection. .14 MTR-KNIDJ:. Eighth Group. OPHICHTHYINA. liO. LIUEANUS. Leiiirnmis, Blecli. J'cr/i. Bid. Gen. xxv. Miirccn. p. 80. Stetliopterus, Blech. I. c. Body cylindrical. Teeth pointed, of moderate size; those of the intermaxillary in a douLdc series, the others uniserial ; vomerine eoth absent. Snout pointed, much projecting beyond the mouth, ivhich is ratlier narrow, not extending beyond the hind margin of the orbit. Eye small. Dorsal and anal fins low : the former com- mencing a short distanc( behind the gill-opening ; pectoral very small. Extremity of the tail free. Indian and Pacific Oceans. 1. Liuranus semicinctus. Ophisurus semicinctus, Bennett, in Bccclicij's Voy. p. 00, tab. 20. iig. 4. Opliisurus? (Sphagebranchus ? ) vimineus, Ricltards. Voy. ^iilph. Fis/i. p. 107, tab. 52. figs. 10-20 (young). Ophisunis vimineus, Richards. Fislt. Cltin. p. 314 ; Voy. Ereh. ^• Ten: Fi.cptugiiatliiis (ISu-ains.), Achirophiclitliys, A:r., Bleeker. Miicividdiiopliis, Craniclithys, i^c, Pory, Jie/nit. Fis.-nat. L'id)a,'\\. pp. '-'51, 25(1. 21. ornicHTHYs. 55 Extremity of the tail free. Teeth on the vomer as weU as in the jaws. "We arrange the apccies of this genus thus : — I. Teeth pointed ; pectoral fiu developed in adult examples (see O. cro- codilinus)' . A. Maxillary teeth in a double series. 1. Maudibulary teeth in a double series. a. Canine teeth very distinct, p. SO. b. The teeth of each series are equal or subequal in size. a. Cleft of the mouth wide, more than one-third of the length of the head, p. 58. ^. Cleft of the mouth of moderate widtli, less than one-third of the length of the head, p. 59. 2. Mandibulary teeth uniserial. a. Lips fringed ( Bradtysomojihis'), p. G4. b. Lips not friuged. a. Snout much produced; large canine teeth (Lcptor/mit/uts), p. (35. ^3. Snout moderately produced ; no large canine teeth {^llvrpeto- ichthys), p. GO. B. Maxillary teeth uniserial. 1. Dorsal fin commencing behind the root of the pectoral, p. 09. 2. Dorsal fin commencing above or nearly above the gill-opening, p. 73. 3. Dorsal fin commencing in advance of the gill-opening, p. 74. C. Maxillary teetli equally small, forming bands; lips fringed (Cirr/ti- murcena), p. 75. D. Maxillary teeth tri- or quadriserial ; lips not fringed, p. 7C II. Teeth granular (PisodontopMs). A. Pectoral developed ; dorsal commencing behind the base of pec- toral, p. 77. B. Pectoral developed; dorsal commencing in advance of the gill- opening, p. 80. C. Pectoral rudimentary ; dorsal commencing in advance of the gill- opening, p. 81. III. Teeth equally small, conical ; pectoral absent (rarely rudimentary) ; gill-openings close together {iSphagehrancJivs^}. A. The dorsal commences at some distance behind the gill-opening, p. 84. B. The dorsal commences above or nearly above the gill-opening, p. 80. * 1. Ophichthys brachyurus, Poey, Hepert. Fis.-naf. Cuba, ii. p. 426. — Cuba. 2. Pisoodonophis magnifica, Abbott, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sc.Phila-i. 1860, p. 476. — Sandwich Islands. 3. Ophiurus californiensis, Garrett, Proc. Calif. Ac. Nat. Sc. iii. p. 66. — Allied to 0. grandimaculatus. t 1. Spbagebranchus rostratus, Bl. ix. p. 88, tab. 419. fig. 2 ; Bl. Sc/m. p. 535, tab. 103. fig. 2 ; Kaup, Abhandl. nirwiss. Vcrein. Hamburg, iv. 2, 1860, p. 15. — Surinam. 2. Sphagebrancbus'(?) cephalopeltis, Blech. Vcrh. Hull. Maatsch. Haarlem. 1862, Guivce,p. 128. — Coast of Guinea. 66 MUKiENID^. C. The dorsal coinmencea conspicuously in advance of the gill-opening, p. 87. I). Dorsal and anal fins absent, p. 89. 1. Teeth pointed : pectoral Jin developed in adult examples. A. Maxillary teeth in a double series. 1. Mandibukiry teeth in a double series. a. Canine teeth verxj distinct. 1. Ophichthys rostellatus. Ophisurus rostellatus, Richards. Jchthynl. Ercb. ^- Terr. p. 105. porphyreus, Schley. Faun. Japan. Poiss. p. 2(36, pi. 116. fig. 1. Mystriophis rpstellatus, Kaup, Apod.^. 10. porphyrus, Kaup, Apod. p. 11. The length of the head is nearly one-third of the distance between the gUl-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 hoaS. Teeth pointed, fixed, unequcd in size ; those of the intermaxillary are canine teeth forming a transverse series ; maxillary and mandibulary teeth biserial, 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 well 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. Whitoly. c. Thirty-nine inches long. Japan. Purchased of Hr. Frank. d. Half-grown 2. Ophichthys punctifer. Crotalopsis punctifer, Kaup, Ahhandl. Ntrwiss. Verein. Hamburg, iv. 2, 18G0 (1859), p. 12, taf. 1. fig. 3 (not good). Conger mordax; Poey, Mem. Cuba, ii. 1860, p. 319. Macrodonophis niordax, Poey, Pcpert. Fis.-nat. Cuba, ii. p. 252, tab. 2. fig. 9 (head). Snout narrowed, short, spoon-shaped, twice as ?Ong 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 triserial, rather small. Lips not frin(/ed. Gill-openings wide. The origin of the dorsal fin is at some distance behind the pectoral *, * This as well as otlier important characters arc not attended to in Knup'.s description ur figure. 21. orurcuTnys. 57 which is well developed. Tail somewhat longer than the body. Brownish, with numerous small roundish or ovate black spots. Puerto Cabcllo ; Cuba. 3. Ophichthys adspersus. The length of the head is contained twice and two-thirds in the distance between the giil-opcning and vent. Snout short, depressed, with the jaws even in front. Ej'e 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. GiU-openings of moderate width, close together. Vertical fins moderatelj' 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, a. Eighteen inches long. 4. Ophichthys intertinctus. Ophisurus intertinctus, Richards. Ereh. ^- Terr. Fish. p. 102. Echiopsis intertinctus, Kaup, Apod. p. 13. Two scries 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 are 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 approaching 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, ncarh* 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 dcpressible. Intermaxillary with some smaller teeth i?i front in a transverse scries, and with a large canine tooth behind the series. Vomer with a double series, confluent 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 the end of the pectoral. Tail rather longer than the bod}'. West Indies. a. Type of the species, 12^ inches long. Purchased of Mr. Scrivener /'. Sixteen inches long. 58 MTTRiENlD^. b. The teeth of each series are equal or snhequal in size. a. Cleft of the mouth tvide, more than one-third of the length of the head. 5. Ophichthys triserialis. Mursenopsis triserialis, Kaup, Apod. p. 12. ? Herpetoichthys callisonia, Abbott, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sc. Philad. 1800, p. 475. A series of large, transversely ovate brown spots along the 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 rugae. The length of the head is two-fifths or one- third of the distance of the gill-opeuing 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 ^n commencing above the terminal portion of the pectoral. 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. Goodridge. h. Larfe 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 grandimaculata, Kner Sf Steindachner, Sitzgsher. Ak. Wiss. Wim, 1866, 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. I)orsal fin with a broad blackish margin ; anal blackish. The length of the head is two-fifths of the distance of the ^ill-open- ing 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. dU biserial except those on the vomer, which are uniserial. The length of the pectoral fin is more than one-third of that of the head, dorsal fin commencing above the basal half of the pectoral. Tail longer than body. Peru. a. One of the typical specimens, 24 inches long. From the Godef- froy Museum. 21. upiiicnTiiYs. 59 7. Ophichthys parilis. Ophisurus parilis, Richards. Ereh. >§• Terr. Fish. p. 105. Scytiilopliis parilis, Kaup, Apod. p. 14, fig. 8. Ophichthys macruriis, Pocy, Itcpcrt. Fis.-nat. Cuba, ii, p. 25G. 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 clgngate tapering tube. Teeth pointed, fixed, in all the bones biserial, the anterior rather stouter than the others. The length of the jiectoral fin is contained t'wace 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. a. Type of the species, 19 inches long. Cuba. Purchased of Mr. Scrivener. b. Adult. Bahia. 8. Ophichthys dicellurus, Ophisurus dicellurus, RicJiardson, Voy. SitljJi. Irhtlnjol. p. lOG, pi. 48. figs. 2-4 ; Voy. Ereb, i^- Terr. Fish. p. 105. Gill-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, tAvo- 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. a. Type of the species, 10 inches long. Yang-tze-kiang. Presented by Sir J. Richardson. 0. Cleft of the mouth of moderate width, less than 07ie-third of the length of the head. 9. Ophichthys magnoculus. Scytalophis magnioculis, Kaup, Apod. p. 13. fig. 7 (not 8). Ophichthys magnioculis, Kner, Novara, Fisch. p. 376. Coloration uniform. The length of the head is rather more than one-half of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent. Eye of noderate size, two-thirds of the length of the snout ; tube of the 60 MUR.liNIDJi. anterior nostril not elongate. Teeth pointed, fixed, biserial in all the bones. The length of the pectoral fin 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. OpMchthys gomesii. Ophisurus gomesii, Castcln. Anim. Amer. Sud, Poiss. p. 84, pi. 44. Leptorhinophis gomesii, Katip, Apod. p. 14. Coloration uniform ; vertical fins with 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 cowmencimj 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 Repert. Fis.- nat. Cub. ii. p. 255, from Cuba, may prove to be identical with this species. 11. Ophichthys pauciponis. 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 length 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 fin commencing at a considerable distance behind the extremity of the pectoral. Body two-thirds of the length of the tail. (Poey.) Cuba. 12. Ophichthys puncticeps. Cryptopterus puncticeps, Kaup, Aale d. Hamburg. Mus. p. 11, taf. 1. fig. 2. The dorsal and anal fins disappear for some distance before their termination near the eyid of the tail. Coloration uniform. All the teeth small ; those of the maxillary biserial, of the vomer uniserial ; 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 hyala, Ham. Buck. Fish. Ganr/. pp. 20, GO-'], tab. 6. fig. 5 ; M'Ctell. Vale. Jvurn. Nat. Hist. v. p. 211 ; Richards. Voy. Ercb. Sc 21. OPHICHTHYS. 61 Terr. Fish. p. 102 ; Blevk. Verh. Bat. Oen. Mnrceti. xxv. Beutj. ^ Hind. p. 158. Ophisurus rostratus, M'Clell. I. c. pp. 184, 211. minimus, M'Clell. I. c. pp. 185, 212, tab. 10. fig. 3; Bleek. I. c. 3ftireen. p. 25. Ophiurus 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-fourth of the length of the head. Snout pointed ; e5'e 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. Prom the Collection of the East- India Company, 14, Ophichthys pallens. Ophisiu-us harancha, Richards. Ichth. Chin. p. 313 (not H. B.). pallens, Richards, Voy. Ereb. ^ Terr. Fish. p. 101. l*isoodonophis pallens, Kaup, 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- ninths 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. Ophisurus broekmeyeri, Bleek. Act. Soc. Sc. Indo-Nederl. i. Manado, p. 7L celebicus, Bleek. I. c. p. 70. Ophichthys amboinensis, Bleek. Ned. Tydschr. Dierk. ii. p. 45; or Atl. Ichthyol. Miircen. p. 54, tab. 45. fig. 1. ^. broekmeyeri, Bleek. Atl. Ichthyol. Murcen. p. 53, tab. 15. fig. 1. celebicus, Bleek. I. c. p. 54, tab. 15. fig. 3. Coloration aniform. The length of the head is contained twice and one-third or twice and three-fourths in the distance of the giU- opening from the vent. Cleft of the mouth of moderate width, slightly extending behind the orbit, two-sevenths of the length of 62 MTJR^NIDiE. 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, formiig a group; anterior maxillary teeth uni-, posterior biserial, whilst in the lower jaw the anterior are bi-, and the postor.or uni- serial. 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 *^^ree-fourths as long as the tail. Amboyna, Celebes. a. Type of 0. hroehmeyeri, 12|- inches long. Makassar. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection, b. Type of 0. amhoinensis, 19 inches long. Amboyna. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. c. Type of 0. celebicus, 7^ inches long. Manado. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. OpMchthys cdebicus was founded on two very young examples, said to have the maxillary and vomerine teeth in three series. One of these typical 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 irregular. The vomerine teeth are biserial. The representation of the dentition in Bleeker's atlas is a schematic figure, like many others in the plates contain- ing the Muroenidae, and very different from the real arrangement of the teeth. 16. .OpMchthys rhytidodermatoides. Ophiurus breviceps, Cant. Mai. Fish. p. 326, pi. 5. fig. 4 (teeth) (not Richards.). rutidodermatoides, Bleek. Verh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Murcen. p. 31. lumbricoides, Bleek. I. c. p. 32. Pisoodonophis rutidodermatoides, Kauj), Apod. p. 18. lumbricoides, Kaiip, I. c. p. 21. Ophichthys rutidodermatoides, Bleek. Atl. lehthyol. Murce^i. p. 55, tab. 16. fi^. 1. lumbricoides, Bleek. I. c. p. 56, tab. 14. fier. 3. breviceps, Bleek, I. c, p. 67. 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 ; aU 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-b. Types of 0. breviccpR (Cant.), skins. Pinang. From Dr. Cantor's Collection. 21. OPHICHTHTS. 63 c. Type of 0. rutidodermatoides, 24 inches long. Batavia. From Dr. Blceker's Collection. d. Type of 0. htmhricoidcs, IG inches long. Batavia. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. The differences in the dentition stated by Dr. Bleeker to exist between the species named by him are not confirmed by an exami- nation of the tyiHcal 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 erroneous. 17. Ophichthys rhytidoderma. Ophisurus rutidoderma, Blvek. Verh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Mxircm, p. 30. Ophichthys rutidoderma, Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Murcen. p. 55, taf. 29. fig. 3. • Coloration uniform. The length of the head is contained five times and a half in the distance of the gill-opening from the vent. Snout pointed ; cleft of the mouth rather narrow, extending behind the eye, two-ninths of the length of the head. Eye small, situated in the anterior fourth of the length of the head. Teeth pointed, fixed, all biscrial except the foremost of the maxillaries. Gill- openings rather close together. The length of the pectoral fin is one- third of that of the head. Dorsal fin lower than anal, commencing at a short distance behind the extremity of the pectoral. TaU twice as long as the body. Java. a. Type of the species, 38 inches long. Batavia. From Dr. Blee- ker's Collection. 18. Ophichthys macclellandi. Ophisurus macclellandi, Bleek. Vej-h. Bat. Gen. xxv. Murcen. p. 33. Pisoodonophis macclellaudii, Kemp, Apod. p. 19. Ophichthys macclellandii, Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Murcen, p. 57, tab. 15. fig. 2. Coloration uniform. The length of the head is a little less than 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 fourth of the length of the head. Teeth pointed, fixed, biserial, eaxi pt those on the vomer, which are arranged in three, and on the middle of the bone in four series. Gill-openings rather close together. The length of the pectoral is nearly one-third of the length of the head ; dorsal fin rather low, commencing opposite to the extremity of the pectoral. Tail twice as long as body. Java. n. Type of the species, 23 inches long. Batavia. From Dr. Blee- ker's Collection. 64 MtTR^NlDiE. 19. Ophichthys marginatus. Ophiurus marginatus, Peters, Wieg7n. Arch. 1855, p. 272 ; Giinth. in Fish. Zanz. p. 128, Leptorhinophis marginatus, Kaup, Apod. p. 14. Coloration uniform. The length of the head is one-sixth of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent. Cleft of the mouth nar- row, extending somewhat behind the eye, which is smaU, one-half or one-third of the length of the snout, and situated in the anterior fourth of>the length of the head. All the teeth small, equal, pointed, fixed, in double series. Anterior nasal tube extremely short. Pec- toral very small, one-fifth of the length of the head ; dorsal and anal fins very low, commencing at a very short distance behind the end of the pectoral. Tail one-third longer than the body. East Africa. a. Fourteen inches long. From Colonel Playfair's Collection. 2. Mandibulary teeth uniserial. a. Lips fringed. 20. Ophichthys crocouilinus. Ophisui'us crocodilinus, Bennett, Froc. Com. Zool. Soc. 1831, p. 32. Brachyaomophis horridus, Kaup, Apod. p. 9, fig. 6 ; Bleek. Versl. 8f Meded. Ak. Wet. Amsterd. 1868, ii. p. 303. The length of the head is one-third of the distance between the giU-opening and the vent. Snout extremely short and rather flat- tened, scarcely twice as long as the eye, which is small and situated in the anterior ninth of the length of the head. Teeth pointed, fixed, unequal in size ; those of the intermaxillary stand in a trans- verse series ; maxillary teeth in a double row, those of the inner row stronger and less numerous than the outer ; vomerine and mandibulary teeth uniserial, large, canine teeth. Lijjs fringed *. Gill-openings rather wide. 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 small. Body longer than tail. Upper parts brownish, minutely dotted with darker. A series of black pores along the lateral line ; sometimes a whitish line across the occiput. Pacific ; Japan ; East-Indian archipelago ; Mauritius. a, h-c. Thirty-five inches long and half-grown. Galapagos Islands. From the Haslar Collection Bennett's diagnosis is so accurate that the fish may be at once recognized by it. The typical specimens from the Mauritius were transferred from the collection of the Zoological Society to that of the British Museum, and served Dr. Kaup in establishing the synonymous " Brachysomophis horridus," as he mentions them in his ' Catalogue of Apodal Fish,' although he omitted to trace their * The Iringes are not developed in young examples. 21. oPHicnTHYs. 65 history. Unfortunately these valuable specimens, which were the types of the species, are now missing. AcMrophichthiis typus, Bleek. Ned. Tydschr. Dierk. ii. p. 42, and A.tl. lehthyol. Mursen. p. 39, tab. 47. fig. 3, is founded on a single example from Celebes, 8 inches long. It is apparently distinguished by the absence of pectoral fins, which induced Dr. Blocker to create a distinct genus for it. However, its similarity to 0. crocodilinus is so great that I cannot help thinking that it will eventually prove to be merely the young of that species. Young Mura^uoids 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 equality 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. Ophisurus cirrhocheilus,^/ee^. Act. Soc. Sc. Indo-Nederl. ii.Amhoyna, \m. p. 89. Brachysomophis cirrhochilus, Bleek. Atl. lehthyol. Murcen. p. 38, tab. 9. The length of the head is about one-third of the distance between the gill-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. crocodilinus. Lips fringed. Gill-oijenings 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 of 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, edged 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. Blocker's Collection. b. Lips not fringed, a. Snout much produced ; large canine teeth. 22. Ophichthys serpens. Serpens marinus, Salvian. fol. 67 &; 58; Bcllon. Dc Aquat. p. 150; Rondel, p. 409 ; Willitf/Jdn/, p. 107, tab. G. 4. Murisua, sp. no. 4, Artcdi, Gen. 24: Syn. 44. IMurfena serpens, L. Si/st. Not. i. p. 4"2o. Ophi.«uriis .^crppiis. Lacp'/). ii. p. irts ; SrJi/rg. Fann.Jopon. Poix^. p. 20-1, VOL. VTTT. ! OG MUR^NID.E. pi. 115. fig. 1 ; Costa, Faun. Nap. Peso. tav. 28 bis. figs. 1 & 2 (skull) ; Richards. Ichthyol. Ereb. Sf Terr. p. lUG; Jump, Apod. p. 7. Leptorhyncliiis capensis, Smith, III. Zoal. S. Afr. Pise. pi. 0. Ophisurus inacrorbjnchus, L'leek. Verh. Bat. Gen., xxv. Mitrcrn. \x 28. IMiiroena acutirostris, Grvnuv. Syst. ed. Gray, p. 19. The length 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 jiointed, fixed, unequal in size, those of the intermaxillary and maxillary biserial, the others uniscrial. The intermaxillarj teeth and anterior of the mandible and those of the vomer are canine teeth. GiU-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 moi.- 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. g. Adult, Japan. From Dr. Blocker's Collection. Type of 6 'macrorliijnclius. h. Adult. Australia. Purchased of Mr. Bowerbank. /3. Snoid 7noderately in-odiiced ; no large canitie teeth. 23. OpMchthys regius. Opliisurus regius, (Shaw) Richards. Voy. Ereb. 8c Terr. Fish. p. 100. Herpetoichthus regius, Kaup, Apod. p. 8 (cop. Richards.). Groxmd-colour olive, with from 18 to 23 large round brown spots, each extending from the dorsal fin to the abdomen ; thej^ are larger than the interspaces, which, again, are ornamented by vertical series of small 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 = 20 : 48. Atlantic examples = 2.5 : 40, or = 15 : 2.'>. Japanese examples == 22 : 35. Australian examples ... = IG : 29. 21. OPHICHXHTS. 07 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 distance 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. St. Helena. Presented by J. C. Melliss, Esq. iL Young. St. Helena. Presented by J. C. Melliss, Esq. — Body with broad brown cross bands. 24. Ophichthys ornatissiinus. Herpetoichthys ornatissimus, Kaup, Apod. 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 different 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 with 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. (Kaup.) Malabar. 25. Ophichthys havannensis. Parra, p. 96, lam. 37. Hg. 2 (bad) Mursena havannensis, £1. Schn. p. 491. Herpetoichthys sulcatus, Kuup, Apod. p. 8, fig. 5 (not 0). Ophisurus havanensis, Poey, Mem. ii. p. 320. Uranichthys havanensis, Poey, Repert. Fis.-nat. Cuba, ii. p. 257. brachycephalus, Poey, I. c. Head with numerous brown longitudinal folds ; body covered with dark lines, which may easily be taken for folds. Brown ; head with numerous small dark spots. A series of large round dark spots along the side, the interspaces being as wide as the spots. Another series of alternate smaller spots along the back, and along the sides jef the abdomen. Fins yellowish , dorsal with a series of brown spots along the edge. Cleft of the mouth wide. Eye large, its dia- meter being contained once and two-thirds in the length of the snout. Maxillary 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. iriseriulis, p. 58. F 2 68 MUR-ENID.E. 26. Ophichthys versicolor. Ophisurus versicolor, Richards. Ereh. ^ Terr. Fish. p. 103. Elapsopsis versicolor, Kaup, A2)od. p. 10. Body encircled by 27 brown rings, twice as broad as the inter- spaces between them ; each ring divided into two by a narrow circular white line ; dorsal fin coloured as the body underneath. The length of the head is one-fifth of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent. Upper jaw much projecting beyond the lower ; cleft of the mouth extending somewhat behind the eye, which is small, one-third of the length of the snout, and situated in the anterior third of that of the head. Teeth pointed, all immoveable ; those of the intermaxillary in a double longitudinal series ; maxillary teeth in a single series anteriorly, and in a double posteriorly ; vomerine and mandibulary teeth in a single series. Pectoral fin small, shorter than the snout ; dorsal fin commencing at a short distance behind the root of the pectoral. Tail and body subequal in length. East-Indian archipelago. u. Type of the species, 21 inches long. Purchased of Mr, Frank. 27. Ophichthys ocellatus. Mursenopsis ocellata, Lesueur, Juurn. Ac. Nat. Sc. Philad. v. p. 108, pi. 4. fig. 3. Ophisurus remiger, Valeric, in U Orb. Voy. Amer. Merid. Puiss. pi. 12. fig. 2. ocellatus, Richards. Voy. Ereb. ^ Terr. Fish. p. 104. A series of round white spots along the middle of the side of the body and tail ; dorsal fin with a black edge ; some white dots on the back behind the head, and a white line across the occiput. The length of the head is rather less than one-third of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent. Snout pointed, the upper jaw projecting beyond the lower ; cleft of the mouth 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 that of the head. Teeth pointed, fixed, unequal in size* ; the intermaxillary teeth are the largest, arranged in a curved transverse series ; maxillary teeth in a double, vomerine and mandibulary teeth in a single series ; only the anterior mandibulary teeth form a short double series. Length of the pectoral fin rather more than one-third of that of the head ; dorsal fin commencing opposite to the posterior third of the pectoral. Tail longer than the body Atlantic coast of Tropical America. a-h. Half-grown. Mexico. Presented by Sir J. Richardson. 28. Ophichthys ater. Ophichthys (Herpetoichthys) ater, Peters, Monatsber. Ak. Wiss. Berl. 1860, p. 525. The length of the head is contained twice and one-third in the * Prof. Kanp's stiiteincnf, tliRt tlip toolli am of oqml lonptli, is erroneous. 21. UJ'UICUTUY.S. G9 distance between the gill-opening and vent ; tail one-fourth longer than body ; upper jaw but little projecting beyond the lower ; eye rather large, e(iuidistant from tlie extremity of the snout and cleft of the mouth ; its diameter is two-ninths of the distance of the oiigin of the dorsal from the base of the pectoral. Teeth uniserial, biserial in the maxillarics. C'oloration uniform. (Ptrs.) Chile. ]j. MaxiUari/ fedli vniserial. 1. Dorsal Jin commencing behind the root of the j)ector(il. 29. Ophichthys bonapartii. Pcecilocephaliis bonapartii, A'ir//y?, Apod. p. 5, fig. 3. Ophisurus chrysospilos, Bleek. Act. >Soc. Sc. Indo-Nederl. ii. A»d)i)i/na, viii. pp. 8, 27; bonapartii, Bleek. I. c. p. 87. Ptecilocephalus niarkworti, Kaup, Aa/e d. llumh. Mas. p. 10, tab. 1. fig. 1. Opbicuihys 'jonapartei, BleeL. Atl Ichth. Murcen. p. 47, pi. 14. fio.2. Light brownish, with from 18 to 23 dark-brown rings, extending on the basal jjart of the dorsal and anal fins ; the anterior half of the head is brown, with yellowish, black-edged reticulated lines ; throat with reniform brown dark-edged spots. The length of the head is nearly one-sixth of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent. Snout tetrahedral, pointed, with the up})er jaw projecting beyond the lower. Cleft of the mouth rather wide, tAvo-fifths of the length of the head ; eye of moderate size, rather more than half the length of the snout, situated in the anterior fourth of the length of the head. Posterior nostril in advance of the eye. Teeth of mode- rate size, pointed, fixed, uniserial in all the bones. Pectoral small, shorter than the snout ; the dorsal fin commences opposite to the extremity of the pectoral. Body nearly one-third longer than taU. Amboyna. «. Fine specimen, 27 inches long. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. 30. Ophichthys cephalozona, Centrurophis spadiceus, Kaup, Ajyod. fig. 1 (not descript., not Rich- ards.). Murfenopsis margmaius, Blcck. Ned. Tydschr. Dierk. i. p. 179 (not Ptrs.^. Ophichthys cephalozona, Bleek. Atl. Ichthijol. Muresn. p. 49, tab. 12. fig. 2 ; Kner, Novara, Fisch. p. 377. Body purplish brown ; nape with a very broad deep -black cross band broadly edged with white in front and behind. Dorsal and anal fins tricoloured, viz. brownish along the base, black along the middle, and white along the margin. The length of the head is one-fourth of the distance of the gill-opL-ning from the vent. Cleft of the mouth of moderate width, slight]}' extending behind the eye ; snout pointed, with the upper jaw much projecting beyond the 70 MUBiENID.E, lo-wer. Eye of moderate size, one-half 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 broad tube. The intermaxillary teeth are stout, forming an irregular group ; they, and a pair in front of the lower jaw, are stouter than the others, which are pointed, fixed, uniserial. The length of the pectoral fin is rather more than one-fourth of that of the head ; dorsal com- mencing above the end of the pectoral. Tail sometimes rather longer, sometimes shorter than the body. East-Indian archipelago ; Japan ; North Australia. rt. Type of the species. Amboyna. From Dr. Bleeker's Col- lection. b. Half-grown. East-Indian archipelago. From the Collection of Dr. van Lidth de Jeude. c. Half-grown. Cape York, N. Australia. Collected by Hr. Darnel. Varietif. — The nuchal band is less distinct ; the body and fins marked tvith irregular dark-brown blotches ; dorsal fin without white margin. d. Adult. Japan. Purchased of Mr. Jamrach. e. Half-grown. Zebu, Philippine Islands. Purchased of Mr. Jam- rach. /. Half-grown. Cape York. Collected by Hr. Damel. 31. Ophichthys apicalis. Ophisurus apicalis, Bennett^ in Life of Rcifftes, p. 602. spadiceus, Richards. Iclithyol. CJiin. p. 8 13 ; Voij. Ereb.ifj- Terr. Ichthyol. p. 108. coinpar, Richards. Vo)/. Ereb. ^- 'Terr. Ichthyol. p. 105. bangko, Blcek. Verh. Rat. Gen. xxv. Murom, p. 07. Centniropliis spadiceus, lump. Apod. p. 2 (not fig.). banglio, Kanp, Apod. p. 3. Crecilophis compar, Kaiip, Apod. p. (>. Ophisurus dieponhorsti, Blcek. Ad. Soc. Sc. Indo-Ncderl.vm. Swuatrn, viii. p. 85. Ophichthys banko, BleeJc. Ail. Ichthyol. MvrcBii. p. 51, tab. 14. fig. 1. diepenhorsti, Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Mtiran. 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 behind 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 ^tibove the middle or the posterior third of the pectoral. Tail not twice as long as the body. Indian and Chinese Seas. tt. Type of 0. spadiceus. China. Presented by J. K. lleeves, Esq. h, c. Half-grown and voung. China. 21. 0PHICHTHT8. 71 d. Type of OpJiisurus bangJco. Java. From Dr. Bleeker's CoUection. e. Type of 0. compar, and probably also of 0. apicalis. Sumatra. /. Type of 0. diepenhorsti. From Dr. Bleeker's CoUection. This example is evidently an 0. spadiceus, and ornamented on the back with some irregular whitish blotches. The mandibulary teeth of the typical specimen of 0. compar are decidedly one-rowed. Kaup has evidently merely copied Kichard- son, and founded, on his authority, the genus Ccecilophis. 32. OpMchthys grandoculis. Ophisurus grandoculis, Cantor, Mai. Fish, p. 324, pi. 5. fig, 3 (teeth). Coloration uniform, dorsal and posterior part of anal edged with 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 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 man- dibulary teeth in a single series. The length of the pectoral is one-third 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. Pinang. a-h. Typical specimens : skins. From Dr, Cantor's Collection, 33. OpMclitliys bemsteinii, Mursenopsis bemsteinii, Bleek. Ned. Tydschr. I>ierk. i. p. 157. Ophichtnys bemsteini, Bleek. Atl. Ichthyol. Muran. p. 48, tab. 24, fig, 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 biserial. Pectoral nearly one-third of the length of the head ; dorsal fin com- mencing above the extremity of the pectoral. Tail rather longer than body. {Blhr.) Halmaheira. 34, Ophichthys singaparensis. Ophichtbys singapurensis, Bleek. Atl. IchthyoL Murcen. p. 52, tab. 44, %, 1, Uniform brown. The length of the head is nearly one-fourth of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent. Snout pointed, vnth the upper jaw much projecting beyond the lower. Cleft of tho 72 MUR-ENIDJC. mouth of moderate width ; eye rather small, its diameter being less than one-half of the length of the snout, rosterior nostril in ad- vance of the eye. Intermaxillary teeth in a double longitudinal Beries ; 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. From Dr. Bleeker's Col- lection. 35. Ophichthys macrochir. Ophisurus macrocbir, Blcvk. Vcrh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Murc&n. p. 27 ; Nat. Tydschr. Ned. Ind. vii. p. 440. Centruvophis macrocbir, Katcp, Apod. p. 5. Ophichthys macrocbir, Bleek. Atl. Ichthyol. Murcen. p. 54, tab. 20. fig. 1. Coloration uniform. The length of the head is one-fourth of the distance of the gill-o.pening from the vent. Snout pointed ; cleft of the mouth of moderate width, extending beliind 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. GiU-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 tvsdce as long as the body. Java. a. Type of the species, 20 inches long. Eatavia. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. 30. Ophichthys hispanus. Ophisurus hispanus, Bellotti, Accad. Fisico-medico-statistica di MUctiU), Seduta del 23 dicemhr. 18o7. 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 subequal 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. o. Twenty inches long. Cannes. Presented by Dr. Theodore Giinther. 21. OPHICHiHYS. 73 Although our specimen differs slightly from the Barcelona ex- amples described by BeUotti, which have the vomerine and 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. Opliichthys remicaudus. Centrm'ophis remiccaudus, Kanp, 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 giU-oponing from the vent. Upper lip without appendages. Eye large, near the angle of the mouth. Teeth pointed, uniserial (vomerine teeth biserial ?). 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. (Kaup.) Sicily. 38. Ophichthys brasiliensis. Centrurophis brasilipnsis, Kan^, Apod. p. 4. Yellowish brown, vvith black dots, lue length of the head is rather less than one-fourth of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent. Teeth pointed, uniserial (vomerine teeth biserial ?). Pec- toral Jin one-fourth of the length of the head ; dorsal Jin coinniendng at some distance behind the pectoral. Tail longer than body. {Kaup.) Rio Janeiro. 39. Ophichtliys urolophus. Conger urolophus, Schleg. lami. Japon. 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 pointect. 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. {8chleg.) Japan. 2. Dorsal Jin commencing above or nearly above the ffill-opening. 40. Ophichthys polyophthalmus. Ophichthys polyophthahnus, Bleek. Ned. Tydschr. Dierk. ii. p. 43 j and Atl. Ichthyol. Murmi. p. 47. pi. 42. fig. 3. Brownish on eacli side, with ihree series of large rounded brownish- black spots arranged alternately ; each spot of the dorsal series with a whitish centre. Snout yellowish, head with numerous white, dark-edged ocelli. Dorsal fin with a basal series of brown spots, 74 mt7B-j;nid^. 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 giU- opening from, the vent. Snout tetrahedral, moderately pointed, with the upper jaw slightly projecting beyond the lower. Cleft of the mouth of moderate width, one-third of the length of the head ; eye of moderate si/e, 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 all the bones ; some of the front teeth rather larger than the others. Pectoral fin small, as long as the snout ; dorsal commencing opposite to the base of the pectoral. Tail as long as the trunk without head. Amboyna. a. Type of the speci b, 15 inches long. From Dr. Blocker's Col- lection. 41. OpMchthys altipinnis. Microdonophis altipinnis, Kaup, Apod. p. 6, fig. 3 (not 4). Mursenopsis altipinnis, Bleek. Ned. Tydschr. Dierk. i. p 180. Ophichthys altipinnis, Bleek. Atl. Ichthyol. Muran. p. 50, tab. 13. melanochir, Bleek. Ned. Tydschr. Dierk. i. p. 44 ; and Atl. Ichth. Mwcen. 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, wdth 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-opening. Body about three-fourths as long as the tail. Celebes and Amboyna. a. Type of 0. melanochir, 27 inches long. Amboyna. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. 3. Dorsal Jin commencing in advance of the giU-opening, 42. Ophichthys calamus. The Iqjgth 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. OPHICHTHYS. 75 eye rather small, one-half of the length of the snout, situated above the middle of the mouth. Teeth small, uniserial, apparently in two series on the vomer*. Lips .fringed. Gill-openings narrow and close 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. Brownish, lower parts whitish. Australia. a. Seventeen inches long. Freemantle. C. Maxillary teeth equally small, forming baiids ; lips fringed. 43. OpMchthys chinensis. Cirrhimursena chinensis, Kaup, Apod. p. 27. Ophisurus polyodon, Bleek. Act. Sac. Indo-Nederl. viii .Sumatra, viii. p. 8G. Cirrhimursena polyodou, Bleek. Atl. Ichthyol. Mureen. p. 41, tab. 8. fig. 1. The length of the head is two-fifths or rather more than two-fifths of the distance between the gill-opening and the vent. Snout pro- duced, pointed, the cleft of the mouth being two-Jifihs 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 fonn a rather broad band, and those of the vomer and mandible are arranged in a double or triple series f. 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 twice or nearly twice as long as the body. Coloration uniform. China, Sumatra. a. Type of the species, 7 inches long. China. 6. Type of C. polyodon, 11 inches long. Priaman. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. 44. OpMchthys tapeinopterus. Cin'himura3na tapeinopterus, Bleek. Nederl. Tydschr. Dierk. p. 183 ; or Atl. Ichthyol. Murcen. p. 41, tab. 8. fig. 3 ; ? Kner, Novara, Fisch. p. 376. 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 cleft 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 maxU- lary, aud narrower ones along the vomer and mandibles. Lips fringed. Gill-opciiings rather narrow and close together. Vertical * All the bones are luueh softened by the fluid in which the specimen has been preserved ; and the teeth are very indistinct and partly dest'-oyed. t Kaup's description is erroneous. 76 MUR^NID,!:. 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. Ophisurus cheilopogon, Bleck. Act. Soc. Sc. Indo-Nederl. viii. Celebes, xiii. p. 59. Cirrhimursena chilopogon, Bleek. Atl. Ichtlu/ol. Murceii. p. 42, tab. 19. fig. 2. The length of the head is contained twice and two-thirds in the distance of the gill-opening from the vent. Snout produced, pointed ; the cleft of the mouth being tivo-fifths 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 wcU developed ; the dorsal fin commences immediately behind the base of the pec- toral fin, which is two-fifths as long as the head. The length of the body is contained once and two-thirds in that of the tail. Colo- ration uniform. Celebes. a. Type of the species, 19 inches long. Badjoa. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. 4G. OpMchthys playfairii. The length of the head is npaxiy one-fourth of the distance of the gUl-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 nairow bands. Lips fringed. Gill-openings narrow and rather close to- gether. Fins well developed ; the dorsal fin commences at a short distance behind the angle of the mouth ; pectoral tin 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 quadriserial : lips not fringed. 47. OpMchthys pacilici. Brown, a series of very small whitish dots along the anterior part of the lateral line ; some similar dots on the nape ; aorsal fin with a black edge. The length of the head is contained twice and one-third ill 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 the length of the head. Eye of moderate size, two- 21. OPHICHTHYS. 77 thirds of the length of the snout, and situated in the anterior third of that of the head. Teeth pointed, fixed, unequal in size ; the in- termaxillary teeth are the largest, arranged in a curved transverse series ; maxillary and mandibulary teeth forming a tri- or quadri- serial band in adxilt 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* Chile and Peru. a. Twenty-five inches long. Chile. From the Godeffroy Collection as 0. remiger. Teeth of the jaws quadriserial. h-d. Sixteen inches long. TamboKiver. Purchasedof Mr. Whitely. Teeth of the jaws biserial. Although this species is allied to 0. remiger (with which it has been confounded by Prof. Kner), it is evidently distinct, haA^ing a longer head and a different dentition. n. Teeth gramdar. A. Pectoral developed; dorsal commencing behind tlie base of the pectoral. 48. OpMchthys boro. Ophisurus boro, Ham. Bmh. Fish. Gang. pp. 20, 3G3 ; Gray, III. Ltd. Zool. ; M' Clell. Calc. Joum. Nat. Hist. v. p. 211 ; Richards. Ichth. Chin. p. 313, and Voy. Ereh. 8f Terr. Fish. p. 99 ; Bleek. Verh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Beng. p. 150 ; Cant. Mai. Fish. p. 322, pi. 5. fig. 2 (teeth). harancha, Ham. Buch. I. c. pp. 21, 363 : Gray, I. c. ; M' Clell. I c tab. 12. fig. 4. ^' ' caudatus, M' Clell. I. c. p. 185, tab. 12. fig. 3. Conger microstoma, Fgd. ^ Soul. Voy. Bonite, i. p. 205, Poiss. pi. 9. fig. 3 (if this identification of Ilr. Kaup is correct, the figure is erroneous). Ophisurus potamophilus, Bleek. Nat Tydschr. Ned. Ind. v. p. 458, or Verh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Murcen. p. 68. Pisoodonophis boro, Kaup, Apod. p. 17; Bleeh. Atl. Ichth. Murcm. p. ()2, tab. 20. tig. 3 ; Bay, Fish. Malab. p. 248. potamophilus, Kaup, Apod. p. 20 ; Bleek. I. c. p. 63, tab. 28 fig. 2. Coloration uniform. The length of the head is contained from thrice and a half to four times arid a half in the distance of the gill-opening 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, and rather more pointed in young. Eye small. Teeth granular, in several series, forming bands which are broader m adult examples than in young. Length of the pectoral fin one-fourth oi one-sixth of that of the head ; dorsal fin commencing at some dis- tance behind the end of the pectoral j dorsal and, especially, anal fins low. East Indies, sea and fresh waters : ? Tropical America, 78 MURdENID^. a. Large specimen, 50 inches long. River Hooghly. From the Collection of the East-India Company. h,c,d,e,f. Many half-grown and young examples. River Hooghly g. Adult. Bengal. Presented by General Hardwick. h~i. Half-grown. Bengal. Presented by G. R. Waterhouse, Esq. k. Adult : skin*. Pinang. Erom Dr. Cantor's Collection. I. Adult. Pinang. From Dr. Cantor's Collection. m. Adult. East-Indian archipelago. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. n. Type of 0. potamophUus. Borneo. From Dr. Bleeker's Col- lection. 0. Adult. Zebu (PhUippine Islands). Purchased of Mr. Jamrach. p, q, r. Many adult, half-grown, and young specimens. Formosa. s. ? Half-grown. Grenada (West Indies). Purchased of 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. boro, which varies rather considerably in the relative proportions of the parts of the body. 49. Opiiichthys cancrivorus. ? Conger flavipinnatus, Bennett, Prop. Com'm. Zool, Soc. 1831, p. 108. Ophiaurus cancrivorus, Richards. V9y. Ereb. 8f Tei-r. Fhh. p. 97, tab. 60. figs. 6-9. sinensis, Richards. I.e. p. 98. Ophiurus baccidens, Cant. Mai, Fish. p. 320, tab. 6. fig. 1 (teeth). Ophisurus schaapi, Rleek, Nat. Tydschr. Ned. Lid. iii. p. 735 ; or Verh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Murcen. p. 53. brachysoma, Bleek. I. c. 1°, p. 776 ; or I. c. 2°, p. 55. Pisoodonophis cancrivorus, Kaup, Apod. p. 15, tig. 9 (cop. from Richards.) ; Kner, Novara, Fisch. p. 379. brachysoma, Kaup, Apod. p. 19 ; Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Muram. p. 60, tab. 18. fig. 2. schaapi, Kaup, I. c. ; Bleek. I. c. tab. 17. fig. 1. moluccensis, Bleek. Atl. Ichthyol. Murcen. 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. o. Adult. Pinang. From Dr. Cantor's Collection. Type of 0. baccidens. h. Adult. Singapore. One of the typical specimens of 0. can- crivorus. 21. OPHICHTHYS. 79 r. Adiilt. Makassar. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. Type of 0. hrachysoma. 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 P. mohiccensis. f. Half-grown. Philippine Islands. One of the typical specimens of 0. cancrivorus. g. Half-grown. Australia. Presented by the late Earl of Derby. h. Adult. Mauritius (?). From the collection of the Zool. Soc. Pro- bably the type of Conger Jlavipinnatits. 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 futui'O researches should prove that this species is reaUy found at the Mauritius, every doubt as to the identity of C. Jlavipinnatus and 0. cancrivorus may be considered to be removed. 50. Ophichthys hoevenii. Ophisurus hoevenii, Bleek. Nat. Tydschr. Ned, Ind. v. p. 172 ; or Verh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Murcsn. p. 67. Pisoodonophis hoevenii, Kaup, Ajiod. p. 20 ; Bleek. Atl. IcJith. Murten. p. 69, taf. 16. tig. 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 body is equc(l to that of the tail. Cleft of the mouth 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 fin 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, \2\ inches long. Makassar. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. 51. Ophichthys hjrpselopterus. Ophisurus hypselopterus, Bleek. Nat. Tydschr. Ned. Ind. ii. p. 69 ; or Verh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Murcen. p. 34. Pisoodonophis hypselopterus, Katqj, Apod. p. 19 ; Bleek. Atl. Ichthyol. Murcm. p. 63, 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 that of 80 MUfi^NIDiE. the head ; dorsal commencing at some distance behind the pectoral ; dorsal and, especially, anal Jtns elevated, the latter being as deep as the body. Bandjermassing. a. Typical specimen. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. B. Pectoral developed : dorsal cotmnencinff in advance of the giU-opeiiing. 52. Ophichthys semicinctus. Ophisurus semicinctus, Richards. Voy. JEreb. Sf 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 gill-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 length 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. Type of the species, 29 inches long. West Africa. Presented by the Royal College of Surgeons. h, c, d. Adult. West Africa. e. Adult: stuffed. West Africa. Presented by the late Earl of Derby. /. Adult. River Gambia. g. 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, slightly 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 ; dorsal com- mencing behind the occiput, and, like the anal, well developed. West Africa. a. Twenty-nine inches long. 21. OPHICHTHYS. 81 C. Pectoral rudimentary ; dorsal commencing in advance of the gill-opening. 54. Ophichthys colufcrinus. Muraena colubrina, Boddaert, in Pallas' s Neue Nord. Beytr. ii. 1781, p. 66, pi. 2. iij?. 3. anuulata, AM, De Murcena et Ophichtho, 1789, p. 8, tab. 1. fig. 1. fasciata, AM, I.e. p. 0. Gymnothorax annulatus, Bl. Schn. p. 527. fasciatus, Bl. Schn. p. 529. colubrinua, Bl. Schn. p. 529. Ophisurus fasciatus, Lac^p. iv. p. G86; Richards. Ereh. ^ Terr. Fish. p. 100; Bleek. All. Ichthyol. Mures?), p. (34, tab. 21. fig. 1 ; Kner, Novara, Fisch. p. 379. alternans, Qi'cyy ^ Gaiin. Toy. Uran. i. p. 243, pi. 45. fig. 2. colubrinus, Richards. I. c. p. 100 ; Bleek. Nat. Tydschr. Ned. Ind. xi. p. 106. Opbitnorax colubrina, 3f'CleU. Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. v. p. 212 (not synon.). Pisoodonophis fasciatus, Kanp, Apod. p. 23. Body surrounded with numerous brown rings. The length of the head is nearly one-eighth of the distance of the gill-opening from the vent ; the length ofihe body equals that of the tail. Snout short, pointed ; cleft of^We mouth of moderate width, one-fourth of the length of the head, slightly extending behind the eye. Eye very small. Teeth obtusely conical, biserial. Pectoral Jin rudimen- tary ; dorsal commencinrj 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. colubrina %. annulata. Brown rings simple, nan'ower or broader than the interspaces, which are immaculate. a. Adult. Borneo. Presented by Sir J. Richardson. b, c, d. Adult and half-grown. East-Indian archipelago. e-f,g-h. Adult, half-grown, and young. Feejee Islands. Var. /3. fasciata. The intervals between the brown rings are ornamented by more or less regular ocellated spots. i. Adult. Borneo. k, l,m. Adult. 55. Ophichthys maculosus. Ophisurus ophis, Lac&p. ii. pp. 195, 196, pi. 6. tig. 2 (not Bloch) ; Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Murcen. p. 65, tab. 16. tig. 3. Muraena maculosa, Cuv. Rcgne Anim. Ophisurus maculosus, Richards. Ereh. l^ Terr. Fish. p. 102. Pisoodonophis maculosus, Kaup, Apod. p. 21. Five alternate series of round brown spots along the body ; the uppermost on the dorsal fin, the second partly on the back, partly on the dorsal. The length of the head is one-fifth of the distance of the giU-opening from the vent ; the length of the body is three- fourths of that of the tail. Snout short, broad ; cleft of the mouth VOL. VIII. o 82 MUHi^wTD^. 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 fin extremely short ; dorsal commencing 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. Bleeker's Collection. 56. Ophichthys breviceps. Ophisurus breviceps, Richards. Voy. Ereb. 8f Terr. Fish. p. 99. Pisoodonophis breviceps, Kavp, Apod. p. 20. coronata, Kaup, Aale Hambwrg. Mus. 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 three series on the other bones. Pectoral fin rudimentary ; dorsal commencing imme- diately behind the nape ; dorsal and anal fins well develo2)ed. Body with two alternate series of round brown spots. "West Indies ; Pacific coast of Central America. a. Type of the species, 38 inches long. Presented by the lioyal 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 t}ie same species ; it is young, ornamented with 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. OpMchthys pardalis. Ophisurus pardalis, Valenc. in Webb ^ Berthel. lies Canar. Poiss. p. 90, pi. 16. fig. 2, or Richards. Ereb. 8f Te7-r. Fish. p. 100. Pisoodonophis oculatus, Kaup, Apod. p. 22. Ophisurus latemaculatus, Poey, Repert. Fis.-nat. Cuba, ii. p. 252, tab. 3. fig. 1 (head). Body with two series of brownish-black ocellated spots, each with a white centre ; dorsal fin with irregular diffuse 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. 0PHICHTHY8. !S;-5 one-fourth of the length of the head, extending behind the small eye. Teeth graniilar, triserial, except on the maxillaries, on which they are biserial. Pectoral Jin extremely stiort ; dorsal commencinc/ immediately behind the occiput. Cape Verde Islands ; Canary Islands ; "West Indies. o. Twenty-five inches long. Lanzarote. Presented by the Rev. R. T. Lowe. b. Half-grown. Cape Verde Islands. Presented by the Rev. R. T. Lowe. c. Half-grown. West Indies. Presented by Ch. Darwin, Esq. I believe that this is the species named pardalis by Valenciennes, although he does not mention the white centre of the brown spots, which may have disappeared. Probably this is also the Pisoodonophis oculatus of Kaup, which is (evidently erroneously) described as having the body longer than the tail. Specimen c has been named Pisoodo- nophis guttulatus by this gentleman. 58. Ophichthys quincunciatus. Four alternate series of round brown sjjots along the body, the uppermost on the back, partly extending on the dorsal. Dorsal fin with a series of ill-defined spots along the margin, anal with a series 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. Snout depressed, pointed ; cleft of the mouth of moderate width, nearly one-fourth 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 intermaxillary, vomer, posterior portion of maxillary, and anterior of mandible in a triple series, the remainder biserial. Pectoral Jin very short ; dorsal commencing 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. 59. Ophichtliys actunmatus. Muraena acuminata, Gronov. Syst. ed. Gray, p. 21. Pisoodonophis guttulatus, Kaup, Apod. p. 21, fig. 10. Ophisurus longus, Poey, Repert. Fis.-nat. Cuba, li. p. 254. Two or three alternate series of round yellowish spots along the body ; head with 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 leng>th of the body is three- fourths of that of the tail. Snout rather short and obtuse ; cleft of the mouth of moderate width, extending somewhat behind the small eye. Teeth granular, biserial in young examples, but form- ing broadish bands along the palate and manrlibles, and narrower (i 2 84 MTJRJiNID.E. , in the maxillaries. Pectoral fin extremely short ; dorsal commencing on the nape ; dorsal and anal fins well developed. West Indies. a, h, G. Thirty-three inches long, 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 {ray-ely rudimentary^ ; gill- openings close together. Sphagebranchus. A. The dorsal commences at some distance behind the gill-opening. 60. Ophichthys imberbis. Sphagebranchus imberbis, De la Roche, Ann. Mus. xiii. p. 360, pi. 25. fig. 18 ; Risso, Eur. Merid. iii. p. 196 ; Costa, Faun. Nap. Pesc. tav. 32. figs. 2, 3, 4 ; Kaup, Apod. p. 25. oculatus, Risso, I. c. p. 197. Leptocephalus spallanzani, Risso, 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. /. Adult. Old Collection. 61. Ophichthys auceps. Dalophis anceps, Cantor, Mai. Fish, p, 327, pi. 6. The length of the head is contained nine times and three-fourths in 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 'j 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 double 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 giU-opening. Coloration uniform. Sea of Pinang. a. Type of the species : skin. From Dr. Cantor's Collection. 21. OPHICHTHTS. 85 62. Ophichthys moluccensis. Dalophia moluccensis, Bleek. Nat. Tydschr. Ned. Ind. v. p. 246 ; or Verhand. Bat. Gen. xxv. Murcen. p. 70. Sphagebranchus moluccensis, Kaup,A.pod. p. 26 ; Bleek. Atl. IcMhyol. Murcen. p. 68, tab. 11. fig. 1. The length of the head is two-ninths of the distance between the gill-opening and the vent ; tail scarcely a little longer than the bodj'. 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 well developed, and commences at some distance behind the gill-opening. Coloration uniform. Batjan, Ceram. a. Type of the species. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. 63. Ophichthys fascus. Mursena fusca, Ziiiew, Nov. Act. Ac. Sc. Petrop. vii. 1793, p. 296, tab. 7. fig. 1. _ Sphagebranchus brevirostris, Peters, Wiegm. Arch. 1855, p. 273; Kaup, Abhandl. Ntrtoiss. Verein. Hamburg, iv. 2. 1860, p. 16. The length of the head is contained thrice and two-thirds in the distance between the gill-opening and the vent; tail longer than the body. Cleft of the mouth vride, more than one-third of the length of the head, the eye being situated above its anterior half. Snout pointed. Teeth pointed, uniserial, except those of the inter- maxillary, which are in a double series. Pectoral fin none ; the dor- sal is low, and commences at some distance behind the gill-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. Mur. p. CO, 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 gill-opening. Colo- ration uniform. {BlJcr.) Coasts of Borneo and Kotti. 65. Ophichthys polyophthalmus. ? Coecula pterygera, Vahl, Skrivt. Natwh. Selsk. iii. 1794, p. 149, taf. 13. l^alophis polyophthalmus, Bleek. Xat. Tydschr. Ned. Ind. iv, p. 299 ; or Verh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Murcen. p. 69. Anguisurus piinctulatus, Kmi/i, Apod. p. 24, fig. 12 (head). Sphagebranchus polyophthalmiis, Kaup, Apod. p. 26; Bleek. All. Ichthijol. MurcBH. p. 70, taf. 10. lig. 1. The length of the head is very little less than one-fourth of the distance between the gill-opening and the vent ; tail shorter than the body. Cleft of the mouth wide, the eye being above its middle. Snout narrow, much pointed. Teeth pointed, uniserial, except those of the intermaxillary, which are in a double series. Pectoral fin none ; dorsal well 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 ocelli between the band and the origin of the dorsal. Java, Sumatra, and Batjan. «. One of the typical specimens. From Dr. Blocker's Collection. This is probably the fish described by Vahl ; but he represents the eye as minute. Perhaps this was merely an individual neculiarit.v. 66. Ophichthys kaupi. Sphagebranchus kaupi, Bleeh. Act. Soc. Sc. Indo-Neerl. v. Celebes, xii. p. 3 ; or Atl. Ichthyol. Murmi. p. 70, tab. 13. fig. 1. The length of the head is contained five times and one-half in the distance between the gill-opening and the vent; tail rather longer than the body. Cleft 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 >orae distance behind the gill-opening. Coloration uniform. Eivers of Celebes. a. Type of the species, 13^ inches long. From Dr. Blocker's Col- lection. B. The dorsal Jin commences above or nearly above the giU-opening. 67. Ophichthys bicolor. Lamnostoma bicolor, Kaup, Apod. p. 24. Sphagebranchus bicolor, Kaup, Abhandl. Ntriviss. Verein. ITamburg, iv. 2. 1860, p. 15 ; Bleek. Ned. Tydschr. Dierk. i. p. 186 ; and AH. Ichthyol. Mur. p. 69, tab. 11. fig. 3. The length of the head is one-fifth of the distance between the gill- opening 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. 68. Ophichthys timorensis. Sphagebranchus- lumbricoides, Bleek. Ned. Tydschr. Dierk, ii. p. 46; 21. OPHICHXHYS. 87 or Atl. Ickthyol. Murcen. p. 71, pi. 44. fig. 4 (not Opliichthys lum- bricoides, Blkr,). The length of the head is nearly one-sixth of the distance between the gill-opening and the vent. Tail at least as long as the body (if not longer). Cleft of the mouth of moderate width, the eye being above its middle. Snout pointed. Teeth pointed ; those of the intermaxillary and anterior part of the vomer biserial, the others uniserial. Pectoral fin none ; dorsal and anal fins rudimentary, the former commencing above the giU-opening ; the latter begins to be distinct at some distance behind the vent. Coloration uniform. Timor. a. Type of the species, 9 inches long. From Dr. Bleeker'^' Col- lection. 69. OpMchthys orientalis. RusseU, i. no. 37. Dalophis orientalis, M'Clell. Calc. Joum. Nat. Hist. 1845, p. 213. Lamnostoma pictum, Kaup, Apod. p. 23, fig. 11. Sphagebranchus orientalis, Ejfier, Novara, Msche, p. 380. The gill-openings are longitudinal slits, placed side by side on the ventral surface, the membrane forming a broad double fold. Snout mu^h pointed, the projecting part being longer than broad, having the anterior nostrils at its loiuer surface. The length of the head is scarcely less than one-third of the distance between the giU-opening and the vent. Tail as long as the body. Cleft of the mouth of moderate width, the small eye being nearly abov^ its middle. Teeth pointed, uniserial. Dorsal and anal fins low, the former commencing at a very short distance behind the gill-opening. A series of round whitish spots across the occiput, with a short bar on each side directed forwards. Southern India ; Ceylon. a. Adult. Madras. Presented by Cc pt. Mitchell. C. The dorsal Jim, comrmnces conspicuously in advance of the gill-opening. 70. Ophichthys melanotania. Callechelys melanotaenia, Bleek. Atl. Ichthyol. Murcen. p. 66, tab. 49. fig. 2. The length of the head is one-tenth of the distance between the gill-opening and the vent, the length of the tail being one-third of that of the body. Cleft of the mouth narrow, extending behind the eye. Snout pointed. Teeth pointed ; those of the intermaxillary strong, recurved, biserial ; the others uniserial. Pectoral fin none ; the dorsal fin commences at the vertical from the angle of the mouth. Whitish ; a broad, weU-defined, deep-black band along the upper ptirt of each side ; head blackish, marbled with whitish. Dorsal fin with a black margin. Amboyna. a. Type of the species, 19 inches long. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection, 88 MuHwasMD^gK. 71. Ophiclithys marmoratus. Dalophis marmorata, Bleek, Verh, Bat. Gen, xxv. Mureeti. p. 37 ; and Nat. Tydschr. Ned. Ind. vii. p. 100. Sphagebranchus marmoratus, Kaup, Apod. p. 26. Callechelys marmoratus, Bleek. Atl. Ickthyol. Mur^sn. p. 66, pi. 1 1. fig. 2. The length of the head is contained eight times and one- half in the distance between the giU- opening and the vent, the length of the tail being not much more than one-half of that of the body. Cleft of the mouth narrow, extending behind the eye. Snout rather pointed. Teeth pointed, recurved, uniserial, those on the intermax- illary and vomer biserial. Pectoral fin none ; the dorsal fin com- mences at the vertical from the angle of the mouth. Irregularly marbled with brown. Sumatra. a. Type of the species, 34 inches long. Siboga. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. The description of Callechelys guichenoti, Kaup, Apod. p. 28, from Tahiti, is so short and insufiicient that it cannot, at present, be dis- tinguished from the above species ; the author says : — " The whole body is dotted and freckled with black on a dark blue or, perhaps, greenish ground-colour. Towards the end of the tail the black pre- domiuates. Fins white, T/ith a broadish irregular black border." 72. OpMchthys longipinnis. Sphagebranchus longipinnis, Kner Sf Steindachner, Sitzgsber. Ak. Wiss. Wien, 1867, liv. p. 390, fig. 14. The length of the head is contained nine times and one-half in the distance between the gill-opening and the vent ; tail nearly as long as the body. Cleft of the mouth narrow, slightly extending behind the eye, which is very small. Snout rather pointed, of mo- derate extent. Anterior nostril tubular. Teeth pointed, uniserial. Pectoral fin none ; the dorsal is moderately developed, and com- mences in advance of the giU-opening. Coloration uniform. Samoa Islands. rt. One of the typical specimens. From the Godeffroy Museum. 73. Ophichthys tenuis. The length of the head is one -seventh of the distance between the gill-opening and the vent ; body and tail subequal in leng^. Cleft of the mouth narrow, extending behind the eye, which is small, situated abovo the middle of the mouth. Snout acutely pointed, about thrice as long as the eye, projecting considerably beyond the mouth. Anterior nostril without tube, posterior on the inner side of the lip, below tlie front margin of the eye. Teeth pointed, uniserial ; intermaxillary teeth placed in a triangle. Pec- toral fin none ; the dorsal is moderately developed, and commences 21. OPHICHTHTS. 89 about midway between the gill-opening and angle of the mouth. Coloration uniform. Habitat ? a-c. Twenty-one inches long. — These specimens were named S. bicolor by Dr. Kaup, but are evidently different from the type of that species, which is in the Leyden M«seum. 74. Ophichthys Mrkii. The length of the head is one-eighth or one-ninth of the distance between the gill-opening and vent ; tail somewhat longer than the body. Cleft of the mouth of moderate widtl}, extending to some distance behind the eye, which is small, situated above the middle of the mouth. Snout pointed, about twice a'S long as the eye, pro- jecting beyond the mouth. Anterior nostril with a small tube, posterior on the inner side of the lip, below the front margin of the eye. Teeth pointed, uniserial. Pectoral fin none ; the dorsal is rather low, and commences about midway between the giU-opening and the angle of the mouth. Coloration uniform. Kovuma Bay (East Africa). a, b. Several specimens (14 inches long). Presented by Dr. Kirk. D. Dorsal and aiialjins absetit. 75. Ophichthys quadratus. Sphagebranchus quadratus, Hichards. Voy. Sidph. Ihh. p. 115, pi. 52. figs. 8-15. Tail tetrahedral, not rounded. Fins none. The length of the head is one-seventh of the distance between the gill-opening and vent. Cleft of the mouth of moderate Madth, the eye being situated above its middle. Snout projecting far beyond the mouth. Teeth uniserial, those on the vomer partly biserial. China. a. Type of the species, 6^ inches long, not in good state. From the Collection of Vice- Admiral Sir E. Belcher. 76. Ophichthys caecus. Murseua caeca, L. Si/st. Nat i. p. 426. Sphagebranchus coecus, Bl. Schn. p. 505. Coecilia branderiana, Lac4p. ii. p. 135. Apterichthys caecus, {Dumeril) De la Roche, Ann, Mus. xiii. p. 325. fig. 6. Sphagebranchus spaUanzani, Costa, Faun. Nap. Peso. tav. 32. fig. 1. Body elongate, slender ; tail longer than the body. Fins none. Snout acutely pointed, with the upper jaw projecting much beyond the loAVcr. Eyes not externally visible. Gill-openings ventral, ap- proximate. Teeth of the jaws uniserial. Coloration reddish, with dark dots. {Be la Roche.) Mediterranean. 90 MXTILaaTID^. 77. Ophichthys gracilis. Ophisuraphis gracilis, Kaup, 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 point of the snout." No vomerine teeth (?). Length to the angle of the mouth 0-24 inch, to the gill-opening 0*67 inch, to the anus 4-02 inchfes ; length of tail 5'81. {Kaup.) Hab. ? 78. Ophichthys acutirostris. Ichthyapus acutirostris, Bri8. de BarnevUle, Rev. Zool. 1847, p. 219 ; Kaup, Apod. p. 28. Body slender, tail rounded, longer than the body ; fins none. The border of the anterior nostril is denticulated ; 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. MORINGUA. Moringua, Gi-ay, Zool. Misc. p. 9. Kaitaboura, Gray, I. c. Ptyobranchus, M'' Clell. Cdc. Jmim. Nat. Hist. v. p. 200. Aphthalmichthye, Kaup, Apod. p. 105. Pseudomoringua, &c., Bleek. Ail. 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 branchiae. GiU-openings rather narrow, inferior. East Indies ; Feejee Islands ; Japan. 1. Moringua raitaboma. Mursena raitaborua. Ham. Buck. Fish. Gang. pp. 25, 364. Rataboura hamiltonii, Gray, Zool. Misc, p. 9. hardwickii, Gray, I. c. ; and 2U. Ind. Zool. c. fig. Ptyobranchus arundinaceus, M' Clell. Cole. Journ. Nat. Hist. v. p. 200, pi. 10. fig. 1. ^— guthnanus, M' Clell. I. c. p. 201, pi. 10. fig. 2. erythreus, M' Clell. I. c. pi. 9. fig. 3 (half-grown). multidentata, M^ Clell. I. c. pi. 9. fig. 4 (half-grown). brevis, M^ Clell. I. c. p. 223 (young). parvidentata, M' CM. I. c. p. 202, pi. 9. fig. 5. gracilis, M^ Clell. I. c. pi. 9. fig. 6 (young), AnguiUa (Moringua) raitaborua, Cant. Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. iv. p. 228, tab. 1. Moringua raitaborua, Bleek. Verh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Beng 8f Hind. p. 154 J Kaup, Apod. p. 106. 22. MORINGUA. 91 Moriiigua macroehir, Bleek. Nat. Tyds. Ned. Lid. ix. p. 71, or Atl. Ichtn. Mur. p. 15, pi. 3. fig. 1 (young) ; Kner, Novara, Msch. p. 389. lumbriciformis, Kaup, Apod. p. 107 (half-grown). In aclult 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 the 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 by the East-India Company. b. Adult. India. Presented by General Hardwicke. c. Half- grown. India. Presented by General Hardwicke. — Type of M. lumbnciformis, Kaup. d. Half-grown. Batu. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. — Type of M. macroehir. e. Adult : skeleton. Hooghly Skeleton. The abaominal vertebrae 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. Vex-t. 90/40. 2. Moringua lumbricoidea. ? Moringua linearis, Gray, Zool. Misc. p. 9 ; and HI. Ind. Zool. c. fig. Moringua lumbricoidea, Richards. Voy. Sulph. Ichth. p. 113, pi. 56. figs. 7-11 ; Kaup, Apod. p. 107. microchir, Bkek. Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. iv. p. 124 ; or Verh. Bat. Geti. xxv. Mur. p. 66 ; or Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 16, 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 occupying 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. Type of the species. China. Presented by J. R. Reeves, Esq. 6. Type of M. microchir. Amboyna. From Dr. Bleeker's Col- lection. 3. Moringna bicolor. Kaup, Apod. p. 107 ; Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 15, pi. 3. fig. 1. In an example about 15 inches long the greatest depth of the body is not less than one -sixtieth of the total length ; in another of 31 inches it is only one -ninetieth. Lower jaw the longer. Pec- 92 MTTR^NIDJE. toral fins 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 College of Surgeons. 4. Moringua javanica. Aphthalmichthys javanicus, Kaup, Apod. p. 106, fig. 71 ; Meek. Ned. Tyds. Dierk. i. p. 164 ; 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 ; Feejee Islands ; Japan. a. Adult. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. b. Adult. Moluccas. c. Young. Feejee Islands. Purchased of Herr Damel. d. Adult. Japan. 5. Moringua abhreviata. Aphthalmichthys abbreviatus, Bleek. Ned. Tyds. Dierk. i. p. 163 ; or Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 17, pi. 1. fig. 1. Pectoral and vertical fins reduced to slight 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 Collection. 6. Moringua macrocephala. Aphthalmichthys macrocephalus, Blcek. 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 difiers 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. MUBiENA. 93 Second Subfamily. MURtENID^ engyschist^. The branchial openings in the pharynx are narrow slits. Tenth Group. MUR^NINA. 23. MYROCONGER. Scaleless. Head without conspicuous muciferous cavities. Cleft of the mouth wide. All the teeth acicular, subequal 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 developed, the dorsal fin commencing in advance of the small gill- opening. The posterior nostril 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 behind 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 body. The skin of the throat and chest shows traces of large scale-pouches, regularly arranged, each about half the siiie of the eye. Uniform whitish. St. Helena. a. Fine specimen, 22 inches long. Presented by J. C. Melliss, Esq. 24. MUR.ffiNA*. Mursena, sp., Artedi, Linn., Block. Gymnothorax, Block, Bl. Schn. Muraenophis, Lacep. Muraena, Cuv., Rickardso^i. Echidna, /. R. Forster. Thaerodontis, Strophidon, Lycodontis, M^ Clelland. Muroena, Sidera, Eurymyctera, Thyrsoidea, Limamuraena, Polyura- nodon,Poecilophis,Gymnomuraena, Priodonophis,Taeniophis,A77M/>. Pseudomur?ena, J. Y. Joknson. Echidna, Gymnothorax, Priodonophis, Strophidon, Thyrsoidea, Bleeker. * 1. Gymnothorax wilsoni, III. Schn. p. 529. — Q. (dentibus palatinis nullis?) capite parvo, crasso, viridi, maculis roseis latis ornato, pinna dorsali longitudine doirsi, ano capiti propinquiore qu?m apici caudte. Hab. in Nova HoUafidia, Banning dictus. 2. Muraenophis stellata, Lacep. v. pp. 629, G22, 644. — La dorsale tres bas.se et comnaen9ant tres-pres de la nuque ; les deux mticboires gamies de dents aigues et claii'-semees ; deux rang^es de dents semblables de chaque cote du palais ; deux series longitudinales de taches on forme d'etoiles irr6guHeres, de chaque cot^ de I'animal. Sa couleur generale 94 MTTR^NID^. Scaleless. Teeth well developed. Gill-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 in616 de blanc, les laches 6toil6e8 sont d'un pourpre tirant sur le noir ; la s6rie sup^rieure de ces taches en renferme ordi- nairement vingt, et rinftrieure vingt-une. — Nouvelle Bretagne. y. Murajnophis haiiy, Lacip. v. pp. 629, 046, pi. 17. fig. 2. — Hab. — ? — Name of a drawing. 4.* Mtirsena fiilva, Risso, Ichth. Nice, p. 367, or Eur. Merid. iii. p. 190. — Mediterranean. — Corpore fulvo, brunneo fasciato. 5. marmorata, Quoy ^ Gaim. Voy. Freyc. Zool. p. 247. — Waigiou and Rawak. — Six inches long. 6. Mursenophis lineata, Less. Voy. C'oq. Zool. p. 127, pi. 11. fig. 1. — Island of Oualan. 7. flaveola, Less. I.e. p. 128, pi. 11. fig. 2. — Island of Oualan. 8. Mupaena cerino-nigra, Richards. Ichth. Chin. p. 314. — Canton. — Known from a drawing only. 9. Thyrsoidea blochii, Kaup, Apod, p 90 , Gymnothorax borneensis, Bleck. Atl. Ichth. Mur. p 102, pi. 37. fig. 2.— East Indies.— Known from a single young e'xample ! 10. MuriBna mici-opoecilus, Bleek. Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. viii. p. 4.j9 ; Gymno- thorax micropoocilus, Bleck. Ned. Tyds. Dierk. i. p. 246, oi- Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 10r>, pi. 38. 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. Bleeker's Collection. 11. Muraena mauritiana, Kaup, Apod. p. 65. — Mauritius. — Short, obtuse head ; blackish, with some brown dots or markings ; fins with a yel- lowish edge. — An = M. fiavomarginata ? 12. Muraena nigrolineata, Kaup, Apod. p. 66. — Marquesas Islands. 13. flavimarginata, Kaup, Apod. p. 67. — Bourbon. — Spotted witli yellow ; a black stripe runs from the throat to the vent. 14. ehrysops, Kaup, 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 l)rown, with black zigzag markings. 15. multiocellata, Poey, Mem. Cuba, ii. p. 324; and Repert, Fis.-nat. Cuba, ii. p. 258.— Cuba. 16. — .- erebus, Poey, Mem. Cub. ii. p. 426; and Repert. Fis.-nat. Cuba, ii. p. 258.— Cuba. 17. Murenophis appendiculata, Guichenot in Gay, Chile, p. 341. 18. porphyreus, GuicJienot, I.e. p. 342, lam. 11. fig. 2. 19. Thyrsoidea kaupii, Abbott, Proc. Ac. Nat. So. Philad. 1860, p. 477.— Sandwich Islands. 20. eurosta, Abbott, I. c. p. 478. — Sandwich Islands. 21. concolor, Abbott, I. c. p. 479. — Vera Cruz. 22. Gymnothorax scriptus, Bl. Schn. p. 529. — Corpore tereti serpent! form i, striis transversis et lituris figuras litterarum arabicarum imitantibu.s, fustat capite parvo, rictu angusto, cauda obtusa, naribus tubulosis. — Ne-w Holland. 23. Muraena canina, Qu^y S( Gaim. Voy. Than. 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, Ayrcs, Proc. Calif. Acad. Nat. Sc. 1859, p. 30.— Cerro.s Island. — Origin of the dorsal about at the commencement of the second third of the length of the fish. Coloration dark, with linear short mottlings of a lighter shade. 24. MTJR^NA. 9o Sir John Richardson 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 them. 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 series of teeth than mature or old indiAaduals. 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 the biserial 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 following synopsis the maxillary teeth are admitted to be biserial only when the inner series consists of several (more than three) teeth. Synoj)sis of the Subgenera and Species. I. Teeth acute. A. Posterior nostrils tubular : Murcena, p. 96. B. Posterior nostrils not tubular : Gymnothorax, 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 ocelli. a. Maxillary and intermaxillary teeth biserial, p. 100. /3. Maxillary teeth only biserial, p. 101. y. Maxillary teeth uniserial, p. 102. h. Ornamented by well-defined black cross bands, p. 104. c. Ornamented by well-defined polygonal or round black spots. p. 106. d. Ornamented by yellowish lines forming a network, p. 110. c. Body with dark or light markings, which are not well de- fined and more or less irregidiir. a. Maxillary teeth biserial, p. 112. /3. MaxUlary teeth uniserial, p. 116. /. Snout ornamented with brown longitudinal bands, p. 122. g. 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 body {Thyrsoidea, Blkr.), p. 127. 4. Exceedingly elongate, the tail being nearly as long as the body (^Strophidon, Blkr.), p. 128. II. Moat of the teeth are obtuse, molar-like : Poecilophis, p. 128. 96 MUR^NID.^, Skeleton. — Orbit generally a comj^lete osseous ring. Suture be- tween maxillary and intermaxillary very distinct. Anterior verte- brae with a broad inferior spinous process ; transverse process of the abdominal vertebrae deeply concave, sometimes cup-shaped ; caudal vertebrae with short transverse upper and lower spinous processes. Vertebrae. Abdominal. Caudal. Murcena helena 69-71 + /2-70 = 141 meleagris 60 -|- 60 = 120 undulata 64 -|- 68 = 132 muringa 65 -(- 79 := 144 unicolor 65 + 71 = 136 zebra 97 + 38 =135 nehulosa 65 -|- 57 = 122 catenata 65 -|- 51 =110 I. Teeth acute. A. Posterior nostrils tubular : Murfena. • 1. Muraena helena. Mvpaiva, Aristot. i. c. 5, ii. c. 13 & 15, iii. e. 10, v. c. 10, viii. c. 2, \^ & 15, ix. c. 2 ; jElian, i. c. .32 & 50, ix. c. 40 & 60 ; Afhm. lib. vii. Miiraena, Plin. ix. c. 16,19, 20, 23, 54,55 ; xxxii. c. 2, 5, 7 & 8 ; Bcllon. De Aq7(nt. p. 158 ; Rondel, xiv. c. 5, p. 402 ; Sakian, pp. 59, GO ; Willughhj,Hist. Pise. p. 103, tab. G 1 ; Aldrov. iii. c. 27, ^p. 350, 357. Muriena, sp. no. G, Artedi, Synon. p. 41 ; Genera, p. 2o ; Gronov. Zoophjl. no. 164. Mursena helena, L. Sijst. Nat. i. p. 425 ; Briinn. Pise. Mass. p. 11 ; Block, Aiisldnd. Fisch. ii. p. 31, taf. 153 ; Risso, Ichth. Nice, p. 366, and Eur. Merid. iii. p. 189 ; Costa, Faun. Nap. Pesc, with figure of skull ; Jenyns, Mati. p. 479 ; Yarrell, Brit. Fish. 2nd edit. ii. p. 40(5, -and 3rd edit. i. p. 73 ; Couch, Fish. Brit. Isl. iv. p. 335, pi. 237 (not good); Guiche?!. Explor. Alg^r. Poiss. p. 114; Gronoi\ Syst. ed. Gray, p. 18 ; Richards. Voy. Ereb. ^ Terr. Ichthyol. p. 80, pi. 49. figs. 1-6 ; Kaup, Apod. pp. 55 (synonymy erroneous). Muraenophis helena, Lac^p. v. p. 631. Gymnothorax muraena, Hi. Schn. p. 525. Muraena romana, Shaw, Gen. Zool. iv. 1, p. 26. Muraena guttata, Risso, Eur. 31&id. iii. 1826, p. 191. Skeleton : Rosenthal, Ichthyotom. Taf. tab. 23 ; Owen, Osteol. Catal. i. p. 14. Posterior nostrils tubular; anterior nasal tubes of moderate length, their length being about equal to the vertical diameter of the eye. Teeth uniserial. Intermaxillary and mandibular canine teeth but little larger than the lateral teeth ; anterior vomerine teeth much the largest, 17-18 teeth on each side of the lower jaw. Gill-opening a small horizontal slit. Snout rather pointed ; eye small, two-fifths of the length of the snout, situated above the middle of the length of the cleft of themouth. Cleft of the mouth wide, its length being about two-thirds of the distance between the angle of the mouth and the gill-opening. Tail a little longer than the body. The length of the head is two-fifths or one-third of that of the trunk. Brown, with 24. MUK^NA. i-'" large whitish or yellowish spots, each of which contains smaller brown spots. Head and neck brown variegated with whitish. Gill-openii)g in a small brown spot ; tail with a narrow white edge. Somethnes the brown colour predominates, so that nothing but small whitish spots are visible, which arc more or less distinctly arranged in rings. Vert. H9-71 72-70 • Mediterranean and neighbouring parts of the Atlantic ; Mauritius ; Australia. a. Half-grown. Naples. Presented by S. Pratt, Esq. b, c. Half-grown. Malta. d-e. Half-grown. Nice. /. Half-grown. Cannes. Presented by Dr. Th. Giinther. (J. Adult. Cadiz. From the Haslar Collection. h. Half-grown: stuffed. Mediterranean. Purchased of Mr. Ar- gent. i. Adult. Madeira, Presented by Sir A. Smith. k. Adult. Lanzarote. Presented by the llev. II. T. Lowe. /. Adult : stuffed. Mauritius. m. Adult. Australia. Presented by Sir J. Richardson. n, 0, p, q. Adult. r. Adult : skeleton. Madeira. Presented by Lady Franklin. 2. Muraena augusti. Muraena guttata, (Solcmder, MS.) Loive, Trans. Zool. Snc. ii. p. 102 ; Richards. Voij. Ereb. 8f Terr. Fish. p. 90 (not Risso). ThjTsoidea augusti, Kaup, Apod. p. 88. Limamuriena guttata, Kaup, Apod. p. 96 (syuou. erroneous). Thyrsoidea atlautica, Johnson, Proc. Zool. Soc. 18G0, p. 108. Posterior nostrils tubular, the tubes being only half as long as the anterior, the length of which equals the vertical diameter of the eye. Maxillary teeth biserial, the teeth of the inner series being longei- than those of the outer ; the other teeth uniscrial ; but there are sometimes two or three long teeth forming an iiancr mandibulary series. The anterior vomerine teeth are the longest, nearly twice as long as any of the others. The mouth cannot be shut completely. Gill-opening narrow, not wider than the eye. Snout pointed, narrow; eye small, two-fifths of the length of the snout, a litlh' nearer to the angle of the mouth than to the end of the snout. Cleft of the mouth very wide, its width being contained twice and one- third in the length of the head. Tail longer than the body. The length of the head is two-fifths of that of the trunk. Erownish- black (in spirits) ; the tail with numerous bluish-white dark-edged dots of the size of a pin's head, disappearing on the anterior parts of the body. Inside of the mouth brown, with similar white dots. Fins without light margin. Madeira. a, b, c-d. Adult, half-grown, and young. Presented by .1. \. Johnson, Es(j. VOL. Tin. » 98 MUR^NIDJE. Albino variety, e. Type of Th. atlantlca. Presented by J. Y. Johnson, Esq. Richardson describes this species as having the posterior nostrils not tubular. Dr. ¥aup, ha\4ng observed this discrepancy from So- lander's description, thought the fish to be difFerent from 31. guttata (Solander), naming it 31. augusti. Otherwise he simply copies Richardson's description, as he does throughout his work on the " Apodal Fish." Unfortunately the stufi'ed example from which Richardson drew up his description cannot be found in the British Museum, if it was there at all (which is very improbable). But there is but little doubt that that specimen was really identioal with So- lander's fish, the small posterior nasal tubes having become dried and consequently inconspicuous. 3. Mursena melanotis. Limamurjena melanotis, Kaup, Aale Hamburg. Mus. p. 27, tab. 4. fig. 3. Murfena helena, Troschel, Wiegm. Arch. 18G6, p. 237. Posterior nostrils tubular; tubes subequal in length, shorter than the eye. Maxillary teeth and, in young examples, also the anterior mandibulary teeth biserial. Canines of moderate length; the mouth can be shut completely. Gill-opening narrow, not wider than the eye, which is small. Snout of moderate length. Cleft of the mouth of moderate width, contained twice and one-half or twice and one- third in the length of the head. Tail longer than the body. The length of the head is contained twice and one-third or twice and one- half in that of the trunk. Brownish black, with numerous round yellowish spots, most of which are smaller than the eye ; the spots are sometimes confined to the head and trunk. A large round black spot round the gill-opening. Angle of the mouth black. Tropical parts of the Atlantic ; Pacific coast of Panama. a, b. Adult, fine specimens. Cape Verde Islands. Presented by th"! Rev. R. T. Lowe. c-d. Half-grown, South America. Purchased of Mr. Cuming. e-f. Half-grown. Pacific coast of Panama. From Mr. Salvin's Collection. 4. Mursena pavonina. Richards. Voy. Sulph. Ichthyol. p. 110, pi. 53. figs. 1-6 ; and Voy. Ereh. ^ Terr. Fish. p. 90. Posterior nostrils tubular, the tubes being much longer than the anterior, and equal to the vertical diameter of the eye. Maxillary and mandibulary teeth biserial, the inner series being formed by four or five longer teeth *. The other teeth uniserial. Canines of mode- rate length. The mouth can be shut completely. Gill-opening narrow, not wider than the eye. Snout pointed, narrow. Eye of moderate size, its diameter being more than one-half of the length * Of course these teeth may bR absent in other examples. 24. MUK-ffiNA. 99 of the snout, a little nearer to the angle of the mouth than to the end of the snout. Cleft of the mouth wide, its width being two-fifths of the length of the head. Tail longer than the body. The length of the head is contained twice and one-third in that of the trunk. Brownish black, all parts with oval white spots, as large as or larger than the eye. Angle of the mouth and gill-opening black ; inside of mouth spotted with black. Southern Seas. a. Type of the species, 9| inches long. Presented by Sir J. Richardson. 5. Muraena partialis. Mursena pavdalis, Schlcfi. Faun. Japon. Poiss. p. 268, tab. 119; lileck. Act. Soc. Sc. Ind.-S'edcrl. iii. Jajmn, iv. p. 30; and Nat. Tydschr. Ned. Ind. xvi. p. 200. Gymnothorax pardalis, Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Murcen. p. 86, pi. 25. fig. 1, and pi. 20. fig. 2. Posterior nostrils tubular, the tubes being more than twice as long as the anterior, the length of which is less than the vertical diameter of the eye. The maxillary and mandibulary teeth are bi- scrial in young examples ; but with age the two series melt into each other, constituting a single series composed of large canine-like teeth with small intermediate teeth. The other teeth uniserial ; the inter- maxillary and anterior vomerine teeth arc long canines, which prevent the mouth from being shut. Gill-opening a small horizontal slit, not much wider than the eye. Snout pointed, narrow. Eye of moderate size, two-fifths of the length of the snout, a little nearer to the angle of the mouth than the end of the snout. Cleft of the mouth very wide, its width being at least two-fifths of the length of the head. Tail longer than .the body. The length of the head is two-fifths of that of the trunk. Brown, clouded with darker ; all parts with numerous whitish or yellowish dark-edged ocelli, which arc partly confluent, and much larger on the lower parts than on the upper. Japan, Cocos, Java ; Mauritius. a. Adult. From Dr. Bleekcr's Collection. h. Adult : stuffed. Mauritius. 0. Muraena lentiginosa. Jejiyiis, Zool. Bear/k, Fish. p. 143. Posterior and anterior nasal tubes equal in length, not quite as long as the vertical diameter of the eye. Maxillary and mandibularv teeth biserial or uniserial, according to the age of the individual. Tlie teeth on the palate are sometimes entirely lost with age. An- terior canines not much exceeding in length those on the side of the jaws. Gill-openings small, not wider than the eye, two-fifths of the length of the snout, which is rather pointed, narrow. VjJc some- what nearer to the angle of the mouth than to the cxtreniitj' of the snout. Cleft of the mouth railicr more than one-third of the Icngtli [t 2 100 MUR^NTD^. of the head. Tail as long as the body. The length of the head is one-half of that of the trunk. Yellowish, finely mottled with brown ; fins and sides, and especially the lower parts, with white brown-edged ocelli of the size of the eye ; fins without white edge. Gill-opcuing brown. Galapagos Islands ; Pacific coast of Central America. a. Adult. From Mr. Goodridge's Collection. 1'). Posterior nostrils not tubular : Gymnotliorax. 1. Bodi/ moderately el our/ at c ; tail not (or not much) longer than the body \ snout of moderate extent. ft. Ornamented by tcell-d(Ji)ud white (in spirits) spots or ocelli. a. Maxillary and intermaxillary teeth biserial. 7. Mursena meleagris. jNIurrena meleagris, Shatv, Nat. Mific. pi. 220 ; Gen. Zool. iv. 1, p. 32 ; Hichards. Voy. Ereb. i^- Terr. Fish. p. 9;5. Thyrsoidea meleagris, Kairp, Apod. p. 91 (copied from Hichardson). — — chlorostigma, Kaup, Apod. p. 89. MuKcua chlorostigma, Blech. Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. xv. p. 100. Gymnotliorax chlorostigma, Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 97, pi. 34. fig. 2. Teeth hiserial, except those on the vomer and on the side of the mandible. Canines rather small, and the mouth can be shut com- pletely. Anterior nasal tubes very short. Gill-opening narrow. Snout of moderate length, moderately compressed. Eye small, less than one-half of the length of the snout. Cleft of the mouth wide. Tail rather longer than the body. The length of tlie head is con- tained twice and one- third or twice and two-thirds in that of the trunk. Brownish black, with innumerable yellowish dots, which are smaller than the eye. Vert. 60/GO. Indian and Pacific Oceans. a. Half-grown. Old Collection. Type of the species. h. Adult. Zanzibar. Presented by Lieut.-Col. Playfair. c. Adult: stufi^ed. Zanzibar. From Lieut.-Col. Playfair's Col- lection. 4. Adult : stuffed. Mauritius. e. Half-grown. Java. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. f. Young. Feejee Islands. Voyage of the ' Herald.' g. Adult : skeleton. Seychelle Islands. Presented by Prof. E. P. Wright. 8. Muraena miliaris. Mureuophis punctata, Casteln. An. Am. Sud, Poiss, p. 82, pi. 42. fig. 3. Thyrsoidea miliaris, Kaup, Apod. p. 90. Gymuoliorax scriptus, Pocy, Repert. Fis.-nat. Cuba, ii. p. 261. Teeth hiserial, except those on the vomer and on the side of the mandible. Canines rather small, and tKe mouth can be shut com- 24. WCJR^NA. 101 pletely. Gill-opening as wide as the eye. Snout of moderate length, twice as long as the eye, which is of moderate size. Cleft of the mouth of moderate width, two-fifths of the length of the head. Tail rather longer than the body. The length of the head is two- fifths of that of the trunk. Brown or black, entirely covered with innumerable yellowish dots, the largest of the size of a small pin's head. Martinique ; Cuba. a. Adult. Cuba. From the Collection of the Zoological Society. 9. Muraena flavopicta. Thyrsoidea flavopicta, Kaup, Apod. p. 90. Teeth biserial, except those on the vomer and on the side of the mandible. Canines small ; the mouth cannot be shut completely. Gill-opening rather wider than the eye. Snout of moderate length. Eye small, less than one-half of the length of the snout. Cleft of the mouth wide. Tail rather longer than the body. The length of the head is two-fifths of that of the trunk. Tail black, with innu- merable round yellow spots smaller than the eye ; towards the trunk the yellow spots are more densely crowded and irregular in shape ; and towards and on the head the yellow colour becomes the ground-colour, and the black appears in the form of reticulated lines. Tropical parts of the Atlantic. a. Fine specimen. St. Helena. Presented by J. C. Melliss, Esq. Murcenn elahorata, Poey, Mem. Cub. ii. p. 323, and Report. Fis.- nat. Cub. ii. p. 262, is very closely allied to, and perhaps identical with, this species ; it has the vomerine teeth in a double series. /3. Maxillary teeth only biserial. 10, Muraena stellifera. Richards. Voy. Ereh. 8f Terr. Fish. p. 86. Teeth uniserial, except those of the maxillary, which is armed with an inner series of four or five strongish teeth. Mandibulary teeth about twenty in number on each side. Canines strong, the jaws not shutting completely. Gill-opening narrow. Siiout rather produced and pointed, not quite twice as long as the eye, which is of moderate size. Tail longer than the body. The length of the head is two- fifths of that of the trunk. Brownish, with four regular longitudinal series of pale-blue spots, each of about the size of the eye. Fins with a narrow bluish edge. Madagascar. a. Type of the species, 7 inches long. Presented by Dr. J. E. Gray. Gymnothorax margaritophorus, Block. (Ned. Tydschr. Dierk. ii. 102 MTJKJENIDiE. p. 53 ; or Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 97, pi. 31. fig. 1), appears to be a va- riety of M. stelUfera. Like the specimen on which M. stellifera was founded, the type of G. margantophorns is a young individual, dif- fering from the other only in having an interrupted broad brown band from the eye along the upper side of the back to above the gill-opening. a. Eight and a half inches long. Amboyna. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. y. Maxillury teeth uniserial. 11. Mursena punctata. Gymnothorax puuctatus, Bl. Schn. p. 526. Calamaia paum, Russell, pi. 32. Miiraena punctata, Richards. Voy. Ercb. <^ Terr. Ichth. p. 8.3 (copied by Kaup, Apod. p. 64). Teeth uniserial ; mandible with about twenty-three teeth on each side, the four anterior being the largest. Canines moderately deve- loped; the mouth can be shut completely. Anterior nasal tubes rather short, only half as long as the eye. Oill-opening vmle, at least twice as wide as the eye. Snout compressed, rather produced, pointed, more than twice as long as the eye. Eye of moderate size, situated above the middle of the gape. Cleft of the mouth wide, half as long as the head. Tail rather longer than the body. The length of the head is two-fifths of that of the trunk. Blackish brown, all parts with numerous bluish-white darker-edged oceUi, the largest on the tail being about of the size of the pupil, and those on the anterior part of the body not being much smaller. Coast of Southern India. a. Adult. Madras. Collected by Surgeon F. Day. b. Adult : stuffed. 12. Muraena conspersa. Gymnothorax conspersus, Poey, Repert. Fis.-nat. Cuba, ii. p. 259. Teeth uniserial, mandible with about seventeen teeth on each side ; vomerine teeth small, biserial. Anterior teeth large. Tail but little longer than the body. The length of the head is two-fifths of the distance between the gill-opening and vent. The diameter of the eye is somewhat less than one-half of the length of the snout. TTie whole body is covered with very small blue dots one-sixth of the diameter of the eye, their distance from one another being equal to the diameter of the eye. The anterior and superior half of the head without dots. (Poey.) Cuba. 13. Mursena ocellata. Gymnothorax ocellatus, Agass. in Spiv, Pise, Bras. p. 91, tab. 506. Muraena meleagris, Qtcuy ^ Gaim. Voy. Freifc. Zool. p. 245, pi. 52. fig. 2. ocellata, Jenyns, Voy. Beagle, p. 145 ; Richards. Vuy. Ereb. ^ Terr. Ichth. p. 82, pi. 47. figs. 6-10 (copied by Kaun. Apod. p. 61) 24. MUE^NA. 103 Ncomuroena nigromarginata, Girard, in U. S. 8f Mex. Bound. Ichthyol. p. 76, pi. 41. PMurenophis variegata, Caslehi. Afitm. Amer. Sud, Poiss. p. 83, pi. 43. fig. 2. Priodonophis ocellatus, Kaup, Aale Hiunhurg. Mits. p. 22; Kner, Novara, Fisehe, p. .'583 ; Poe)/, Repert. Fis.-nat. Cuba, ii. p. 202. meleagiis, Poeij, I. c. Teeth uniserial (some of them slightly serrated), mandible with twelve or fourteen teeth on each side, the two anterior being canines of moderate size. Intermaxillary teeth not much larger than maxil- lary ; there are no teeth on the mesial line between the intermaxillary teeth. The mouth can be shut completely. Anterior nasal tubes short. Gill-opening narrow. Snout short, thick. Eye rather small. Cleft of the mouth of moderate width. Tail longer than the body. The length of the head is one-half or two-fifths of that of the trunk. Brownish grey, with numerous round white spots irregu- larly disposed, the largest being about as large as the eye. Dorsal fin with subalternate large white and black spots, anal wdth a broad black margin. The Murc^nophis variegata of Castelnau, from Rio Janeiro, is said to lack the black spots on the dorsal fin. Atlantic coasts of tropical .imerica ; Pacific coast of Panama. a. Adult : stuffed, 44 inches long. b, c. Half-grown : skins. Jamaica. Purchased of Mr. Parnell. d. Half-grown. Gulf of Mexico. Presented by Sii- J. Richardson. e,f. Half-grown and young. Bahia. g. Half -grown. Brazil. Presented by Lord Stuart. h, i, Jc-l. Half -grown. South America. m. Young. Panama. From Mr. Salvin's Collection. n. Young. From Mr. Stokes's Collection. 14. Muraena dovii. Teeth uniserial, not serrated ; mandible with about eighteen teeth on each side, the two or three anterior being canines of moderate size. Intermaxillary teeth as large as the anterior of the mandible, and there is a long mesial canine tooth. The mouth can be shut nearly completely. Gill-opening as large as the eye, which is of moderate size. Snout rather produced, more than twice as long as the eye. Cleft of the mouth wide, two-fifths of the length of the head. Tail longer than the body. The length of the head is scarcely less than one-half of that of the trunk. The dorsal fin begins considerably in advance of the giU- opening. Brownish black, with bluish dark-edged ocelli smaller than the eye, rather distant from one another, and not very numerous. Fiois coloured iike the body. Panama. n. Twenty-one inches long. Presented by Captain Dow, 104 MVR^NID^. 15. Muraena nudi vomer. Giinth. in Fish. Zanz. p. 127, pi. 18. The anterior intermaxillary and mandibulary teeth are biscrial, the others uniserial (some of the teeth slightly serrated) ; the vomer is toothless (in the only example known); mandible with about twenty teeth on each side ; canines small. Eye small. Snout of moderate length. Cleffc of the mouth of moderate width. Tail apparently somewhat longer than the body. The length of the head is two-fifths of that of the trunk. The anterior half of the fish is yellow, with small brown spots and lines ; whilst on the posterior half the brown may be regarded as the ground-colour, ornamented with ovate yellow spots larger than the eye, and so closely arranged that the brown colour forms merely a continuous network of lines. Zanzibar. a. Type of the species, stuffed, 34 inches long. From Lieut.-Col Playfair's Collection. h. Adult : stuffed. From Lieut.-Col. Playfair's Collection. b. Species ornmnented by well-defined black cross bands. 16. Mursena riippellii Muraena colubrina, Lacep. v. pp. 027, 641, 042, pi. 19. fig. 1 (not Boddiiert) ; Richards. Voy. Ereb. Sf Terr. Fish. p. 88 ; Bleek. Nat. Tydschr. Ned. Ind. vi. p. 335. reticulata, Rupp. Atl. Fisch. p. 117 (not BL). Dalophis riipellise, M^Clell. Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. v. p. 213. Thyrsoidea colubrina, Kaup, Apod. p. 84 (copied from Richardson). Gymnothorax reticularis, Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 98, tab. 33. tig. 1 ; "tab. 37. fig. 4 ; and tab. 39. fig. 2 (not Bhch). Teeth uniserial, younger examples sometimes with one or two additional teeth, forming an inner maxillary series ; mandibulary teeth 20 to 23 ; canines moderately developed ; the mouth can be shut completely. Anterior nasal tubes much shorter than the ver- tical diameter of the eye. Gill-opening as wide as the eye. Snout sb'ghtly compressed, of moderate length : eye of moderate size, rather more than half the length of the snout, situated nearly above the middle of the cleft of the mouth. Cleft of the mouth rather wide, its length being contained twice and two-thirds in that of the head. Tail longer than the body ; the length of the head is con- tained from twice and one-third to twice and two-thirds in that of the trunk. Head, body, and Jins encircled by 18 or 20 complete, ivell-defined black rings, which are considerably narrower than the interspaces. With age the dorsal part of each ring becomes some- what diffused. The three rings on the head very distinct (none on the end of the snout) ; the first through the eye, the second behind the cleft of the mouth, the third in front of or across the giU-opening. East-Indian archipelago. a, b. Adult. Moluccas. c, d. Half-grown and young. Borneo. 24. MUKJiNA. 105 c. Half-grown. Presented by the lloyal College of Surgeons. This species has been confounded by Lacepcdc with the Murcena colubrina of previous authors, which is an Ophiuroid Eel, and by Bleeker with Oymnothorax reticulata of Bloch. 17. Muraena petelli. Mursena nubila, Richards. Voy. Ereb. ^ Terr. Fish. p. 81 (spec, from Mauritius). petelli, Bleek. Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. xi. p. 84 ; or Act. Soc. Sc. Ind.-Nedtrl. ii. Ainhoyna, viii. p. 92. PMursena interrupta, Kaiq), Apod. p. 67, fig. 51. Gymnothorax petelli, Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Murc&n. p. 99, pi. 32. fig. 1. Teeth uniserial, young examples with some additional teeth form- ing an inner maxillary series ; mandibulary teeth about 23 on each side. Canines moderately developed, the mouth cannot be shut completely. GiU-opening not wider than the eye, which is of moderate size, situated somewhat nearer to the end of the snout than to the angle of the mouth. Snout rather produced, not twice us long as the eye. Cleft of the mouth wide, its length being con- tained twice and one-fourth in that of the head. Tail longer than the body ; the length of the head is one-third of that of the trunk. Drown, with from 17 ^ 18 darh cross bands, broader than the inter- s^^aces ; the first, indistinct, on the end of the snout ; the third, very distinct, at the commencement of the dorsal fin. In old examples most of the bands are broken up into spots, but the anterior dorsal bands remain distinct. Indian Ocean and archipelago. Red Sea ? a. Type of the species, 19 inches long. Java. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. 6. Stuffed, 44 inches long. Mauritius. From Dr. Janvier's Col- lection. 18. Munena reticularis. Gymnothorax reticularis, Bl. Ausl. Ftsch. ix. p. 85, pi. 416 ; Bl. Schn. p. 528. reticulatus, Bl. Schn. p. 528. Mursenophis reticularis, Lacep. v. pp. 628, 642, 643. Muraena reticulata, Richards. Voy. Ereb. 8f Terr. Fish. p. 82 (cop. by Kaup, Apod. p. 60, fig. 49). minor, Schleg. Fatm. Japan. Poiss. p. 269, pi. 115. fig. 2. Priodonophis minor, Bleek. Verh. Bat. Gen. xxvi. p. 123 ; Kner, No- vtera, Fisch. p. 382. Teeth uniserial (some of them slightly serrated) ; mandibulary teeth thirteen ; canines very small ; the mouth can be shut com- pletely. Anterior nasal tubes very short. Width of the eye and gill-opening nearly equal. Snout scarcely compressed, rather short ; eye of moderate size, two-thirds the length of the snout, situated somewhat nearer to the angle of the mouth than to the end of the snout. Cleft of the mouth of moderate width, one-third of the length of the head. Tail longer than the body ; the length of the 106 MUKiENIDJE. head is contained tivice and one-third in that of the trunk. Body with about 16 black cross bands, tvhich are rather broader than the interspaces ; their ventral portion is well defined, but the dorsal half is more diffuse, whilst the part on the dorsal fin is again well marked. The first distinct ventral band is behind the gill-opening, whilst the head and the back are closely spotted and dotted with brotvn. China; Japan, a. Thirteen inches long. China Seas. Presented by Sir J. Rich- ardson. b. Half-grown. Japan. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. Bleeker erroneously refers Bloch's G. reticularis to the preceding species. Our examples agree very well with the figure given by Bloch, which is very accurate. 19. MursBna pimctato-fasciata. Mursena catenata, Bleek, Act. Soc. Ind.-Neerl. i. Amboyna, p. 66 (not synon.). Gymnothorax piinctato-fasciatus, Bleek. Atl. Ichth.Mur. p. 99, tab. 31. fig. 4. Teeth uniserial; mandibulary teeth 16-17; canines very small; the mouth can be shut completely. Anterior nasal tubes very short. Width of the gill-opening rather more than that of the eye. Snout scarcely compressed, short ; eye of moderate size, two-thirds of the length of the snout, situated somewhat nearer to the angle of the mouth than to the end of the snout. Cleft of the mouth of mode- rate width, one-third of the length of the head. Tail longer than the body ; the length of the Kead is one-third, or a little less ilian one- third, of that of the trunk. Body with from 28 to 33 irregular more or less complete brown rings. Head and the interspaces between the bands closely dotted and spotted with broivn. East-Indian archipelago. a. Adult. Amboyna. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. Type of the species. b-c. Adidt and young, Amboyna. Pivrchased of Mr. Frank. d-e. Adult. From the Collection of Dr. van Lidth de Jeude. c. topecies ornamented by well-defined polygonal or round black spots. 20. Mursena tessellsTta. ? Gymnothorax favagineus, Bl. Schn. p. 525, tab. 105. ? Mursena favaginea, Cuv. R^gne Anirn. Thaerodontis reticulata, M^Clell. Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. v. 1845, pp. 188, 216, pi. 7. fig. i (not Bl. Schn.). Murjena tessellata, Richards. Ichth. Sidph. p. 109, pi. 55. figs. 5-8 ; and Ereb. 8f Terr. Fish. p. 88; Bkek. Nat. Tydschr. Ned. Bid. v. p. 530, or Verh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Mtirten. p. 74. isingteena, Richards. Ichth. Sulph. p. 108, pi. 48. fig. 1 ; and Ereh. ^- Terr. Fish. p. 86. python, Kaup, Ajyod. p. 08, fig. 52. lavaginea, Kaup, Apod. p. 68, fig. 53. 24. MTBiENA. 107 Thyrsoidea tessellata, Kaupy Apod. p. 76, isingleena, Kaup, Apod. p. 75, fig. 57. Gymno thorax isingteena, Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Mm. p. 92, pi. 37. fig. 1. tessellatus, Bleek. I. c. p. 93, pi. 27. fig. 3, and pi. 28. fig. 1. Teeth uniserial, younger examples sometimes with, two or three additional teeth, forming an inner maxillary series. Canines mode- rately developed ; the mouth can be shut completely. Anterior nasal tubes much shorter than the vertical diameter of the eye. GiU-opening wider than the eye. Snout compressed, of moderate length ; eye rather small, rather less than half the length of the snout, situated above the middle of the cleft of the mouth. Cleft of the mouth wide, its width being contained twice and one-third in the length of the head. Tail nearly as long as the body ; the length of the head is one-third of that of the trunk. Head, body, and fins with large polygonal or rounded black spots separated by narrow white Hues (tessellata) or by distinct interspaces of the ground-colour, all or most of the spots being wider than the interspaces (ising- teena). Indian Ocean and archipelago. a. var. tessellata. a. Large specimen. Africa. Presented by — Nimmo, Esq. — Type of M. python, Kaup. b. Fine specimen. Zanzibar. Presented by Lieut. -Col. Playfair. c. Half-grown : stuffed. 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. — T^pe of M. tessellata. 13. var. intermedia. f. Adult : stuffed. From the Collection of the Zoological Society. g. Adult. From Dr. Kaup's Collection. y. var. isingteena. h. Adult : stuffed. China. Presented by J. R. Reeves, Esq. — One of the types of M. isingteena. i. Half-grown. China. Presented by J. R. Reeves, Esq. — One of the types of M. isingteena. k. Half-grown. East-Lidian archipelago. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. I, Half-grown: stuffed. Mauritius. From Dr. Janvier's Col- lection. m. Adult: stuffed. Zanzibar. From Lieut.-Col. Playfair's Col- lection. n. Skull. 21. Mursena reevesii. Richards. Ichthyol. Sidph. 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 MuiiJJXiPJi:. . completely. Anterior nasal tubes short; gill-opening not wider than the eye. Snout 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 the head. Tail longer than the body ; the length of the head is contained twice and one-third in that of the trunk. Darh-hroivn, tvith several series of indistinct black round spots, longitucUnalli/ arranged, and of about tJie size of the eye ; head with spots similar to those of the body in size and form ; jins without light margin. China ; Japan. a, b, c. Adult. Japan. Purchased of Mr. Jamrach. 22. Mursena tigrina. Rupptll, Atl. p. 118, taf. 30. fig. 2 ; Kaup, Apod. p. 69. Teeth uniserial, except the vomerine series, which is forked in front. Tail nearly twice as long as body. Yellowish, Avith three alternate longitudinal series of round brown spots, those of the middle series being the largest. Red Sea. 23. Muraena fimbriata. Mursena fimbriata, Bennett, Proc. Comm. Zool. Soc. i. 1831, p. 168. bullata, Richards. Ereb. 8f Terr. Ichth. p. 86 (cop. by Kaup, Apod. p. 81, fig. 60). isingleena, Bleek. Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. ix. p. 277 {not Richards.) . isingleenoides, Bleek. Verk. Rat. Gen. xxv. Mur. p. 48. Gymnothorax isingleenoides, Rleek.Atl. Ichth. Mur. p, 91, pi. 35. tig. 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 tvith three or more more or less regidar lotigitudinal series of round black spots, most of which are larger than the eye, but smaller than the interspaces of the ground-colour. Fins with a white margin. Head ivith small black spots. East-Indian archipelago. rt. Young. Borneo. Presented by Sir J. Richardsor —Type of M. bullata. b. Adult. Araboyna. Purchased of Hr. Frank. c. Adult. East-Indian archipelago. From Br. Bleeker's Collec- tion.— ^Typc of M. isingleenoides. 24. MUR^NA. 109 d, e. Adult. East-Indian archipelago. From the Collection of Dr. van Lidth de Jeude. /, Young. Port Essington. From the Haslar Collection. g. Half-grown ; type of the species. Mauritius. From the Collec- tion of the Zoological Society. h. Half-grown. Presented by Sir A. Smith. 24. Mursena microspila. Gymnothorax bullatus, Blcek. Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 91, pi. 27. fig. 2 (3 on plate), pi. 43. fig. 3 (not synonymy). Teeth uniserial, without basal lobe ; there are about 20 on each side of the mandible. Canines rather small, the jaws shutting completely. The length of the anterior nasal tubes is nearly equal to the vertical diameter of the eye. Gill-opening as wide as the eye. Snout rather narrow and produced ; eye small, two-fifths of the length of the snout, situated above the middle of the cleft of the mouth, which is wide, contained twice and one-sixth in the length of the head. Tail as long as the body ; the length of the head is con- tained tivice ami two-thirds in that of the trunlc. Body and tail with two or three longitudinal series of round black spots, those of the dorsal series being much larger than, and those of the middle series about as large as, the eye. Head nearly immaculate ; fins ivithout ivhite margin. East-Indian archipelago. a. One of the typical examples of Bleeker's Murctna bullata. 25. Mursena melanospila. Muraena melanospilos, Bleek. Xat. Tydschr. Ned. Ind. ix. p. 279. Gymnothorax melanospilos, Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 90, pi. 42. # fig- 1. Teeth uniserial, without basal lobe; there are about 19 on each side of the mandible. Canines much larger than the other teeth, and the jaws do not shut. Anterior nasal tubes very short. GUI- opening wider than the eye. Snout short and compressed ; eye smcdl, one-half of the length of the snout, situated above the middle of the cleft of the mouth, the length of which is contained twice and two- thirds in that of the head. Tail a little longer than the body ; the length of the head is one-third of that of the trunk. Broivn, body and tail with round or ovcd black spots, generally larger than the eye, and longitudinally arranged. Spots on the head much the smallest. Fins with a narrow whitish edge. Sumatra and Booro. a. Type of the species. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. 26. Muraena polyophthalmus. Muraena polyophthalmus, Bleek. Act. Soe. Sc. Indo-Ncerl. iii. Celebes, X. p. 15. ilU mur.t:niikt:. Gjmnothorax polyophthalmus, Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 9l), pi. oO. fig. 3. Known frovi a single very young example only. Teeth biserial. Snout of moderate length. Tail a little loiigei- than the body ; the length of the head is two-fifths of that of the trunk. The entire fish is ornamented with round hi'own spots of about the size of the eye, forming three irregular longitudinal series. The larger of these spots are ocelli, tvith a yellow centre. Celebes. a. Tj'pc of the species, 41 inches long. From Dr. Eleeker's Col- lection. d. Species ornamented by yclloioish lines, forming a nctjvork. 27. Mursena undulata. Murajuophis undulata, Lacep. v. pp. 629, 644. Murfena cancellata, Richards. Vuy. Ereh. ^- Terr. Fish. p. 87, pi. 40. figs. 1-5 ; Blcek. Vorh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Mtir. p. 74, or Nat. Tyd.schr. Ned. Ind. v. p. 531, and viii. p. 326. valencieunii, £yd. Sf Soul. Voy. Bonite, Foiss. p. 207, pi. 8. fig. 1. agassizi, Bleek. Nat. Tyds. Ned, Ind. viii. p. 458. Thyrsoidea cancellata, Kaup, Apod. p. 76, fig 59 (description copied from Richardson). Gymnothorax cancellatus, Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 93, tab. 32. fig. 3, tab. 33. fig. 2, tab. 39. fig. 1 ; Kner, Novnra, Fisch. p. 384. agassizi, Blcek. I. c. p. 95, tab. 41. fig. 2. Mura3na nubila, Gilnth. Fish. Zanz. p. 127 (not Rich.). Teeth uniserial, sometimes two additional teeth forming an inner maxillary series ; mandibulary teeth fi'om twenty-six to thirty in number on each side (in adult examples) ; canines strong, normally four pairs in the lower jaw ; also two of the maxillary teeth are canines. The mouth cannot he shut com- pletely. Anterior nasal tubes short. Gill-opening not A^ider than the eye. Snout produced, pointed. Eye rather large, more than half the length of the snout, situated above the middle of the cleft of the mouth. Cleft of the mouth very wide, one-half, or nearly one-half, of the length of the head. Tail longer than the body. The length of the head is contained twice and one-third in that of the trunk. Ground-colour brown, or brownish black ; head and anterior part of trunk with irregular, more or less distinct dark spots. Undulated and partly reticulated, chiefly subvcrtical yel- lowish lines over the body and fins, and becoming more distinct towards and on the tail. These lines are sometimes limited to the posterior part of the tail, and the body is irregularly mottled with brown {M. agassizii). Gill-opening without black spot ; fins not white-edged. Vert. 64/68. Indian and Pacific Oceans. a. Many adult and half-grown specimens, in spirits and stuffed. 24. MUR.'ENA. m Zanzibar. From the Collections of Lieut.-Col. Playfair and Dr. Kirk. h. Adult. East-Indian archipelago. From Dr. Blocker's Col- lection. c. Adult. Cocos Islands. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. — T}-pe of M. agassizi. d. Half-grown. Sandwich Islands. Presented by Lieut. Strick- land. e. Adult : stuflfed. From the Collection of the Zoological Society. f,(l. Young. Presented by Sir A. Smith. h. Adult : skeleton. Zanzibar. Presented by Lieut.-Col. Playfair. A very young example, which is now almost destroyed, has been named by Dr. Bleeker Murmia hhcliii, Vejrh. Bat. Geii. xxv. Mur. p. 49, or Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. \\\. p. 102. The description reap- pears in Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 102, and a figure is added on pi. 36, fig. 2. This specimen appears to have been a young of M. tin- dulata. a. Type of M. blocfiii. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. 28. Muraena macassariensis. Mursena thjTsoidea, Richards. Voy. Sulph. Fish. tab. 49. fig. 1 (not descript.). Gymnothorax makassariensis, Bleek. Ned. Tydschr. Dicrk. i. p. 168 : or Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 104, pi. 37. fig. 3. ?? Murasna elegantissima, Kavp, Apod. p. 67. Thyrsoidea macrops, Kaup, Apod. p. 74. Teeth uniserial, sometimes two additional teeth forming an inner maxillary series ; mandibulary teeth about twenty on each side : canines rather strong, hut the mouth can he shut compJeteJy. Ante- rior nasal tubes short. Gill-openings narrower than the eye. Snout somewhat produced, not twice so long as the eye, tvhich is large and situated above the middle of the cleft of the mouth. Cleft of the mouth very wide, one-half of the length of the head. Tail scarcely longer than the body. The length of the head is contained twice and two-thirds in that of the trunk. Brown, with very fine ver- miculated white lines, formingan irregular network, the area of each mesh darker in the centre. Gill-opening without blach spot. Finx with a narrow tvhite margin. China ; Celebes ; North Australia. a. Adult. China. h. Young. China. Presented by Sir E. Belcher. — Type of Th. macrops. c, d-e. Half-grown. Cape York. Collected by Hr. Darnel. 29. Muraena formosa. Gymnothorax formosus, Bleek. Ned. Tydschr. Dierk. ii. p. 51 ; or Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 94, pi. 30. fig. 1. rhodocephalus, Bleek. I. c. 1", p. 50 ; or I. c. 2°, p. 93, pi. 29. fig. 2 (young). 112 MURiENID^. Teeth uniserial, sometimes a few additional teeth form an inner maxillary scries ; mandibularj teeth about twenty on each side ; canines rather strong, but the mouth can be shut completely. Gill- openings narrower than the eye. Snout of moderate length, not twice as long as the eye, which is rather large and situated somewhat nearer to the end of the snout than to the angle of the mouth. Cleft of the mouth very wide, one-half of the length of the head. Tail scarcely longer than the body. The length of the head is one-third of that of the trunk. Tail with large polygonal black spots, separated by an irregular network of yellowish lines. These large spots are broken up into irregular smaller ones, the nuchal region being densely covered with very small spots. A brown blotch across the head ; snout unspotted. A deep-brown spot on the gill-opening and the angle of the mouth. Fins with a yellow margin. Ceram and Amboyna. a. Type of the species, 19 inches long. Ceram. From Dr. Blocker's Collection. h. Type of O. rhodocephalus, 9^ inches long. Amboyna. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. 30. Muraena pseudothyrsoidea. Murajna pseudothyi-soidea, Bleek. Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. iii. p. 778, or Verh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Mur. p. 44 j ? Kmip, Apod. p. G5. Gymnothorax pseudothyrsoideus, Bleek. Ail. Ichth. Mur. p. 104, pi. 46. fig. 2. Teeth uniserial ; mandible with about eighteen teeth on each side ; canines moderately developed ; the mouth cannot be shut completely. GiU-openings not larger than the eye. Snout of moderate length, twice as long as the eye, ivhich is rather small, and nearer to the end of the snout than to the angle of the mouth. Cleft of the mouth wide, its length being contained twice and one-fourth in that of the head. Tail not quite so long as the body. The length of the head is two-fifths of that of the trunk. Brown, with very fine vermiculated white lines, forming an irregular network. Oill- opening without black spot ; fins without ivhite margin. Celebes ; Amboyna. a. •Tj'pe of the species. Celebes. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. e. Body with dark or Ught markings, which are not xoell defined, and more or less irregular. a. Maxillarii teeth hiserial. 31. Muraena tile. Mursenophis tile, Ham. Buck. Fish. Gang. pp. 18, 363. Lycodontis literata, M'Clelt. Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. v. p. 186, pi. 7. fio-. 2. "- punctata, M'Clell. I. c. p. 187, fig. 3. Strophidon literata, M'Clell. I. c. pp. 203, 215. punctata, M'Clcll. I. c. pp. 203, 215. maculata, M'Clell. I. c. pi. 8. fig. 1. 24. MUR/ENA. 113 Muraena vermiculata, Richards. Voij. Ereb. 8f Terr. Fish. p. 92. gracilis, Richards. I. c. punctata et literata, Bleek. Verh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Mur. p. 42. tile, Bleek. I. c. Beng. p. 159 ; or Nat. Tyds. Ned. J/id. ix. p. 427. Thyrsoidea tile, Kaup, Apod. p. 93 (copied from Richards.), fig. 66. Gymnothorax tile, Bleek. Atl. Ichfh. Mur. p. 97, tab. 34. fig. 1; Kner, Novara, Fische, p. 335. All the teeth more or les^s distinctly hin'rial, except the lateral of the mandible, which are uniserial. 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 snout, situated somewhat nearer to the angle of the mouth than to the end of the snout. Cleft of the mouth of moderate width, (jill-opijuing 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, un- equal in size. 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. graciVn^. f. Adult. East Indies. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. 32. Muraena thjrrsoidea. Muraena thyrsoidea, Richards. Voi/. Sulph. Ichth. p. Ill (not fig.), and Voxj. Ereb. ^- Terr. p. 90 ; CVmi. Mai. Fish. p. 330, pi. 5. f. ."i. griseobadia, Richards. Voi/. Ereb. ^ Tifr. Fish. p. 89. prosopeion, Bleek. Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. iv. p. 300 ; or Verli. Bat. Gen. xxv. Mur. p. 73. Thyrsoidea griaeobadia, Kaup, Apod. p. 74 (cop. Richards.). arenata, Kaup, Apod. p. 85 (cop. Richards.). Gymnothorax prosopeion, Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 88, pi. 39. fig. 3. Skin 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 short, obtuse ; eye very small. Tail a little longer than the body ; the length of the head is one-third of that of the trunk ; fins low. Brownish, all over minutely dotted and speckled with brown and white. East-Indian archipelago ; China ; Tonga Islands. (/. Twenty-six inches long. China. Presented by J, R. Reeves, Esq. — Type of the description of M. thyrsoidea, but not of the figure. b. Skin. Pinang. From Dr. Cantor's Collection. Blceker represents this fish {G. prosojteion) as having the anal fin VOL. vin. 1 114 MUR^NID^. provided with a yellow edge and submarginal black band. The yellow edge is not mentioned in the description, nor is it visible in our specimens ; and the black band is, in reality, a longitudinal fold, visible in many specimens of Murcena. 33. Muraena buroensis. Mui-aena biu-oensis, Bleek. Nat. Tyds. Ned. Lid. xiii. p. 79. Gymnotliorax buroensis, Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Mtir. p. 90, pi. 46. fig. 1 (dentition faultily represented). griseo-badius, Bleek. I. c. p. 105, pi. 31. fig. 2 (not Richards.). STcin with scale-pouches. Teeth short, hiserial, except those on the vomer and the sides of the mandible. Gill-opening rather wider than the eye. Snout short ; eye small. Tail about as long as the body ; the length of the head is two-fifths or one-third of that of the trunk. Brown, with numerous more or less distinct, sometimes entirely wanting, small black spots. Fins without white margin. East-Indian archipelago. a. Type of the species, 13 inches long. From Dr. Bleeker's Col- lection. h. Ten inches long. From Dr. Blocker's Collection as M. griseo- hadia. 34. Muraena polyuranodon. Murpena polyuranodon, Bkek. Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. v. p. 248, or 7er/(. But. Gen. xxv. Mur. p. 75. MuTfenoblenna tigrina, Katij), Apod. p. 98 (part.). Polyuranodon kulilii, Kanp, Apod. p. OG. Gynmothorax polyuranodon, Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 89, pi. 30. fig. 2. All the teeth hi- or iriserial. Gill-opening a little wider than the eye. Anterior teeth scarcely larger than the following. Snout of moderate length ; eye small, half the length of the snout, situated above the middle of the cleft of the mouth. Tcdl shorter than the body ; the length of the head is one-fourth of that of the trunlc. Yel- lowish brown, with irregular rounded, more or less confluent black spots ; the spots coalesce into longitudinal bands on the head. East-Indian archipelago (fresh water). a. Type of the species. From Dr. Bleeker's Collection. 35. Muraena duivenbodii. Muraena duivenbodei, Bleek. Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. x. p. 385. Gymnothorax duivenbodei, Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 89, pi. 25. fig. 1. Maxillary teeth hiserial, the others uniserial. Intermaxillary and anterior mandibulary teeth much smaller than the mesial canines. The mouth cannot be shut completely. Snout not twice as long as the ej^e, which is of moderate size, and somewhat nearer to the end of the snout than to the angle of the mouth. Gill-opening as wide as the eye. Tail as long as the body ; the length of the head is two-fifths of that of the trunk. Brownish, with rather distant 24. MUR-ENA. 1 ] .') irregular ovate or transverse darker spots. Fins without li Mrn.KXiu.i-:. specimen). Snout somewhat produced, eye small. Tail longer than the bod)- ; the length of the head is two-tifths of that of the tnirik. Bro'miish, with a network of large black meshes, about three or four in the height in the middle of the length of the fish ; towards the head the meshes become smaller, whilst towards the end of the tail the meshes are replaced by transverse bars. Head finely mottled with brown and yellowish. Angle of the mouth black ; fins with a narrow white edge. Mauritius. a. Type of the species : stuffed ; 42 inches long. From Dr. Jan- vier's Collection. 42. Muraena richardsoni. MursBna grisea, Bleek. Verh. Bat. Gen. xxii. Bali,-^. 11. richardsonii, Bleek. Xat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. iii. p. 296; or Verh. Bat. Gen. XXV. Mur. p. 45. troschelii, Bleek. Verh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Mur. p. 45 ; ox Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. vii. p. 101. ceramensis, Bleek. Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. iii. p. 297 : or Verh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Mur. p.-.51. sooliodon, Bleek. Verh. Bat. Gen. xxv. Mur. p. 43 ; or Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. vii. p. 100. vemiicularis, Peters, JVieym. Arch. 1855, p. 271. diplodon, Peters, Wieijm. Arch. 1855, p. 272. iloresiana, Bleek. Nat. Tyds. Ned. Iml. vi. p. 334. venosa, Kaup, Apod. p. 68. Tliyrsoidea ceramensis, Kaup, Apod. p. 87. multifasciata, Kaup, I. c. Gymuothorax ricbardtouii, Bleek, Atl. Ichth. Mur. p. 100, pi. 42. fig. 2 : Kjiei-, Novara, Fiscltc, p. 385. scoliodon, Bkek. I. c. p. 101, pi. 40. fig. 2. ceramensis, Bleek. Ned. Tyds. Dierk. i. p. 261 ; and Atl. Ichth. 3/!^r.p. 101,pl.33.fig.3. tioresianus, Bleek. Ned. Tyds. Dierk. i. p. 252. Murajna nubila (spec, from Houtman's Aorolhos), Richards. Voy. Ereb. i^- Terr. Fish. p. 81. Slcin distinctly folded, the folds crossinf) each other and forming scale-pouches. Teeth of old examjiles nniserial, without basal lobe ; in younger examples the anterior mandibulary and maxillary teeth, and also sometimes the vomerine teeth, are biserial. Mandible 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 toil 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. MUEJENA. 119