044 THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



anterior superior margin of the orbit. Summit of head lanceolate, and moderately flat, broadest 

 opposite the centre of the orbits. A small lanceolate longitudinal furrow passes from opposite 

 the centre of the orbit to the snout ; posteriorly it has an elevated ridge. 



Teeth— None. 



Fins — Pectoral arises close under the posterior margin of the subopercle, and extends to the 

 ventral, which commences opposite the fourth ray of the dorsal : anal arises on the posterior third 

 from the snout to the base of the caudal. Dorsal with its first three rays unbranched, the third 

 the highest, upper margin of the fin concave, the last ray with its posterior half prolonged as far 

 as the base of the caudal. Pectoral pointed. Ventral small, with a long scale at its base. Anal 

 with the first two rays unbranched, the second the longest, the fin rather concave. Caudal wide, 

 and deeply forked. 



Scales — High and narrow. None on the head. 



Colours — Back greyish-green, with the centre of each scale in the first seven rows the darkest, 

 thus forming horizontal fines, the lower of which do not extend to the caudal. Abdomen whitish, 

 shot with gold. A bluish spot at the posterior portion of the upper half of the opercle. Pre- 

 opercle of a brilliant golden tint. Dorsal greenish-yellow, with the posterior margin stained 

 blackish. Pectoral, ventral, anal, and caudal yellowish, the last with a darkish extremity. 



Common, good eating, but rather bony. 



Habitat — Seas of India and China. 



Sub-Oed. PHYSOSTOMI APODES. 



Tarn. MUR^NID^. 



Sub-Fam. ANGUILLOIDEI, Bleeker. 



Genus MUILENA, Bleeker. 

 Enchelyopus, Ag. 

 Anguilla, Thumb. 



Branchiostegals from ten to thirteen, thin and flexible. Body cylindrical. Snout, not prominent 

 before the lower jaw. Dorsal, caudal, and anal fins continuous, well developed. Many rows of sub-equal 

 small teeth, on the palatines, inframaxillaries, nasal, vomer, and pharyngeals. Scales small, almost hidden 

 in the skin. Branchial aperture situated on either side before the base of either pectoral fin. 



Mur^ena maculata. 



MuEiENA maculata, Ham. Bucli. pp. 23, 364 ; Bleeker, Atl. Ich. iv. p. 9, t. 145, f. 2. 



Mur^na Bengaliensis, Gray, 111. I. Z. i. t. f. 5. 



Anguilla Elphinstonii, Sykes, Trans. Zool. Soc. ii. p. 377, t. 67, f. 3. 



Anguilla variegata, McClelland, Cal. J. N. H. v. p. 179, t. 9, f. 7. 



Anguilla maemorata, Kaup. Catal. Brit. Mus. p. 43, £ 32. 



Anguilla Dussumieri, Kaup. Catal. Brit Mus. p. 51, f. 43. 



Anguilla Malabarica, Kaup. Catal. Brit. Mus. p. 52, f. 47. 



B. xi. D. 240-260. C. 12. A. 220-230. P. 22-24. 



