FAMILY, X— MUR^NID^. 659 



Second Group — Mub^nid^ engtschists. 

 Branchial openings in the pharynx are narrow slits. 



9. Murmna. Pectorals absent : vertical fins -well-developed. Posterior nostril a round and patent 

 opening, p. 667. 



10. QymnomuroBna. Fins absent, except a rudimentary one round end of tail, p. 674. 



Bleeker divides the Muraenidae into four sub-families : Giinther into two, which last I have considered as 

 groups. 



First Group — Mur^nidj; plattschistj:. 



Branchial openings in the pharynx are wide slits. 



a. — 3eart close behind gills. Tail longer or scarcely shorter than the trunk. Nostrils lateral or superior. 

 Tongue free. Caudal fin continued round the end of tail. Pectorals i)resent or absent. Scales present or absent. 



Genus, 1 — Anguilla, Cuvier. 



Murcena (sp.) Artedi : Terpolepis (pt.) McClelland : Paranguilla, Bleeker. 



Gill-openings of moderate extent, situated near the base of the pectoral fins. Upper jaw not projecting beyond 

 the lower. Teeth small and in bands. Dorsal fin commences at some distance behind the nape: pectorals present. 

 Small scales present, which are imbedded in the skin. 



Geographical distribution. — Fishes of this genus appear to be distributed in fresh waters throughout the 

 habitable globe, being reputed to be only absent in the Arctic regions, and probably in cold districts as 

 Turkestan. 



Numerous species of this genus have been recorded and more are almost yearly being added to the 

 present mass of synonyms. There appear to be two distinct forms in India, but they are subject to variations in 

 the origin of the dorsal fin as regards its position in respect to the vent : and likewise, but to a minor extent, 

 in the character of its bands of teeth, and the position of the eye. The comparative size of the bodies of these 

 fish also varies with age and the existence of suitable food in the locality they inhabit. 



Eels attain a large size in India, but not to the immense length (300 feet long) attributed to those of 

 the Ganges by Pliny. Being seldom eaten except by the lower classes there is but little demand for them. 

 In Java, the eel according to Bleeker, is considered by the natives to be a serpent, and they say it attacks 

 small goats and even children. It migrates overland from one river to another when desirous of change. 



SYNOPSIS OF SPECIES. 



1. Anguilla Bengalensis. Origin of dorsal fin situated about midway in the interspace between the gill- 

 opening and origin of anal fin. Islands in the Indian Ocean, Continents of India and Burma. 



2. Anguilla bicolor. Origin of dorsal fin situated above, rather in front of, or slightly behind the vent. 

 Coasts of India and the Andamans to the Malay Archipelago. 



1. Anguilla Bengalensis, Plate CLXVIII, fig. .1 



27. 

 346. 



MurcBna ang^dlla and maculafa. Ham. Buch. Fish. Ganges, pp. 22, 23 : Day, Fish. Mai. p. 244 (in part). 

 Anguilla Bengalensis, Gray and Hardw. 111. Ind. Zool. (from H. B.'s MSS.) ; Giinther, Catal. viii, p. 



Anguilla Elphinstonei, Sykes, Trans. Zool. Soc. ii, p. 377, pi. 67, f. 3 ; Jerdon, M. J. L. and Sc. 1849, p. 



Anguilla Mauritiana, Bennett, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1831, p. 113 ; Giinther, Catal. viii, p. 25. 

 Anguilla labrosa, Richards. Voy. Erebus and Terror, Fish. p. 113. 



Anguilla brevirostris, variegata, nebulosa and Arracana, McClelland, Cal. Journ. Nat. Hist, v, pp. 177, 

 178, 179, pi. V, f 1 and 2, pi. vi, f. 1 and 2, pi. ix, f 7 ; Bleeker, Beng. p. 1.53. 

 Anguilla marmorata, Kaup, Apod. p. 43, f 32 (not Quoy and Gaim). 

 B. xii, D. 250-305, P. 18, A. 220-250, C. 10-12. 



Length of head 3 to 3^ in the distance between the snout and the vent : length of tail 3/7 more than 

 that of the trunk. The distance between the gill-opening and the origin of the dorsal fin is 1/3 or 1,4 

 more than the length of the head : that between the origin of dorsal and anal fins equals the length of the 

 head. Head rather broader than the body : snout not broad. Lower jaw prominent. Length of the cleft of 

 the mouth equals nearly or quite 1/3 in that of the head, while it extends behind the posterior edge of the 

 orbit, the latter being 2| in the length of the snout. Lips well-developed. Teeth— the vomerine band does 

 not extend posteriorly so far as the maxillary one, the mandibular teeth divided by a longitudinal groove. Fins 

 — pectoral equals about 2/7 of the length of head. CoZoz(rs— brownish superiorly, becoming yellowish on the 



4 p * 



