FAMILY, X-MUR^NID^. 661 



Length of head 2 1 to 2 § in the distance between the end of the snout and the vent : length of trunk 

 about 1/3 less than that of the tail. Extent of cleft of mouth equals 3 to 3;^ in the length of the head, it 

 ceases below the middle of the eye. Sj/es— large, diameter 1 to 1|- in the length of snout, and 2/3 of a diameter 

 apart. Lips rather thick : upper jaw the longer. Teeth — of about the same size : the vomerine band extending 

 backwards to about 1/2 the length of the maxillary band. Fins — dorsal commences slightly behind the gill- 

 opening : pectoral nearly 1/2 as long as the head. Colours — -brownish along the back, becoming dull white 

 beneatib. Fins yellow, the vertical ones with a narrow black edging. Upper half of pectoral occasionally 

 stained with black. 



Habitat. — Coromandel coast of India to the Malay Archipelago. The example figured, which is 11 J 

 inches long, was from Madras. 



Genus, 3 — Uroconger, Kaup. 



Gongerodon, Kaup. 



Gill-openings ratlier wide. Muciferous cavities on jaws moderately developed. Hind nostril in the fornix of « 

 slit opposite the upper third of the orbit : front nostril not tubular. Ei/es rather large. Cleft of mouth reaching to 

 rather behind the middle of the orbit. Teeth fine, conical, and subequal in size: those in the jatos biserial, the 

 vomeritie ones in a single elongated row and. small. Dorsal fin commences above the root of the pectoral : all the 

 tins well-developed. Scaleless. 



Geographical distribution. — Seas of India to the ilalay Archipelago, China, and the Philippines. 



1. Uroconger lepturus, Plate CLXX, fig. 1. 



Congrus leptarus, Richards. Voy. Sulphur, Fish. p. 106, pi. -56, fig. 1 — 6, and Voy. Erebus and Terror, 

 Fish. p. 109 ; Bleeker, Sumatra, p. 45. 



Uroconger lepturus, Kaup, Apod. p. 110; Bleeker, Atl. leh. iv, p. 29, t. 149, fig. 1 ; Kner, Novara Fisch. 

 p. 373 ; Giinther, Catal. viii, p. 44. 



B. ix, P. 10, D. 200-220, C. 10, A. 120-150. 



Length of head 2|- to 2f in the distance between the end of the snout and the vent : length of trunk 

 about 1/2 that of the tail. Cleft of mouth rather oblique and ceasing below the hind edge of the eye, its 

 extent equals about 2/5 of the length of the head. Eijes — diameter 2 to 2\ in the length of the snout, and 1 

 to l-L diameters apart. Snout depressed, with a row of slit-like openings above the edge of the upper lip. 

 Teeth — rather large, and unequal in size : those in the maxilla and mandible in two rows, and placed a slight 

 distance apart, the inner row somewhat the larger : vomerine teeth in a single pointed row about equal in size 

 to the inner maxillary row, one of the anterior teeth is sometimes enlarged. Fins — dorsal commences above the 

 base of the pectoral, which latter equals about 1/4 of the length of the head. Colours — brownish superiorly, 

 becoming dull white beneath : a row of white-edged glandular openings along the lateral-line. Vertical fins 

 edged with black. 



Habitat. — Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and China. 



b. — Heart close to gills. Tail not shorter than the trunk. No.ftrils lateral or superior. Tongue nut free. 

 Caudal fin continued round the end of tail : pectorals present or absent. Scaleless. 



Genus, 4 — Mur.«xesox, McClelland. 



Cynoponticus, Costa and Brachyoonger, Bleeker. 



Gill-openings ivide approximating to the abdomen. Snout rather elongated, the upper jaw the longer. Twu 

 pairs of nostrils, the posterior of which are opposite to the iipperpart or centre (f the orbit. Teeth in the jaws rather 

 fine, with some canities anteriorly : vomer with several rows of teeth, the middle of which are large and conical or 

 compressed. Dorsal fin commencing above the gill-opening, it, the anal, caudal, and pectoral ivell developed. Anns 

 a long distance from the gill-opiening. Scaleless. 



The comparative proportions of the parts in these fishes vary considerably with age, season, and food. 



SYNOPSIS OF SPECIES. 



1. Murcenesox telabon. Vomerine teeth large and without basal lobes. Seas and estuaries of India to 

 the Malay Archipelago. 



2. Murcenesox telabonoides. Vomerine teeth slender, the posterior ones with basal lobes : the external 

 mandibular row directed outwards. Seas and estuaries of India to the Malay Archipelago. 



3. Murcenesox cinereus. Vomerine teeth large and having a basal lobe : external mandibular row not 

 directed outwards. Red Sea, seas and estuaries of India to the Malay Archipelago. 



1. Muraenesox telabon, Plate CLXVIII, fig. 5. 



Ophidium, Russell, Fish. Vizag. i, p. 27, and Tala Bon, pi. 38. 



Conger telabon, Cuvier, Reg. An. ; Cantor, Mai. Fish. p. 312 ; Bleeker, Singapore, p. 78 (part), Mureen. p. 

 18 and Borneo, p. 466 ; Jerdon, M. J. L. and Sc. 1851, p. 1.51. 



Murxnesox lanceolata, McClelland, Cal. J. N. H. iv, p. 409, and v, pp. 181, 210. 



