PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 435 



22. Conger caudicula, n. sp., Beau. 



Conger caudicula Beaa, in Gcode & Bean, Proc. U. S. N. M., v, 240, name only ; 

 also, in Jor. & Gilb., op. cit., 262. 



Eye equal to snout, 4^ in liead. Lips moderately developed. The 

 posterior nostril is small, on a line with the lower edge of the pupil j 

 the anterior nostril tubular near the intermaxillary symphysis. Upper 

 jaw longer than the lower ; the cleft of the mouth extends to the hind 

 margin of the pupil. The patch of intermaxillary teeth subrectangular, 

 scarcely a third as long as the eye ; vomerine teeth in a patch one-third 

 as long as the eye, ta])ering behind. The outer series of maxillary 

 teeth contains 38 close-set, slightly trun(5ate teeth, continued backwards 

 after a slight interruption by six conical teeth which rake forward. In 

 the mandible are about 36 close-set slightly truncate teeth, extended for- 

 ward by a patch of conical teeth. The teeth in the main rows of both 

 jaws are biserial. The length of the head is contained a little more 

 than 1^ times in that of the trunk and 6 times in total length ; the 

 length of the tail exceeds that of the rest of the animal by the length 

 of the hiead without the snout. The dorsal fin commences over the an- 

 terior part of the j^ectoral. The pectoral is a little more than one-third 

 as long as the head. The width of the gill-opening equals one-half of 

 the length of the postorbital part of the head. The color in the present 

 partially digested condition of the fish is mainly light olive. The ver- 

 tical fins are well developed ; their coloration cannot be made out. The 

 distance between the eyes is less than one-half of their diameter. The 

 lower jaw extends beyond the hind margin of the eye and equals the 

 distance from the end of the snout to the hind margin of the eye ; it also 

 equals the greatest depth of the head ; the greatest width of the head 

 equals one-half its length without the snout. 



The type of the species, number 30709, was sent from Pensacola, Flor- 

 ida, by Mr. Silas Stearns. Its length is 13 inches. 



23. Muraena retifera, n. sp. 



Body moderately stout, somewhat compressed, its greatest depth 

 equaling two-thirds length of head. 



Teeth of upper jaw in two series, the outer series composed of a few 

 short fixed teeth; the inner series of about 10 long compressed teeth, a 

 few of which are depressible, all more or less directed backward, those 

 of the middle of the jaw somewhat larger than those in front; vomer 

 with one or two depressible canines. Teeth of lower jaw similar to 

 those of upper; the large teeth rather shorter and broader, all of them 

 entire; the lateral teeth as large as the anterior ones. The mouth does 

 not close completely. Jaws subequal. 



The tubes of anterior and posterior nostril about equal, slightly 

 shorter than eye. Cleft of the mouth contained 2a times in length of 

 head, the eye over middle of cleft. Eye 1§ in snout. Snout contained 

 6 times in length of head. 



