856 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.xxiii. 



Pectoral 2| in liead, the dorsal ])eginning variously from above its hase 

 to nearly OA(n" its middle. Sixty pores before the A-ent, the pores 

 smaller than in Zejftocej/halics. 



Body light or dark brownish, the head sometimes dotted; usually 

 two dark shades behind e3'es; pores of lateral line inconspicuous; 

 cross-series of pores on nape not evident; pectoral tin pale or Aariously 

 blackish {/jieA'/'). sometimes entirely ])lack, usualh' pale, especially in 

 the young; tip of tail always white; vertical fins with a )n-oad black 

 margin. Length 1 to 2 feet. 



Coasts of Japan and southward, very common and much used as 

 food. It varies somewhat in color. Our specimens from Tokyo. 

 Misaki, Kobe, Wakanoura, and Nagasaki, Several large specimens 



F[0. 8.— CONT.REI.I.rS ANAGO. 



from Tokio and Wakanoura have the pectorals black and correspond 

 to (^(»igrellu8 ineeki^ but no other distinctive characters can be made 

 out. Congrellus oneeki is probably only a highly colored adult. 

 {Anago^ the Japanese name; possibly from ima, hole; go, clilld or 

 creature.) 



Family A'. TVITR.l^^NESOCrD.E, 



Scaleless anguilloid eels, with the posterior nostril not lal)ial, the 

 tongue largely adnate, the jaws not excessively elongate, the tail 

 of moderate length, the end of the tail surrounded l)y the caudal tin, 

 and the pectoral fins well developed; gill openings rather wide; jaws 

 of moderate length; vomer well armed. None of these characters 

 appear to have in themselves great importance, but, according to Dr. 

 Gill, in the genus Murcenesox,, the only genus in which the osteology 

 is well known, the characters are such as fully to justify ftunily dis- 

 tinction. Dr. Gill gives the following diagnosis of Murienesocidav 



Enchelycephalous Apodals with the tongue not free, the branchiostegal membrane 

 connecting tlie(ij)])o^<ite .«iiles below, the e])ii)haryngeals reihiced to one ]iair, and the 

 hypopharyngeal.s linguiforin and encroaching on the fourth liranchial arcli. 



The species of this family are not very numerous, and a large pro- 

 portion are American. In general appeai'ance and habits they approach 

 the Congers. All are plainly coIoihhI and some descend to rather deep 

 water. 



