Jordan and Evermann. — Fishes of North America. 389 



family. The remaining species are referable to ten or twelve genera, 

 most of which are found in America. About 120 species are known. 

 The Mura;nid(v without fins are the simplest in structure, but their char- 

 acters are those of degradation, and they are farther from the primitive 

 stock than such genera as Murcena or Enehelycore. 



(Murienidfe Engijschisl.-v, Ginther Cat., viii, 93-1 3G ; order Colwephali, Cope, Trans. Amor. Phil. 

 Soc, 1870, 456.) 

 a. Vertical fins well developed, the dorsal beginning before the vent. 



6. Posterior nostril an oblong flit ; anterior in a short tube ; teeth all pointed ; dorsal 

 beginning above the gill opening ; ranine teeth strong ; tail moderate. 



Encheiycoue, 187. 

 66. Posterior nostril circular, with or without tube ; tail moderate, not twice as long as 

 trunk ; body not excessively elongate, 

 c. Teeth all, or uearly all, acute, none of those in the jaws obtuse or molar-like. 



d. Anterior nostrils without tube ; vomerine teeth in many series ; lips with a 

 free fold. PvTnONlCHTirY.'!, 188. 



dd. Anterior nostrils each with a long tube ; vomerine teeth in one or two series ; 

 lips continuous with skin of head. 

 e. Posterior nostrils without tube, the margin sometimes slightly raised. 

 /. Dorsal fin inserted behind the head, over or behind the gill opening. 



Rabula, 189. 

 ./T. Dorsal fin inserted on the head, considerably before gill opening. 



Lycodontis, 190. 

 ee. Posterior nostrils as well as anterior each in a conspicuous tube. 



Mur.t^:na, 101. 

 cc. Teeth mostly obtuse, molar-like ; only anterior nostrils tubular ; cleft of mouth 

 rather short ; dorsal beginning before the gill opening. Echidna, 192. 



Vertical fins rudinientarj', confined to the en<l of the tail (often appreciable only on dissec- 

 tion, or altogether wanting) ; teeth rather small, pointed, subequal, in several series; 

 posterior nostril round, with a short tube, or none. 

 g. Cleft of the mouth short, not half length of head ; snout moderate, about half the gape ; 

 tail about as long as trunk. Uropteryoius, 193. 



gg. Cleft of the mouth long, nearly half head ; snout verj' short, less than one-fourth the 

 gape ; tail very short, about half rest of body. Channomur^na, 194. 



187. ENCHELYCORE, Kaup. 



Enchehjcore., Kafp, Apodcs, 72, 1856, (enryrhina). 



Posterior nostril an oblong slit, otherwise essentially as in Li/codontis. 

 One species known. (eyx^^^C, eel ; Koptj, girl ; the application not evident.) 



B.-JS. EXCHELTCORE NIGRICANS (Bonnaterre). 



Snout narrow, rather produced, 2| in gape ; the jaws cannot be shut in 

 adult examples. Teeth of upper jaw biserial, the inner series of very long 

 and slender (lepressiT)le canines ; long canines not movable in front of each 

 jaw; lateral teeth of lower jaw slender, subequal, sharp, and recurved; 

 vomerine teeth small, uniserial, developed posteriorly : eye moderate, 2 

 in snout; gape 2 in head ; dorsal beginning above the gill opening; tail 

 slightly longer than rest of body ; head .3 to 3^ in trunk. Uniform black 

 or dark brown, sometimes faintly marl)led with darker ; angle of nu>uth 

 slightly darker ; gill opening pale. West Indies, rather common, (nigri- 

 cans, blackish. ) 



Mnriena unkolormaxillis elongatus leretiusculis, inferiore lonyiore, etc., Gronow, Zoiiphy., 1, 163, 

 1763, South America. 



