114. BLENNIIDJE MUR^NOIDES. 
767 
smootlij 130 lateral liue. Dorsal fin long and low, beginning near tbe 
head, composed entirely of stiff, sharp, snbeqnal spines; anal similar 
in form, of two spines and many soft rays; caudal fin short and small, 
sometimes joined to dorsal and anal; pectorals sliort; ventrals very 
small, of one spine and a rudimentary ray (obsolete or wanting in 
some imperfectly-known species pro visionflly referred to this genus); 
intestinal canal short, without coeca. Shore fishes of the Northern 
fishes of the Northern seas, an eel; eldu<;, form.) 
b. Ventrals present, I, 1. {Murcenoides.) 
116§. M. g’linnelliis (L. ) Gill. — Bidter-fisb. 
Olive brown; sides with numerous obscure darker bars; base of 
dorsal with ocellated dark spots; a dark bar below eye. Head short 
and compressed, scaleless; month oblicpie; maxillary reaching front of 
pupil; caudal fin distinct; pectorals little more than half length of 
head; ventrals of a spine and a rudimentary ray. Head about 8; 
depth 9. D. LXXVIII ; A. II, 38 ; V. I, 1 ; vert. 8o. L. 12 inches. 
North Atlantic; abundant both in America and Europe. 
(Blenuius gunnellus L. Syst. Nat. i, 443: Centronoius gunellus Giintlier, iii, 285: Oplii- 
dium mucronatum Mitch. Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. i, 361, 1815: Gunnellus macrocephalus 
Girard, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist, vi, 263, 1850: Gunellus ingens Storer, Bost. Journ. Nat. 
Hist, vi, 261, 1850; perhaps an abnormal specimen rather than a different genus.) 
1169. M. fasciatus (Bloch & Schu.) Gill. 
Grayish or brownish, marbled with darker, anteriorly with several 
irregular cross-bands, which reach the abdomen ; back with a series of 
10 or 12 snbtriaugular iiale spots along the base of dorsal, each spot 
including some brown specks; a brown-edged pale vertical band be- 
hind eye; a brownish band from below the eye to the throat. Month 
very oblique, the snout short; iuterorbital width less than diameter of 
eye; pectoral scarcely half as long as head; ventrals verj’ small; ver- 
tical fins not joined. Head 9J; depth 9. D. LXXXYIII; A. II, 42; 
V. I, 1. Greenland to Alaska. [Giintlier.) 
(Centronoius fasciatus Bloch & Schneider, 165, 1801: Gunnellus faseiatus and green- 
landicus Cuv. & Val. si, 441, 442: Centronoius fasciatus Gunther, iii, 287 : 1 Centronoius 
gunelUformis Gunther, iii, 288.) 
1170. M. orsaatus CGrd.) Gill. 
Usually greenish above, yellow or orange below, but varying to 
brown and cherry-red; traces of about 20 darker bars along sides; a 
