MOR^ENID^. 67 



of Admiral DLipetit-Thouars, is preserved in the Paris Museum. 

 It is tJOsi; in. long, and its tail measures ll'4vJ in. 

 Galapagos. 



123. MUR^NA FLAVIM.\RGINATA. 



Muroena flavimarginata, Kaup. 



The Paris jMuseum possesses two skins, which, at the first 

 glance, appear to be different, but on a closer examination, ai'e 

 found to be varieties of one and the same species ; both were sent 

 by M. Nigou from the island of Bourbon. Fins black, speckled 

 with yellow. A black stripe runs from the throat to the anus. 

 Whole body spotted with yellow. 



The paler variety is nearly of one yellowish-brown tint, and has 

 no vomerine teeth, while the darker variety has 2 rudimentary 

 ones standing obliquely in the front of the vomer, which may 

 readily drop out during life. On the nasal bone, 12 teeth. On 

 the palatines, 7-8. On the mandible, 14-16, ranging up to the 

 symphysis. The whole head is finely spotted, and the occiput, near 

 its verte.x, is crossed by interrupted lines that run into one another. 

 Tlie markings on the tail are irregular cross stripes, which are re- 

 mote from each other. 



The darker variety has coarser markings that are more distinctly 

 separated. On the head, the spots do not form cross lines, and are 

 larger. 



121. MuR^N.i ELEGANTISSIMA. 



Mursena elegantissima, Kaup. 



Nasal teeth, 13; on the mesial line, 1 ; vomerines, 9; palatines, 

 10; mandibulars, 17. The solitary tooth on the mesial line is 

 short and obtuse. Two pairs stand in a transverse straight line on 

 the front of the mandible, separated by the symphysis, and there 

 is an inner pair ne.\t them. Form not much elongated. Snout 

 slightly swollen. Anterior nostril-tube reaching over the lips. 

 Posterior nostrils opening backwai-ds. Dorsal commencing over 

 the gills. Body and fins covered with a yellowish-brown network, 

 enclosing three rows of irregular dark spots, having black centres. 

 Under surface, yellowish, spotted with black. 



Length of body, 3-80 in. Length of tail, \-2b in. 



? Australia (Paris Museum. E.xp. of the Astrolabe). 



125. MUR.ENA INTERRUPTA, fig. 51. 



Murfcna interrupta, Kaup. 



Nasal teeth, 12, pointed ; 2 on the mesial line ; palatines, 1 1, the 

 first 3 the Uillest; mandibulars, 25, the foremost tt longer, the re- 

 maining ones very small. Front nasal tubes reaching over the 

 edge of the lip. Hinder nostrils situated above the fore edge of 

 the eye, small, and bordered with white. Head and body embraced 

 by 2 1 black bands, which become suddenly narrower towards the 

 belly, and near the throat do not go quite round. Two white spots, 



