MUKJ5NTDiE. 85 



The gi'ound-colour of the specimen, which has been long mace- 

 rated in spirits, is brownish, that of the fins being pale yellow, or 

 soiled white ; both are crossed by fifteen very regular and neatly- 

 defined black bars, not so wide as the interspaces. The first bar 

 includes tlie eye, the second is immediately behind the mouth, the 

 third passes over the gill-opening, the seventh is just before the 

 anus, and the last is on the end of the tail, leaving only the white 

 tip of the fin beyond. The bars contrast more strongly with the 

 pale fins than with the browner body. Length, 8'4 in. To anus, 

 3'6 in. To gill-opening, 1 in. [Richardson.) 



New Britain, Amboyna {Commerson). Polynesia? [Solander). 



Solander also describes a M. vittata ; but this derives its name 

 from a longitudinal stripe. 



" MUB.ENA VITTATA. Piscts sitpm intense e fiisco brunnens, vitta 

 secundum medium dorsum e flavo alhida, a capite usque ad Jineni 

 caud<B, subtus infra lined laterali totus sordide e luteo albescens. 

 Oculi minuti. Iris flaveo-aurea. Pupilla nitjra." " Eualha" abo- 

 rujinorum. (Banks et Solander, MSS. p. 78.) 



Society Islands, 



/S. Nasal teeth uniserial; vomerines biserial. 



152. Thyrsoidea arenata. 



Thyrsoidea arenata, Kaup. 



Muraena thyrsoidea, Eich., Voy. of Sulph. iii., pi. 49, f. 1 ; Ereh. & 



Terr. 91 ; CaJitor, Mai. Fish. 330. 

 Muraanophis arenatus, Cuv., Paris Museum. 



Twelve nasal teeth, in one series, moderately high, rather closely 

 set, conico-subulate, not very acute. Three tall, slender teeth on 

 the mesial line. Vomerine teeth biserial, short, not very acute ; 

 first tooth of each row the largest. The rows are farthest apart 

 anteriorly, and approximate posteriorly. Palatine teeth biserial ; 

 the outer row constituted by 10 much shorter, compressed teeth; 

 the inner row by 8 more slender and taller subulate ones, which 

 extend as far as the outer row. Each limb of the mandible is 

 armed by 18 or 19 conical acute teeth, with an interior row at the 

 fore-end of the jaw. 



Body high and considerably compressed, with a deep dorsal 

 which commences before the gill-opening, the loose fold of skin 

 which invests it extending forwards to the head. End of the tail 

 rounded. Posterior nostiils not tubular. The reticulations of the 

 skin are coarser than in most other species. Anus one-thirteenth 

 part of the whole length before the middle of the fish. Pores of 

 the lateral line distinct. 



