MUR^NIDJE. 105 



Sumatra (Shuiv). New Britain (Commerson). Madagascar {Quoy 

 and Gaim). 



Genus 38. APTHALMICHTHYS. Kaup. 



This group resembles Moriufiiia (Gen. 41), but its members have 

 no fins except a mere trace at tlie point of the tail. Eyes covered 

 b^'a skin. Mandible thick and elongated beyond the snout. Nostrils 

 short and tubular, the posterior one capable of being closed. The 

 tail does not taper, being nearly as thick at its extremity as near 

 the anus. On the upper jaw there are 11 teeth, the longest of 

 which are the 7 nasal ones. Mandibulars, 10-12. 



183. APTHA1.MICHTHYS JAVANICUS, fig. 71. 



Apthalmichthys javanicus, Kau}). 



A greatly-elongated, vermifoi-m eel, wliich is very common in the 

 Sea of Java. With a height of 0-43'2 or 0473 in., it has a length 

 of 30-13 in. The tail is 10"24 in. long; and the distance from the 

 tip of the snout to the gill-opening is 1-93 in. 



Java (British and Leyden Museums). 



Genus 39. UROPTERYGIUS, Bnppell, 



Uropterygius, Paipp. Neue Wirhelthiere, 83. 

 Muraena, Bleeker. 



Two rows of fine teeth in both jaws, those of the outer rows being 

 short, with recurved points ; while those of the inner rows are 

 straighter and more than twice as high. On the vomer one row of 

 7 pointed and recurved teeth. The only fin is on the somewhat 

 expanded tip of the tail. 



184. Uropterygius dnicolor. 



Uropterygius unicolor, Riipp. t. 20, f. 4. 

 MuraeHa microptera, Bleeker, Murccnoiden. 



This fish is a near ally of Murano-hleyina ttrjrina (No. 173), but 

 is separated from Murano-hlenmi by possessing 3 fixed nasals, two 

 rows of palatines and mandibulars, and also two rows of vomerines. 

 I am acquainted with three specimens from the Isle of Bourbon, 

 belonging to the Paris Museum, which, notwithstanding the specific 

 appellation, are not of one colour only, but are black, with innume- 

 rable fine yellow points and scratches. A blackish line runs length- 

 wise over the operculum, and on the border of both jaws single small 



p 



