]16 CATALOGUE OF FISH. 



bone. Hinder nostril open, tolerably remote from the large eye 

 which is placed nearly in the middle of the jaws. Dorsal extend- 

 ing forwards, beyond the origin of the pectoral. The vomer rises 

 upwards, and its larger teeth stand in a furrow, accompanied by 

 smaller blunt ones. Several rows exist on the palatines, and also 

 on the mandible. The longest teeth are implanted in the nasal 

 bone and fore part of the mandible. 



The species of this group attain a considerable size, and are very 

 rapacious. 



!203. MUR^NESOX PRISTIS. 



Mursenesox pristis, Kanp. 



Conger talabon, Cantor d Bleekcr [nee Fuissell, nee C'uvier). 

 Murfenesox lauceolatus, exodon, serridentata, exodonta, McClelland, 

 Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist, iv., 4.09, v., J80-1; Cantor, Mai. Fish,l2M. 



Diameter of the eye contained two and a half times in the length of 

 the snout. Vomerine teeth tall, round, and pointed, without distinct 

 lobes. In old age, the external mandibular teeth stand outwards,, 

 like the saw of a pristis. Anterior nostril removed from the orbit 

 to a distance equal to twice the diameter of the eye. A skin of this 

 species, preserved in the Paris Museum, exceeds 79 in. in length. 

 Two specimens in the Leyden Museum are of middle size. 



Indian Ocean. 



Russell gave the following species the name of talabon, which 

 Cuvier adopted ; but as that has also a second name of hacjio, 

 I have described it under that appellation, and to avoid the 

 confusion occasioned by Cantor's and Bleeker's use of the word 

 talabon, I have designated the last species by the name of pristis, 

 because the outer mandibular teeth are directed outwards, like the 

 teeth of a saw. None of McClelland's various names conform with 

 the specific character so well as mine. 



204. MUB^NESOX BAGTO, fig. 7&. 



Conger talabon, Cuvier, Regn. An. 11, 350; Russ. F. of Malab. 



Conger bagio, Cantor, Mai. Fish. 316. 



Murffina bagio, Ham. Fish of the Gang. 24, 364. 



Murfenesox tricuspidata, Hamiltoni (bagio) bengaleusis, McClelland, 



Calc. Jonrn. iv., 409, pi. 24, f. i. a. b. ; v., 182, pi. 8, f. 3, and 



pp. 210, 182. 

 Congrus tricuspidatus, Richardson, Vojj. of Sulj^h. p. 105, pi. 51, 



f. 2; Ereh. d Trrr. p. 110. 

 Conger hame, Temm. d Schl. F. Jap. 262, pi. 94, 2 ; Ereb. d Terr. 



p. 111. 

 Conger oxyrhinchus, Eijdoux et Souleijet, Bon. t. i., 203, pi. 9, f. 2. 

 Ophisure longmuseau, Quoy d Gaim. Voy. Freyc. pi. 51, f. 1. 



Diagn. Exterior row of mandibular teeth not pointing outwards. 



