346 PKOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSUEM. 



Fins.colored like the region to which they beloug; the dorsal anteriorly 

 witli a median row of oblong spots. 



The specimen described (No. 28238 U. S. IS'at. Mus.) is 18 inches long. 



This species is very abundant among the rocks in the harbor of Ma- 

 zatlan, where numerous specimens were obtained. It is known to the 

 Mexican fishermen as Anguila pinta. (From the Latin pimcta, i. c, punc- 

 tate.) Another specimen (29359) was obtaiued by Lieutenant ^Nichols 

 at San Josef Island. 



10. Murasna pintita, sp. iiov. (28311 U. S. Nat. Mus.) 



Subgenus Gtimnothorax ; allied to Murcvna dovii Giinther, but differing 

 in color and proportions. 



Tail longer than body, by about two-thirds the length of the head; 

 distance from snout to anterior edge of gill opening contained 2f times 

 in length of truidc. Eye above middle of cleft of mouth; diameter of 

 orbit slightly Ihss than half length of snout. Clelt of mouth rather 

 more than two-fifths length of head. Teeth all uniserial ; those in sides 

 of lower jaw small, compressed, dir^rcted backward, of nearly equal size, 

 some of the posterior larger than the iuiterior; front of lower jaw with 

 4 to 6 moderate, movable canines. Sides of u])per jaw with some fixed 

 canines among the smaller teeth ; premaxiilaries with two rather small 

 movable canines ; four small conical teeth in front. Vomer with two 

 large movable canines, distant from each other, the posterior the larger. 

 Mouth capable of being nearly closed. 



Tubes of anterior nostrils short, scarcely equaling half the diameter 

 of orbit. Posterior nostrils without tubes. Gill-slit one-third wider 

 than orbit. Dorsal fin beginning much in front of gill-slit. 



Coloration : Chestnut-brown ; ni^jier parts of body and tail with nu- 

 merous yellow nou-ocellated dots, the largest much smaller than pupil, 

 most of them being minute dots. Dorsal colored like the back. Anal 

 plain brown, becoming darker posteriorly. Head without spots; longi- 

 tudinal furrows under throat, black. 



A single example, 19 inches in length, was taken among the rocks 

 near Mazatlan; the species is called Anguihi p'nUta by the fishermen. 



11. Ophichthys xysturus, sp. uov. (28142,28247,29642.) 



Subgenus Pisodontophis ; allied to 0. macnlosvs (Cuv.). 



Teeth all more or less blunt and granular ; a band of three or four 

 series, on each side of lower jaw; a band of two rows, on each side of upper 

 jaw ; vomer with a long series divided into two for about half its length. 

 Anterior nasal tubes conspicuous, turned downward. Eye 2^ in snout; 

 front of eye above middle of gape, the length of which is a little more 

 than one third of head; the angle of mouth well behind eye. Inter- 

 orbital wiilth about § length of the rather long and slender snout, which 

 projects much beyond lower jaw, the tip of the latter about reaching 

 middle of snout. 



