24 MUE^NID^. 



beyond the low^er. Teeth small, forming bands. (jill-openings 

 narrow, at the base of the pectoral fins. The dorsal fin commences 

 at a considerable distance from the occiput. 



Cosmopolitan, but not extending into the arctic regions. 



An infinite number of species have been described ; but most are so 

 badly characterized, or founded on individual or so trivial characters, 

 that the majority of ichthyologists will reject them. For the pre- 

 sent, I have retained those as species which are distinguished by 

 such characters that we are enabled to recognize them ; but I am by 

 no means certain whether really specific value should be attached to 

 them. The form of the snout, the size of the eyes, the width of the 

 bands of teeth, &c. are evidently subject to much variation ; and 

 probably other ichthyologists will still more reduce the number of 

 species contained in the following synopsis : — 



Synopsis of the Species. 

 I. The dorsal Jin commences consiclei'ahly in advance of the vent. 

 a. Eye considerably shofter than the snout. 



A. The maiidihulary band of teeth is longitudinally divided by a groove, 

 the outer strip containing a series of somewhat larger teeth. 



1. The length of the head is conspicuously less than the distance 

 between the commencements of the dorsal and anal fins. 



1. . mauritiana, p. 25. 



2. The length of the head is nearly equal to the distance between 

 the commencements of the dorsal and anal fins. 



The length of the head is one-half of its distance from the anal. 



2. labiata, p. 26. 



The length of the head is more than one-half of its distance from the anal. 



3. Jidjiensis, p. 26. 



8. The length of the head is conspicuously more than the dis- 

 tance between the commencements of the dorsal and anal fins. 



Tail considerftbly longer than body 4. hengalensis, p. 27. 



Tail not much longer than body 5. reinhardtii, p. 27. 



B. Lateral teeth uniserial in both jaws. . . 6, macrophthalma, p. 28. 



C. Teeth in narrow bands ; the mandibtdary hand without longitudinal 

 groove. 



1. The length of the head is nearly equal to the distance be- 

 tween the commencements of the dorsal and anal fins. 



The length of the head is more than one-half of its distance from the 



vent 7. mossambica, p. 28. 



The length of the head is less than one-half of its distance from the vent. 



8. mdgaris, p. 28. 



2. The length of the head is conspicuously more than the dis- 

 tance between the commencements of the dorsal and anal fins. 



12. Anguilla marmorata, Quoy ^ Gaim. Voy. Freyc. Zool. p. 241, pi. 61. 



fig. 2. — Waigiou. 

 13. otaheitensis, Kaup, Aale Hamburg. Mus. p. 17, tab. 2. fig. 2. — 



Tahiti. 

 14. capensis, Kaup, I. c. p. 18, tab. 2. fig. 3. — Cape of Good Hope. 



