MUR.ENIDJE. 67 



An example from Malta, in the Haslar Museum, has fewer and 

 smaller white dots. 



Rays: Br. 8; D. 339; A. 220 = 552 (Gibraltar specimen). 

 Rays: D. 323; A. 232 = 555 (Jamaica specimen). 



in. in. 



Length of two Australian examples 25 Gibraltar do. 300 



Distance between snout and anus 12 ,, 14' 1 



„ gill-opening 2-86 „ 3-6 



Hab. Mediterranean. English Channel. North African coast. 

 Indian Ocean (Bloch). Australian Seas [Puchardson). 



Under the appellations of M. brasillensis and j)unctata, Castel- 

 neau found Brazilian specimens in the Paris Museum which are 

 besprinkled with yellowish dots of the size of pins' heads. I con- 

 sider them to be a local variety of the common M. helena. (Kaiqj.) 



109. MUR^NA VERJIICULAEIS. 



Muraena vermicularis, Peters. 



In the form of the teeth, this species resembles helena ; but its 

 snout is more obtuse, and its head less compressed. The dorsal 

 originates directly over the gills, and the anus is in the middle of 

 the length, or a little before it, while the eye is over the middle of 

 the gape. The dorsal exceeds the anal in depth, and is about 

 equal to one-fifth of the height of the body. Colour, green ; on 

 the back, brown, with dark reticular marbled markings, which ex- 

 tend over the pectorals. Ground colour of the snout and chin, 

 white, with dark-green spots and marbling. 



Total length, 10-41 in. Diameter of the eye, 0-127 in. From 

 the tip of the snout to the corner of the mouth, 047 in. To 

 the gill-opening, 1-38 in. To the dorsal, 1-46 in. To the anus, 

 5-J6in. 



Querimbo Isles. Ibo. Africa. 



2. Posterior nostrils not issuing in projecting tubes. 



110, MUR^NA NUBILA, fig. 48. 



Muraena nubila, Rich., Ereb. £ Terr. p. 81, pi. 46, f. 6-10. 



Teeth uniserial, compressed-subulate, tapering, and very acute 

 (or stiletto-shaped). Nasal teeth, 12, widely set and moderately 

 tall, with a minute subulate one between each pair. Two teeth, 

 placed well forward on the mesial line of the disk, the second one 

 being the tallest in the mouth. Twelve conico-subulate, sharp- 

 pointed, very short vomerine teeth, the anterior one standing a 

 little out of line. Palatine teeth, 12, slightly refle.x, the two 

 anterior ones smaller than the rest, which diminish sliglitly in size 

 from the third to the corner of the mouth. Mandible armed by 



I 



