MURiENID^. 81 



their sizes and distances. The dorsal and anal are very narrowly 

 fringed with white or pale hlue. 



Nasal teeth, 10 in one series, subulate, very acute, slightly com- 

 pressed at the tips, and pretty tall. Three slender mesial teeth, 

 the second and third very tall. One roiv of very short, vioderately 

 acute vomerine teeth. Palatine teeth biserial, 1"^ in the outer row, 

 gradually augmenting in size towards the corner of the mouth, 

 acute, lanceolate : inner row, 4 or 5 slender, tall teeth. Mandible 

 furnished on each limb with a series of about ^0 or 21 lanceolate 

 and very acute teeth, all reflex, the anterior ones smaller, but as 

 closely set as the lateral ones. 



Anvis about one twenty-fourth part of the length anterior to the 

 middle of the fish. Fins conspicuous. Dorsal commencing before 

 the gill-opening. Tail compressed, tapering, rather acute. 



This species differs from hullata in the spots being smaller, more 

 regular and pale on a dark ground. 



Length, 7'1 in. To anus, 33 in. {Richardson.) 



Madagascar (British Museum, presented by Dr. Gray). 



147. Thyrsoidea bullata, fig. 60. 



Murrena bullata. Rich., Ereh. d Terr. 80. 

 Mura;na tigrina, Cuv. ex Voy. du Peron. 

 Mursena leopardina et melanostigma, Leyd. Mus. 



Marginal nasal teeth about 8 tall, subulate ones, with several 

 small ones between each pair ; 3 teeth as usual on the mesial line, 

 and a series of acute vomerine teeth, mostly concealed by the swell- 

 ing of the soft parts. Palatine teeth, 10, compressed-subulate, very 

 acute, reflex, the 4 anterior ones smaller, and within them, in a 

 second series, 3 tall setaceous teeth. Sixteen lateral teeth on each 

 limb of the mandible, resembling the palatine ones, and 3 tall, 

 subulate ones next the symphysis, in the same row. 



Eye moderately large. Dorsal commencing before the gill-open- 

 ing. Anus about one-fourteenth of the whole length before the 

 middle of the fish. 



General colour of the fish after maceration in spirits, lavender- 

 purple, varied by about four rows of round black spots, as big as 

 swan shot, one of the rows being on the dorsal : the lowest row is of 

 smaller spots than the others, and none of them are perfectly 

 regular in their distribution. Some of the spots are conjugate, and 

 at the tip of the tail they form bars. The inside of the mouth is 

 purple. The furrows of the throat and cheeks are black. Edges 

 of the dorsal and anal pale. Belly not spotted. 



This fish is spotted much like M. isinyleena, and it may be 

 merely the young of that species, or a local variety, the dentition 

 being similar, but as there is a difference in the general tint, and 

 the spots ai'e fewei', more simple and regular-, the gape of the mouth 



M 



