MUR.KNIDJi;. 93 



men at Djidda, and the one in the Paris Museum was sent from 

 the Mauritius, by Dussuniier. 



I have examined tlie original specimen of Commerson, which is 

 figured by Lacepede, and can aflirm that the bUineata and (jeome- 

 trica of liiippell are identical with grisea, but this could not have 

 been made out from an inspection of the very superficial figure of 

 Lacepede, nor without the specimens in hand. Drs. Cantor and 

 Bleeker have also cited erroneously the Murcemrphis (/riseus of 

 Lacepede. 



167. TllYRSOIDEA TILE, fig. 66. 



Murrenophis tile, Ham. Fish, of Gmvjes, pp. 18 and 363. 

 Murajna vermiculata. Rich., Ereb. d Terr. p. 29. 

 Murajna gracilis, lUch., Ereb. <£■ Terr. p. 93. 

 Icon. Hardw. Incd. 803 {jur.), pp. 309 and 310. 



General tint, between dark hair-brown and wood-brown, studded 

 with little gray specks of angular, round, oblong, crescentic, or 

 conjugated shapes, mixed with others so minute as to be scarcely 

 perceptible to the naked eye. 



Martjinal nasal teeth in two series, so closely situated as to look 

 like one. Outer row composed of 1'3 or 14 very short acute teeth ; 

 inner row forming a semicircle, at the end of the jaw, of conico- 

 subulate very acute teeth ; the tooth on each side of the symphysis 

 smaller than the rest. Three subulate teeth on the mesial line of 

 the nasal disk ; and about 22 short, stoutish, but acute vomerine 

 teeth, set allcrnatehj a little to the right or left, so as to make two 

 irregular rows. Two rows of palatine teeth ; those of the outer 

 row, which does not reach to the corner of the mouth, 19 in num- 

 ber, closely set, short, even, compressed, and moderately acute ; 

 inner row consisting of 9 taller, subulate, and very acute teeth, set 

 more widely, but not extending beyond two-thirds of the length of 

 the outer row. Each limb of the mandible is armed by about 24 

 teeth, the lateral ones disposed in an even series : at the end of the 

 jaw there are two rows, the outer one composed of numerous low 

 teeth, and the inner one of taller and more widely set teeth ; but 

 this part of the jaw having been injui'ed in both specimens, their 

 exact number cannot be ascertained. 



This iish is slightly compressed anteriorly, but becomes consi- 

 derably more so in the tail, which has an obtuse tip. The snout is 

 blunt, and a little longer than the lower jaw; the nose horizontal, 

 with a concavity in the profile over the eye, and a sudden rise in the 

 back of the head and nape. There is also much fulness in the 

 throat. The dorsal, which commences over the gill-opening, is low 

 anteriorly, and highest in the tail, but is sufliciently conspicuous 

 througliout. The anus is placed abuut the thirty-second part of 

 the whole length before the middle of the Iish. 



In colour and nuirkings, this species has some resemblance to 



