MURENID^. 101 



each limb having 22 in the outer row, which are closely set and 

 deeply inabedded in the soft parts ; those of the inner row are a 

 little higher, but equally blunt. The two rows are contiguous pos- 

 teriorly, but separate a little towards the front of the jaw, where the 

 inner teeth are stouter, and somewliat wider apart. On the tongue- 

 bone there are 12 acute recurved teeth, and a second series of 4 on 

 the tip of each branch of the bone. 



Posterior nostrils have slightly-i'aised black borders. In the 

 orbital region four deeply-seated pores in white spots ; also two 

 pairs near the anterior nostrils, four or five on each limb of the 

 mandible, and one in the symphysis of that bone. Anus in the 

 middle of the fish. Dorsal commencing a short way before the 

 gill -opening. 



The fish is crossed by about twenty-six naiTow yellow stripes, 

 which pass over the dorsal fin and down the sides. Three of the 

 stripes, placed before the gill-opening, form meshes with each other, 

 and some of the posterior ones are interrupted, their upper and 

 wider halves alternating. They are most regular before the anus, 

 where they slope forwards as they descend to the belly, and more 

 irregular and wider on the tail. All of them are more or less 

 spotted with the blackish ground-colour. 



Length, 2'J:-5 in. To anus, 13-5 in. To gill-opening, 3-5 in. 

 (riichardson.) 



Bermudas. Caribbean Sea. South Aaierica. 



The British Museum possesses a handsome specimen brought 

 from Trinidad by J. B. Jukes, Esq. 



176. POECILOPHIS POLTZONUS. 



Muroena polyzona, Rich., Voy. of Sulj^Ji. p. 112, pi. 55, f. 11-14. 

 Muraena sordida, Cuv., Reg. An. 11, 352 ; Seha. ii., 60, 4. 



r>ia(jn. From tweiity-six to twenty-nine yellow rings, which 

 dilate a little on the ventral surface, but do not actually close 

 there. 



Nasal teeth biserial ; the outer row composed of minute rounded 

 teeth ; the inner one of taller, rather bluntish, conical ones. Two 

 conical teeth on the mesial line of the disk, somewhat taller than 

 the marginal ones. Vomerine teeth anteiiorly biserial, posteriorly 

 covering a wider surface, with three or more irregular I'ows. Pala- 

 tine teeth biserial, the rows coalescing behind ; outer row consist- 

 ing of very minute, low, flattish teeth ; inner one of taller, slen- 

 derly-cylindrical teeth, having moderately-acute cusps ; there are 

 7 or 8 in each row. Mandibular teeth biserial ; the teeth of the 

 outer row being by much the smallest, and gradually becoming less 

 as they approach the cornier of the mouth ; those which form the 

 inner row taller, with conical cusps, two or three near the fore end 

 of the jaw being larger than the rest. The outer row of each limb 

 contains 18 or 19 teeth, the inner one about 12. 



