MURiENIDiE. 105 



Sumatra (Shaw). New Britain {C(>m>nerson). Madagascar {Quoy 

 and Gaim.). 



Genus 38. APTHALMICHTHYS, Kaup. 



This group resembles Moruiffua (Gen. 41), but its members have 

 no fins except a mere trace at the point of the tail. Eyes covered 

 by a skin. Mandible thick and elongated beyond the snout. Nostrils 

 short and tubular, the posterior one capable of being closed. The 

 tail does not taper, being nearly as thick at its extremity as near 

 the anus. On the upper jaw there are II teeth, the longest of 

 which are the 7 nasal cues. Mandibulars, 10-12. 



183. Apthalmichthys javanicus, fig. 7J. 



Apthalraichthys javanicus, Kaup, 



A greatly-elongated, vermiform eel, which is very common in the 

 Sea of Java. With a height of 0-432 or 0-473 in., it has a length 

 of 36'13 in. The tail is 10*24 in. long; and the distance from the 

 tip of the snout to the gill-opening is 1-93 in. 



Java (British and Leyden Museums). 



Genus 39. UROPTERYGIUS, Rupi^ll. 



Uropterygius, Riipp. Neve Wirhelthiere, 83. 

 Muraena, DIeeker. 



Two rows of fine teeth in both jaws, those of the outer rows being 

 short, with recurved points ; while those of the inner rows are 

 straighter and more than twice as high. On the vomer one row of 

 7 pointed and recurved teeth. The only fin is on the somewhat 

 expanded tip of the tail. 



184. Uropterygius unicolor. 



Uropterygius uuicolor, Riipp. t. 20, f. 4. 

 Muraena microptera. Bleaker, Muranoiden. 



This fish is a near ally of Murano-hlenna tir/rina (No. 173), but 

 is separated from Murccno-hlenna by possessing 3 fixed nasals, two 

 rows of palatines and mandibulars, and also two rows of vomerines. 

 I am acquainted with thi-ee specimens from the Isle of Bourbon, 

 belonging to the Paris Museum, which, notwithstanding the specific 

 appellation, are not of one colour only, but are black, with innume- 

 rable fine yellow points and scratches. A blackish line runs length- 

 wise over the operculum, and on the border of both jaws single small 



p 



