346 PEOCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSUEM. 



Fins colored like the region to which they belong; the dorsal anteriorly 

 with a median row of oblong spots. 



The specimen described (No. 28238 U. S. Nat. Mus.) is 18 inches long. 



This species is very abundant among the rocks in the harbor of Ma- 

 zatlan, where numerous specimens were obtained. It is known to the 

 Mexican fishermen as Anguila pinta. (From the Latin puncta, i. e., punc- 

 tate.) Another specimen (29359) was obtained by Lieutenant Nichols 

 at San Josef Island. 



10. Muraena pintita, sp. nov. (28311 U. S. Nat. Mus.) 



Subgenus Gi/mnofhorax ; allied to Murcena ^oviiGiinther, but differing 

 in color and proportions. 



Tail longer than body, by about two-thirds the length of the head ; 

 distance from snout to anterior edge of gill-opening contained 2f times 

 in length of trunk. Eye above middle of cleft of mouth; diameter of 

 orbit slightly less than half length of snout. Cleft of mouth rather 

 more than two-fifths length of head. Teeth all uniserial ; those in sides 

 of lower jaw small, compressed, directed backward, of nearly equal size, 

 some of the posterior larger than the anterior; front of lower jaw with 

 4 to 6 moderate, movable canines. Sides of upper jaw with some fixed 

 canines among the smaller teeth ; premaxillaries with two rather small 

 movable canines ; four small conical teeth in front. Vomer with two 

 large movable canines, distant from each other, the posterior the larger. 

 Mouth capable of being nearly closed. 



Tubes of anterior nostrils short, scarcely equaling half the diameter 

 of orbit. Posterior nostrils without tubes. Gill-slit one-third wider 

 than orbit. Dorsal fin beginning much in front of gill-slit. 



Coloration : Chestnut-brown ; upper parts of body and tail Avith nu- 

 merous yellow nou-ocellated dots, the largest much smaller than pupil, 

 most of them being minute dots. Dorsal colored like the back. Anal 

 plain brown, becoming darker posteriorly. Head without spots ; longi- 

 tudinal furrows under "throat, black. 



A single example, 19 inches in length, was taken among the rocks 

 near Mazatlan; the sj)ecies is called A^iguila pintita by the fishermen. 



11. Ophichthys xysturus, sp. nov. (28142,28247,29642.) 



Subgenus PisodontopMs ; allied to O. maculosus (Cuv.). 



Teeth all more or less blunt and granular ; a band of three or four 

 series, on each side of lower jaw ; a band of two rows, on each side of upper 

 jaw ; vomer with a long series divided into two for about half its length. 

 Anterior nasal tubes conspicuous, turned downward. Eye 2 J in snout; 

 front of eye above middle of gape, the length of which is a little more 

 than one-third of head ; the angle of mouth well behind eye. Inter- 

 orbital width about § length of the rather long and slender snout, which 

 projects much beyond lower jaw, the tip of the latter about reaching 

 middle of snout. 



