674 FISHES. 



Genera allied to Conger are Poeciloconger, CongromurcBna, 

 Uroconger, and Heteroconger. 



MuR^NESOX. — Scaleless. Snout produced. Jaws with 

 several series of small closely set teeth, anteriorly with canines ; 

 vomer with several long series of teeth, the middle of which is 

 formed by large conical or compressed teeth. Gill-openings wide, 

 approximate to the abdomen. Pectoral and vertical fins well 

 developed, the dorsal beginning above the gill-opening. Two 

 pairs of nostrils, the posterior opposite to the upper part or 

 middle of the eye. 



Four species from tropical seas, M. cinereus being very 

 common in the Indian Ocean, and attaining to a length of six 

 feet. 



Nettastoma. — Scaleless. Snout much produced, depressed. 

 Jaws and vomer with bands of card-like teeth, those along the 

 median line of the vomer being somewhat the larger. Vertical 

 fins well developed ; pectorals none. Gill-openings of moderate 

 width, open. Nostrils on the upper surface of the head, valvular ; 

 the anterior near to the end of the snout, the posterior above 

 the anterior angle of the eye. 



This genus lives at some depth, the Japanese species 

 (iV. parviceps) having been obtained at 345 fathoms. iV". 

 melamcritm from the Mediterranean, seems to inhabit a similar 

 depth. Hyoprorus is its Leptocephalid form. 



Genera allied to Murccncsox are Saurenchclys, Oxyconger, 

 Hoplunnis, and Neoconger ; in all these the nostrils have a 

 superior or lateral position. In other genera the nostrils 

 perforate the upper lip, as in Myrus, Myropihis, Paramyriis, 

 CMlorhinus, Murcenichtliys, and Ophichthys, the last genus 

 deserving of particular mention on account of its great range 

 and common occurrence. 



Ophichthys. — Nostrils labial ; extremity of the tail free, 

 not surrounded by a fin. 



More than eighty species are known, many of which are 



