EDIBLE EISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 191 



Murcena lineopinnis, Eichards. Voy. Erebus & Terror, Fish. p. 89, 



MurcBua prasina, Eichards. Voy. Erebus & Terror, Eish. p. 93, 



Murcena loscTiii, Bleek. Mur. p. 52, and Sumatra, p. 103, 



Murosna monochrous, Bleek. Ternate, p. 384. 



Murcena tristis, Kaup, Catal. Apod. p. 62. 



Thyrsoidea lineopinnis, Kaup, Catal. Apod. p. 82, 



Thyrsoidea hoschii, Kaup, Arcli. Natur. xxii. i. p. 82, and Catal. Apod. p. 



87. 

 Murcena infernalis, Poey, Mem. Cuba, ii. pp. 8i7, 354. 

 Tceniophis icesfphali, Kaup. Aale Hamb. Mus. Kacbt. p. 1. 

 Gymnonwrax boscJii, Bleek. Atl. Ichthyol. Mur. p. 105, pi. xlvi. f. 3. 

 Gymnotliorax monochrous, Bleek. Atl. Ichthyol. Mur. p. 106, pi. xlvii. f. 2. 

 Gymnothorax jaclcsoniensis, Bleek. Yerst. en Meded. Ak. Wet. Amsterd. 



1863, XV. p. 450. 

 Gymnotliorax infernalis, Poey, Eis.-nat. Cuba, ii. p. 258. 

 Murcena afra, Grnth. Catal. Eish. p. viii, p. 123 ; Day, Eish. Ind. p. 671 ; 



Steindaehn. Denk. Ak. Wien, xliv. p. 59 ; Macleay, Catal. Austr. Eish. 



ii. p. 217. 



Green Eel. 

 Vert. 59/66. 



The distance between the tip of the lower jaw and the anterior margin of 

 the gill-opening 7*90 in the total length, and 4'30 between the same and the 

 origin of the anal : height of body 14"00 in the total length. Eye small, 

 its diameter 1475 in the length of the head, and 2"50 in that of the snout, 

 which is narrow, pointed, and but moderately produced. Both nostrils 

 tubular, that of the anterior the longer, two fifths of the diameter of the 

 eye. A series of large pores along each jaw. Upper profile of head 

 gibbous. Lower jaw much the longer. Cleft of mouth wide, 2"85 in the 

 Length of the head. Angle of the mouth about two diameters of the eye 

 behind its posterior margin. The diameter of the eye is 1"50 in that of the 

 gill-opening, which forms a horizontal slit. Teeth in both jaws biserial, the 

 inner series much the larger, compressed, pointed, and curving inwards and 

 backwards, each with a shallow notch in front and a deep one behind, 

 twenty one or tw^enty two on each ramus of the maxilla, and twenty five on 

 each mandibular ramus, the three or four anterior ones the largest ; a 

 triangular patch of three strong teeth on the head of the vomer and a 

 double row posteriorly. Eins low. Length of tail 1"20 in that of the trunk. 



Colors. — G-round color yellowish-brown, almost hidden by purplish-brown 

 spots. When first taken from the water bright green. 



Though the Green Eel is very common along the ISTew South Wales coast, 

 frequenting the crannies and crevices among the rocks, and the larger rock 

 pools on the shore reefs, it is not often brought to market, its habits and the 

 peculiar localities which it frequents not leading the professional fisherman 

 to seek for it. It is an excellent food fish, its flesh being white, delicate, and 

 of good flavor. They are said to be easily taken in the rock pools with a 

 prawn or fish bait, by the use of a short, stout rod, and short line, but the 

 moment they are hooked they must be jerked out of the w^ater, for if once 

 allowed to retreat into their crevice great difiiculty is experienced in inducing 

 them to come out again. 



