73 



ciii, p. 698) traced the development of one of these fishes into a 

 conger; but some cannot be the offspring of mursenoid fishes. 

 " Stomiasunculus, Kaup, is the young of Stomias ; Porobronchus, 

 Kaup, the young of Fierasfer acus and Esunculus, Kaup, probably 

 that of Alepocephalus." (Gunther.*) 



Eels are generally known as Velangoo or Paniboo meen in Tamil 

 (snake fish). 



Synopsis of Indian Genera. 

 First group. MUBJENIDJE ENGYSCHIST.J;. 

 A. Branchial openings in the pharynx are narrow slits. 

 Pectorals absent; vertical fins well deve- 

 ' loped. Posterior nostril a round and 



patent opening 1. MURJENA. 



Fins absent, except a rudimentary one round 



end of tail 2. GYMNOMTJR^ENA. 



Second group. MUEJENID^E PLATTSCHISTJE. 

 B. Branchial openings in the pharynx are wide slits. 



a. Heart close behind gills. Tail longer or 



scarcely shorter than the trunk. Nostrils 

 lateral or superior. Tongue free. Caudal 

 fin continued round the end of tail ; pecto- 

 rals present or absent. Scales present or 

 absent. 

 Pectoral fins present ; dorsal commences some 



distance behind the nape. Rudimentary 



scales 3. ANGUILLA. 



Pectoral fins present; dorsal commences above 



gill-opening. Cleft of mouth reaches to 



below middle of eye. Large muciferous 



cavities on skull. Teeth in bands. 



Scaleless 4. CONOR OMUR.&NA. 



Pectoral fins present ; dorsal commences above 



gill-opening. Cleft of mouth reaches to 



behind middle of eye. Maxillary teeth 



biserial ; vomerine uniserial. Scaleless . 5. UROCONGER. 



b. Heart close to gills. Tail not shorter than 



trunk. Nostrils lateral or superior. Tongue 



not free. Caudal fin continued round the 



end of tail; pectorals present or absent. 



Scaleless. 



Pectoral fins present. Canine teeth in jaws 

 anteriorly ; strong teeth on vomer. Pos- 

 terior nostril opposite upper part ormiddle 



of eye 6. MURJENESOX. 



Pectoral fins absent. Posterior nostril lateral 



and in front of orbit 7. SAURENCHEI.YS. 



c. Heart close to gills. Nostrils labial. Tongue 



not free. Caudal fin continued round the 

 end of tail ; pectorals present or absent. 

 Scaleless. 



Pectoral fins absent. Body elongated, ver- 

 miform . . 8. MURJSNICHTHYS. 



