390 Bulletin ^7, United States National Museum. 



Munena nigricans, BONNATERRE, Encycl. Meth. Ichth., 34, 1788, (after GRONOW). 

 Mureena anguina, GRONOW, Catalogue Fishes, 18, 1854, South America. 

 Enchelycore euryrhina, KAUP, Apodes, 73, 1856, no locality. 



Gymnothorax nigrocaslanem, COPE, Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc., 1870, 483, St. Martins. 

 Gymnothorax umbrosus, POEY, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. Y., 1874, 67, Havana. 

 Enchelycore nigricam, GtfNTHER, Cat., vin, 135, 1870 ; JORDAN & DAVIS, 7. c., 588. 



188. PYTHONICHTHYS, Poey. 



Pythonichtliys, POEY, Kepertorio, n, 265, 1867, (sanguinetu). 



This genus is based on a single West Indian species, which apparently 

 differs from Lycodontis only in the entire absence of nasal tubes. The 

 species is deep red in color, and inhabits deeper water than usual among 

 the Morays. (nvOuv, a large snake; /#0>f, fish.) 



639. PYTHONICHTHYS SANGUINEITS, Poey. 



Body terete, slim ; the depth contained 40 times in total length ; nos- 

 trils in a line between eye and tip of snout, about as long as eye ; lips 

 full, each with a fold; dorsal commencing a little before gill opening; 

 teeth in jaws biserial; those of upper jaw small and numerous, sharp- 

 pointed ; outer row of teeth a little larger and less numerous than inner; 

 inner row of teeth in lower jaw granular; teeth on vomer pluriserial, 

 small ; eye very small, 6 in snout, 12 in gape ; gape 3 in head ; head 2 in 

 trunk; tail 2f times rest of body. Color uniform blood-red. (Poey.) 

 Coast of Cuba, in rather deep water; rare, (sanguineus, blood red.) 

 Pythonichthys sanguineus, POEY, Repertorio, n, 265, pi. 2, fig. 7, 1867, Cuba; JORDAN & DAVIS, I.e. 



589. 

 Mursena sanguinea, GtJNTHER, Cat., vin, 126, 1870. 



189. RABULA, Jordan & Davis. 



Rdbula, JORDAN & DAVIS, Apodal Fishes, Kept. U. S. Fish Comm., vin, 1888, (1892), 589, (aquse- 

 dulcis). 



This genus differs from Lycodontis only in the posterior insertion of 

 the dorsal fin, which begins over or behind the gill opening. The five 

 known species have so little in common that the value of the character 

 which separates them from Lycodontis is rather uncertain. (Ralula, a 

 wrangler.) 



o. Dorsal fin inserted far back, nearer vent than gill opening. Dark brown, with diffuse 

 yellowish spots and marblings. AQU.S-DULCIS, 640. 



aa. Dorsal fin inserted over or slightly behind gill opening. 



b. Teeth in both jaws uniserial ; color yellowish brown, with dark reticulations and 



yellow spots. MARMOREA, 641. 



66. Teeth of upper jaw uniserial ; tail longer than rest of body ; color purplish brown, 



nearly plain. 



c. Jaws with curved commissure, and hence not capable of being completely closed ; 



some of the teeth serrate ; head small, bluntish ; tail a little longer than rest 



of body. PANAMENSIS, 642. 



cc. Jaws with straightish commissure, and hence capable of being closed ; tail half 



longer than rest of body. LONQICAUDA, 643. 



640. RABULA AQTJJE-DULCIS (Cope). 



Dorsal fin inserted far back, nearer vent than gill opening. Eye 

 moderate, over middle of gape; lower teeth uniserial, with canines in 

 front; upper teeth biserial, the outer teeth small; vomer with strong 



