MUR^ENA. 309 



side of the end of the snout, another a short distance above 

 each eye, and a probe passed down the latter found its way 

 out at the former ; large mucous orifices encircle both jaws 

 at equal distances, four on each row. Eye rather small, one 

 inch and one quarter from the snout ; irides light bluish 

 grey, having a lively look : cheeks tumid ; an extensive de- 

 pression at the side of the thorax, in which is the simple 

 orifice of the gills ; the external appearance of the branchial 

 aperture very much resembles that belonging to the Lam- 

 prey : from the snout to the branchial opening, six inches ; 

 from the part above the eye the head is much elevated ; the 

 skin wrinkled ; thorax remarkably protuberant ; the distance 

 from the top of the head to the thorax five inches and three- 

 quarters. The vent is exactly half-way between the two 

 ends of the body, from whence proceeds a line to the end of 

 the tail parallel to the anal fin, and half an inch from its 

 base : this line must be the lateral line, since there is no 

 appearance of any other. The dorsal fin begins five inches 

 and a half from the snout, and proceeds round the extremity 

 of the body to join the anal, which begins at the vent ; but 

 these fins are thick and fleshy, and not readily distinguished 

 from the margin of the body. 



The ground colour of the anterior part of the body is a 

 fine lively yellow, the hinder part a fine purple ; but the 

 whole, including the fins, is divided into segments, forming 

 irregularly shaped spots, which yet have a tendency to re- 

 gular distribution ; towards the tail the yellow spots more 

 resemble irregular rings, with larger spaces between them ; 

 the whole is interspersed with innumerable spots of whitish 

 and deep yellow, golden, brown, and purple, forming a most 

 beautiful arrangement : under the thorax and to the gill- 

 opening are a few lines marked in the skin as if to facilitate 

 motion, though the skin is exceedingly smooth and soft ; 



