1862.] mr. j. y, johnson on new fishes. • 16/ 



2. Descriptions of some New Genera and Species of 

 Fishes obtained at Madeira. By James Yate John- 

 son, Corr. Mem. Z. S. 



(Plates XXIL, XXIII.) 



Order MALACOPTERYGII APODES, Cuv. 



Sect. Phaneromycteres, Kaup. 



Fam. MuRiENiD^. 



Pseudomur^na, gen. nov. 



Dorsal, anal, and caudal fins united ; no pectoral fins ; gill -open- 

 ings lateral ; no teeth on the mesial line of the palate ; in the jaws 

 uniserial serrate teeth, having a tubercle at the posterior base. 



This genus differs from Murcena in having no teeth on the mesial 

 line, and in the form of the javr-teeth. 



PsEUDOMURJSNA MADERENSIS, sp. n. 



Body anguilliform, attenuating backwards from the nape, which is 

 deep and thick. Skin soft, thick, scaleless. Colour a yellowish 

 brown, darker on the head ; the anterior fourth of the body marked 

 with undulating lines, or narrow bands, of deeper brown, which are 

 arranged longitudinally before the gill-openings, and transversely 

 behind them, the change of direction being gradual. 



The head is gibbous behind the small eyes, which are oval, covered 

 with skin, and placed over the middle of the upper jaw. The snout 

 is obtuse and rounded ; the throat swollen. The posterior nostrils 

 are small, with slightly raised borders, and are placed a little in front 

 of the vertical through the middle of the eye. The anterior nostrils 

 issue in free tubes, which do not quite reach to the tip of the snout. 

 The jaws are of moderate length and subequal ; the lips moderately 

 thick ; the inside of the mouth fuscous. The teeth are uniserial, 

 rather stout, pointed, conico-compressed, with serrate edges, and a 



tubercle at the posterior base. They are slightly curved backwards, 

 and are longer in front than behind. In the upper jaw there are 

 about 16 ; in the lower jaw from 24 to 34. No teeth on the mesial 

 line or on the vomer. Rictus moderate. No barbel. Gill-openings 

 small, round, placed at the sides of the body about the middle of 

 the height. No pectorals or visible lateral line. The dorsal fin 

 commences at the nape, in front of the gill-openings, and is conti- 

 nuous with the caudal and the anal fins ; it is higher behind than in 



