498 _ Storer on the 
ORDER IV. 
MALACOPTERYGII APODES. 
FawiLy I. 
MURAENIDAE. - 
; * 
Muraena. Lin. NES 
Generic characters. Body cylindrical, elongated, 
covered with a thick and smooth skin ; the Nan very 
small; lubricated with copious mucous secretion ; 
mouth with a row of teeth in each jaw, and a few on 
the anterior part of the vomer ; pectoral fins close to 
a small branchial aperture; no ventral fins ; dorsal 
fin, anal fin, and caudal fin united. 
M. Bostoniensis. Le Sueur. The common Eel of 
Massachusetts. 
Journal Academy Nat. Sciences, vol. i. p. 81. 
This species which is the most common, or, I 
might say, the only eel brought to Boston market, is 
distinguished by its grayish brown color above; and 
whitish, yellowish, or yellowish white color beneath, 
with a reddish tinge about the tail, which color also 
sometimes extends along the entire anal fin. Le 
Sueur, in the “ Journal of the Academy of Natural 
