648 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
II. Median series of teeth on vomer distinctly tricuspidate in the young, becoming 
entire with age, with nearly even surface, thus, ; pectoral as long as maxil- 
lary, 2£ in head; eye 2 in snout, which is 4£ in head; dorsal inserted over the 
gill-opening. Brown above, silvery below ; dorsal and anal edged with black. 
Savanna, 96. 
95. MURiENESOX CONICEPSr 
Murcenesox coniceps Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 348, 1881 (Mazatlan) ; Jor- 
dan, Cat. Fish. N. A., 55, 1885. 
Habitat : Pacific coast of tropical America, Mazatlan to Panama. 
Etymology : Latin, conus , cone ; ceps , headed. 
This species is generally common on the Pacific coast of tropical 
America, where it reaches a length of 2 or 3 feet. Oar specimens are 
from Mazatlan, Panama, and off the coast of Colombia. 
The species is very close to the next, and the difference in dentition, 
well marked in young examples, seems to be wholly lost in the adult. 
96. MURiENESOX SAVANNA. 
Murcenesox savanna Cuvier, Regne Animal, 1828 .(name only) (“La Savanne de 
Martinique”). 
Conger savanna Bennett, Proc. Comm. Zool. Soc., 135, 1831 ( fide Gunther). 
Murcenesox savanna Kaup, Apodes, 117, fig. 74, 1856 (South America); Gunther, viii, 
47, 1870. 
Braehyconger savanna Bleeker, Atlas des Murines Indes Orient., IV, 20, 1864 (generic 
diagnosis). 
Conger brasiliensis Ranzani, Nov. Spec. Pise. Diss. Prima., iv, 17, tab. 13, fig. 1,1838 
(Brazil). 
Cynoponticus ferox Costa, Fauna Napoli Pesc., tab. 28, 1850 (Naples) ( fide Gunther). 
Congrus curvidens Richardson, Voy. Erebus and Terror, m, 1845 (no habitat) ; Kaup, 
Apodes, 117, 1856. 
Conger limbatus Castelnau, Anim. Araer. Sud, 83, pi. 43, fig. 3, 1855 (Rio Janeiro). 
Habitat: West Indian fauna from Cuba to Bio Janeiro; also occa- 
sional in the Mediterranean Sea. 
Etymology : From the local name “ Savanne,” at Martinique. 
We follow Gunther in referring all the nominal species of Murcenesox 
found in the Atlantic to the synonymy of Murcenesox savanna. The 
specimen examined by us is from Bahia. The variations due to age in 
the form of large teeth on the vomer are very considerable. 
Genus 30.— XENOMYSTAX. 
Xenomystax Gilbert, mss. ( atrarius ). 
Type : Xenomystax atrarius Gilbert. 
Etymology : Sevoq, strange ; //.6<rra£, maxilla. 
This genus, which is allied to Murcenesox, is thus described by Dr. 
Gilbert : 
Scaleless; pectorals well developed; vertical fins large, continuous around the 
tail, the rays evident ; dorsal beginning before base of pectorals. Gill-slits vertical 
and rather wide, the gill membrane continuous below the throat. Branchiostegals 
