FAMILY, X-MUR^NID^. 661 



Length of head 2| to 2| in the distance between the end of the snout and the vent • length of tmnk 

 about 1/3 less than that of the tail. Extent of cleft of mouth equals 3 to 3i in the length of the head, it 

 ceases below the middle of the eye. %es— large, diameter 1 to 1^ in the length of snout, and 2/3 of a diameter 

 apart. Lips rather thick : upper jaw the longer. Teei^— of about the same size : the vomerine band extending 

 backwards to about 1/2 the length of the maxillary band. Fins — dorsal commences slightly behind the gill- 

 opening : pectoral nearly 1/2 as long as the head. (7oZow«— brownish along the back, becoming dull white 

 beneath. Fins yellow, the vertical ones with a narrow black edging. Upper half of pectoral occasionally 

 stained with black. 



Habitat. — Coromandel coast of India to the Malay Archipelago. The example figured, which is 11^ 

 inches long, was from Madras. 



Genus, 3— Ukocongbe, Kavp. 



Gongerodon, Kanp. 



Gili-openings rather wide. Mucifercms comities on jaws moderately developed. Hind nostril in the form of a 

 slit opposite the vpper third of the orbit : front nostril not tubular. Eyes rather large. Gleft of mouth reaching to 

 rather^ behind the middle df the orbit. Teeth fine, conical, and subequal in size: those in thejcms biserial, the 

 vomerine ones in a single elongated row and small. Dorsal fim emnmences above the root of the pectoral : all the 

 fins well-developed. Sealeless. 



Oeographieal distribution — Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago, China, and the Philippines. 



1. Uroconger lepturus, Plate CLXX, fig. 1. 



Gongrus leptwus, Richards. Voy. Sulphur, Fish. p. 106, pi. 56, fig. 1 — 6, and Voy. Erebus and Terror, 

 Fish. p. 109 ; Bleeker, Sumatra, p. 45. 



Uroeonger leptwrus, Blaup, Apod. p. 110 ; Bleeker, Atl. Ich. iv, p. 29, t. 149, fig. 1 ; Kner, Novara Fisch. 

 p. 373 ; Giinther, Gatal. viii, p. 44. 



B. ix, P. 10, D. 200-220, C. 10, A. 120-150. 



Length of head 2| to 2f in the distance between the end of the snout and the vent : length of trunk 

 about 1/2 that of the tail. Cleft of mouth rather oblique and ceasing below the hind edge of the eye, its 

 extent equals abont 2/5 of the length of the head. Eyes — diameter 2 to 2j in the length of the snout, and 1 

 to li diameters apart. Snont depressed, with a row of slit-like openings above the edge of the npper lip. 

 Teeth — ^rather large, and unequal in size : those in the maxilla and mandible in two rows, and placed a slight 

 distance apart, the inner row somewhat the larger : vomerine teeth in a single pointed row about equal in size 

 to the inner maxillary row, one of the anterior teeth is sometimes enlarged. Fins — dorsal commences above the 

 base of the pectoral, which latter equals about 1/4 of the length of the head. Golov/rs — brownish superiorly, 

 becoming dull white beneath : a row of white-edged glandular openings aldng the lateral-line. Vertical fins 

 edged with black. 



Habitat. — Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and China. 



b. — Heart close to gills. Tail not shorter than the tnmh. Nostrils lateral or superior. Tongue not free. 

 Caudal fin contin/ued rotmd the end of tail : pectorals present or absent. Scaleless. 



Genus, 4 — MuEiENKSOx, McClelland. 



Cynoponticus, Costa and Braohyconger, Bleeker. 



Oill-openings wide approximating to the abdomen. Snout rather elongated, the upper jaw the longer. Two 

 pairs of nostrils^ the posterior of which are opposite to the upper part or centre of the orbit. Teeth in the jaws rather 

 fims, with some canines anteriorly : vomer with several rows of teeth, the middle of which are large and conical or 

 compressed. Dorsal fm commencing above the gill-opening, it, the anal, caudal, and pectoral well developed. Anus 

 a long distance from the gill-opening. Scaleless. 



The comparative proportions of the parts in these fishes vary considerably with age, season, and food. 



SYNOPSIS OP SPECIES. 



1. Murcenesox telabon. Vomerine teeth large and without basal lobes. Seas and estuaries of India to 

 the Malay Archipelago. 



2. Murcenesox telabonoides. Vomerine teeth slender, the posterior ones with basal lobes : the external 

 mandibular row directed outwards. Seas and estuaries of India to the Malay Archipelago. 



3. Murcenesox cinereus. Vomerine teeth large and having a basal lobe : external mandibular row not 

 directed outwards. Red Sea, seas and estuaries of India to the Malay Archipelago. 



1. MursBnesox telabon, Plate CLXVIII, fig. 6. 



Ophidiumi, Russell, Fish. Vizag. i, p. 27, and Tala Bon, pi. 38. 



Conger telabon, Cuvier, Rfeg. An. ; Cantor, Mai. Fish. p. 312 ; Bleeker, Singapore, p. 78 (part), Muraen. p. 

 18, and Borneo, p. 456 ; Jerdon, M. J. L. and Sc. 1851, p. 151. 



Murcenesox lanceolata, McClelland, Cal. J. N. H. iv, p. 409, and v, pp. 181, 210. 



