18 GiiNGETic fishes. Order II. 



The body is very slender in proportion to the length, nearly 

 round, and very slippery. The lateral line runs down the 

 middle of the side. The only fin runs from the neck round 

 the tail to the vent, and has such a thick skin that the number 

 of rays cannot be ascertained. 



2d Species. — Mur-enophis tile. 



A murcenophis with the dorsal fin commencing at the nape ; 

 with a row of remote sharp teeth in each jaw, and one large 

 tooth in the palate ; with the body divided by lines into small 

 squares, and variegated with irregular yellow blotches and 

 black dots ; and with the under jaw shortest. 



This is an ugly eel, seldom growing to above eighteen 

 inches in length. It is found in the estuaries near Calcutta, 

 and has the strongest affinity to the Gymnothorax reticulatus 

 of Bloch, [Ichth. Tome XII. p. 71, f. 416,) or Murcenophis re- 

 ticularis of La Cepede, (Hist, des Poissons, Tome V. p. 628,) 

 who state, however, that the palate is smooth, (uni Bloch, lisse 

 La Cepede,) which I presume could not be said of the Gan- 

 getic fish, on account of the remarkable fang which it has, and 

 by which it acquires a strong analogy with poisonous ser- 

 pents. Owing to this circumstance, it has a great affinity with 

 the Murcenophis grisea of La Cepede, (Hist, des Poissons, 

 Tome V. p. 629,) and with the Calamaia paum of Russell, In- 

 dian Fishes, Vol. II. No. 32.) Indeed, it agrees in most par- 

 ticulars with the description given by Dr Russell, but the 

 figure differs in many points. 



The head is small, oval, and blunt. The nostrils are double j 

 the foremost are tubular, and placed near the jaw ; the hinder 

 are near the eyes. The teeth are strong, and bent backward. 

 The mouth is large, reaching behind the eyes, which are small, 

 round, and yellow. There are no gill-covers ; but the mem- 



