1849.] Catalogue of Malayan Fishes. 1311 



front of the termination of the dorsal and anal, where the vertical dia- 

 meter suddenly attains its maximum, 1\ times in the length of the head. 

 Between the termination of the dorsal and anal the vertical diameter is 

 contained A\ times in the head, and it forms the base of the bluntly 

 conical tip of the tail, the upper and lower margin of which slightly 

 exceed the base. Owing to the lowness and thickness of the dorsal 

 fin-membrane its precise origin cannot be determined ; apparently it 

 commences at a distance from the muzzle of \ of the total length, but the 

 rays cannot be distinguished before a little in front of the anterior third 

 of the total. The general length of the rays is \ of the head, but it 

 slightly increases above the sudden enlargement of the tail near the ter- 

 mination of the fin. The anal commences at a short distance from the vent 

 and resembles the dorsal. The gill-openings are small, crescent-shaped 

 and placed between the lateral line and the abdominal profile without 

 bordering upon either ; the distance from the apparent commencement 

 of the dorsal exceeds by \ the length of the head or the distance from 

 the muzzle to the openings. The lateral line commences on the ante- 

 rior third, but descends at a short distance from the head to the middle 

 of the side and thus continues to the tip of the tail ; it consists of a 

 succession of short upwards-arched tubes, apparently without pores. 



The species described by Russell (No. XXXVII. Manti Bukaro 

 Paumu), which according to Cuvier is identical with Coecula pterygea, 

 Yahl,* diifers from the present by its much shorter thicker head, and 

 by the anus being situated in the middle of the total length. A soli- 

 tary individual of Balophis anceps occurred at Pinang, with two of 

 Ophiurus breviceps, in November 1844. 



Gen. Mur^ena, ([Artedi,~\ Linne, 1766,) Cuvier, 1817. 



(Gymnothorax, Block- Schneider, 1801. — Mur^nophis, Lacepede, 

 1803. — LYCODONTis,McC7etoze?,1844. — Strophidon, McClelland. 



1844.— THiERODONTis, McClelland, 1844.) 

 Pectorals none ; branchiae open on each side by a small hole ; oper- 



cles thin ; branchiostegous rays slender, concealed under the skin ; 



* SJcrivter af Naturhistorie Selskabet. Kjobenhavn. III. PI. XIII. 1, 2. — 

 Sphagebranchus pterygea, Cuv. R. A. II. 353 ( 2 ). — Balophis orientalis, McClel- 

 land : Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. V. 213, 



8 F 



