338 
MUR^NA. 
a blow on tlie bead will not. Mr. Lowe says it is not rare in 
Madeira; but we have not heard of more than one example 
that has been met with in the British Islands; and this was 
caught with a line on the 8th. of October, 1834, by a fisherman 
of Polperro; who placed it in my possession as soon as it was 
brought to land ; and from this example our figure and description 
are obtained. 
We learn that the ordinary length of this fish is about three 
feet; but our specimen measured four feet four inches; the 
body very flaccid, but plump, rounded anteriorly, compressed 
and tapering towards the tail; before the eyes the head is 
slender and pointed; jaws about equal, gape moderately large; 
the teeth long, sharp, incurved, prominent, in one row; a row 
on the palate; tongue adherent, scarcely perceptible; a nasal 
barb on each side of the end of the snout, another a short 
distance above each eye, and a probe passed down through the 
latter, found its way out at the former. Large mucous orifices 
encircle both jaws at equal distances, four on each row. Eye 
rather small, an inch and a quarter from the snout; irides 
light bluish grey, having a lively look; cheeks tumid, formed 
by the strong muscle which closes the jaAv; an extensive 
depression behind this, at the side of the thorax, in which is 
situated the simple orifice of the gills, the outward appearance 
of which very much resembles a corresponding opening in the 
Lamprey; from the snout to this branchial opening six inches. 
From the part above the eye the head is much elevated, and 
the skin wrinkled; the thorax remarkably protuberant; the 
distance from the top of the head to the thorax five inches and 
three fourths. The vent is exactly half way between the two 
ends of the body; and from it proceeds a line to the end of 
the tail, parallel to the anal fin; which line must be the 
lateral, since there is no appearance of any other. The dorsal 
fin begins five inches and a half from the snout, and proceeds 
to the extremity of the body to join with the anal to form 
the tail. The anal begins at the vent, but both these fins are 
thick and fleshy, so as not to be readily distinguished from 
the general surface of the body. 
The ground colour of the anterior part of the body is a fine 
lively yellow, the hinder part fine purple; but the whole, 
including the fins, is divided into segments which form irregu- 
