THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 
244 
anterior superior margin of the orbit. Summit of head lanceolate, and moderately flat, broadest 
opposite the centre of the orbits. A small lanceolate longitudinal furrow passes from opposite 
the centre of the orbit to the snout; posteriorly it has an elevated ridge. 
Teeth—None. 
Fins—Pectoral arises close under the posterior margin of the subopercle, and extends to the 
ventral, which commences opposite the fourth ray of the dorsal: anal arises on the posterior third 
from the snout to the base of the caudal. Dorsal with its first three rays unbranched, the third 
the highest, upper margin of the fin concave, the last ray with its posterior half prolonged as far 
as the base of the caudal. Pectoral pointed. Yentral small, with a long scale at its base. Anal 
with the first two rays unbranched, the second the longest, the fin rather concave. Caudal wide, 
and deeply forked. 
Scales—High and narrow. None on the head. 
Colours—Back greyish-green, with the centre of each scale in the first seven rows the darkest, 
thus forming horizontal hues, the lower of which do not extend to the caudal. Abdomen whitish, 
shot with gold. A bluish spot at the posterior portion of the upper half of the opercle. Pre- 
opercle of a brilliant golden tint. Dorsal greenish-yellow, with the posterior margin stained 
blackish. Pectoral, ventral, anal, and caudal yellowish, the last with a darkish extremity. 
Common, good eating, but rather bony. 
Habitat—Seas of India and China. 
Sub-Ord. PHYSOSTOMI APODES. 
Fam. MURiSNIDAl. 
Sub-Fam. ANGUILLOIDEI, Bleeder. 
Genus MUEGENA, Bleeker. 
Enchelyopus, Ag. 
Anguilla, Thunb. 
Brancliiostegals from ten to thirteen, thin and flexible. Body cylindrical. Snout, not prominent 
before the lower jaw. Dorsal, caudal, and anal fins continuous, well developed. Many rows of sub-equal 
small teeth, on the palatines, inframaxillaries, nasal, vomer, and pliaryngeals. Scales small, almost hidden 
in the skin. Branchial aperture situated on either side before the base of either pectoral fin. 
Mu plena MACULATA. 
Murjsna MACULATA, Ham. Buell, pp. 23, 364; Sleeker, Atl. Ich. iv. p. 9, t. 145, f. 2. 
Mur^ena Bengaliensis, Gray , Ill. I. Z. i. t. f. 5. 
Anguilla Elphinstonii, Sykes, Trans. Zool. Soc. ii. p. 377, t. 67, f. 3. 
Anguilla vaeiegata, McClelland, Cal. J. N. H. v. p. 179, t. 9, f. 7. 
Anguilla maemoeata, Kaup. Catal. Brit. Mus. p. 43, f. 32. 
Anguilla Dussumieei, Kaup . Catal. Brit Mus. p. 51, f. 43. 
Anguilla Malabaeica, Kaup. Catal. Brit. Mus. p. 52, f. 47. 
B. xi. D. 240-260. C. 12. A. 220-230. P. 22-24. 
