NSCES APODES.
F I S H E S W H I C H W A N T V E N T R A L F I NS .
iVlURÆNA.
G E N E R I C
Caput Uv e. X a r e s tubulosa. Membrana
hranchiostega ra d iis x . Ocidi cute communi
te d i. Corpus teretiuscidum, lubri-
cum. Pinna cauda coadunata dorsali
anique. Spiracida pone caput vel p innas
fectorales.
C H A R A C T E R .
T h e h e ad sm o o th ; th e n o s trils tu b id a r . T h e
b r a n c h ia l m em b ran e ha s x. r ay s . T h e
eyes co v e red w ith th e comm o n sk in . T h e
b o d y ro u n d is h , s lip p e ry . T h e do rsal,
c a u d a l, a n d an a l fins u n ite d S p ira c les
b e h in d th e h e a d , o r p e c to ra l fins.
No. X X X I.
M u r v e n a unicolor, maxilla injeriore longiore.
T lie M u r a n a o f o n e c o lo u r; w ith th e low e r maxillae lo n g e r th a n th e tip p e r.
C a l le d b y th e N a t i v e s C h ow l o o P am o o o r M a l g l lm a r u .
Murtena An g u illa L in n . S . X . p . ■136.
T h is fish agreeing in aii material points vvWi the Eel in England, differs somewhat in colour. T h e head,
back, and dorsal fin are nearly black; the throat and belly o f a reddish or yellowish brown; the anal fin is o f
a lighter reddish brown than that o f the belly .
T h e subject was from the Ankapilly Lake, and measured in length, twenty-one inches; but they are found
o f a much larger size.
No. X X X II.
M u r . e n a f in n i s pectoralibus carens; corpore jmrpureo obscuro, maculis p a rv is a lb iiis .
T h e M u r a s n a w ith o u t p e c to ra l f in s ; o f a n o b sc u re p u r p le co lo u r, sp o tted w ith small
w h itis h spots.
Ca lled b y th e N a tiv e s C a l a . \ i a i a P a um .
T h e hody roundish, thick, long, tapering, and somewhat compressed; without scales, flabby and oily.
T h e bead not broader than the neck, the front convex; the rostrum long, projecting like a bird's beak, triangular.
T h e mouth very wide, straight; the upper jaw a little longer than the low er; both set with a regular
row of sharp, reflex teeth; a solitary tooth in the palate. N o tongue visible. T h e eyes at tlie root o f tile
roslrum, small, oval, flattish. One nostril near the orbit, the other close to the two tubuli at the extremity of
the rostrum.
T h e branchial membrane hidden, consists o f six setaceous rays ; the aperture very small.
T h e Irimk. T h e back rounded, straight; the breast and abdomen bellied; ttie sides and tail sub-compresscd.
No lateral line visible. T h e anus near the middle.
Fins. The re are no pectoral nor ventral fins; the dorsal rises near tlie hind head, is continued along tile
ridge o f the back, and unites with the liliiiit pointed caudal, with whicli the anal being also united, the tliree
form one undivided, adipose, or fleshy, very narrow fin.
T h e colour, is a darkish purple variegated with small white spo ts ; amongst whicli some are interspersed in
pairs, joined by narrow stripes. T h e spots on the face are smaller than the others, and liie throat and opercula
are marked witli long oblique lines o f darker purple.
T h e length, two feet one inch and a half.
This fish, in the shape particularly o f its head, approaches nearer to the figure o f the Carolina Mureena
Maculata given by Catesby, as also to the figure o f the Mureena Helena given by Wiliougliby, than to the
figure o f the latter given by Bloch. In regard to mere colour and spots, Bloch has ju s tly remarked, that in the
Muraina Helena they admit o f much v arie ty; and he gives instances from Catesby, Pltimier, and Cette.
Another fish, seemingly a variety o f the same species, was brought under the same name. It diflered only
in the following circumstances : the eyes were rather orbicular than oval; there were two teeth in the palate,
one behind the other, and the colour was a yellowish white marked with g ra y spots and dots. T h e re was no
drawing made o f it. ^ ^
T lie l e n g t h , ................................................. - - 23
Both this and the former fish, were, by the fislicrmeii a.sserted to be o f a poisonous nature, and on tliat
account never eaten. Neither, indeed, had an inviting appearance, the latter especially liad a remarkably rank
smell, though fresh caught.
Tw o other sea Murajme caught in the large seine, were brought to me under the name Malagu Paum; of
which, not having an opportunity o f getting drawings made, I can only subjoin the descriptions.
No. XXXIII.
Murxì:na cirris duohiis a d maxillam superiorem; punctidis iribus a d roslrum u trin q u e; cauda
aptera.
T h e M u r ^e n a , w ith tw o c ir r i a t th e u p p e r jaw , one o n each s id e ; th re e small p u n c tu r e s
on e ach sid e o f th e ro strum ; n o c au d al fin.
Called b y tiie Na tiv e s M a l a g u P a u m .
B . I ) . 296. P. 13. V. 0. A . 200. C. 0.
T he body eel-form, without scales, slippery.
T h e bead large, oblong, conical, sharp. T h e mouth moderate size; lips loose; the jaws sub-triangular, the
under jaw shortest; the teeth granular, in several rows; and the palate rough with similar teeth. T h e tongue
ovate, smooth, immoveable. T h e eyes middle, small, covered with the skin of the head. Nostrils a t the point