b y b a r s . T h e a r e a s lliv o u g h o u l a re tra v e r s e d b y fine, d a rk
lin e s , lik e ve in s in m a rb le , a n d o n th o h e a d a n d th r o a t th e
in e sh -lik e a rr a n g em e n t giv e s p la c e to a fine m o ttlin g o f th e
d a rk broyvn, with a p a le r c o lo u r in sm a lle r q u a n tity . N o
tra c e s o f th is m o ttlin g a re p e rc e p tib le in a n y o f th e e x am p
le s o f M . n u b ila . I n th e sp e c im e n tho 'd o r s a l fin en d s
a b ru p tly a b o u t a n iu c h from th e p o in t o f th e ta il, th e a n a l
b e in g p e rfe c t. T h e d e le c t a p p e a r s to h a v e a ris e n from
m u tila tio n b e fo re d e a th .
L e n g th o f th e fish (d rie d ) .................... 4 1 ‘5 0 in c h .
F rom lip o f s n o u t to a n u s .................... 1 0 '7 5
F rom ' d itto to g ill-o p e n in g .... 6 -t)l
II.AB. C o a s ts o f th e M au ritiu s .
M u ræ n .a r e t ic u l a t a , b l , 416.
Gymnothorax reticulatus, Bl. Sclin. p. 528. Bl. 416.
T e e th _ c om p r e s s e d - su b u la te , d isp o s e d in a s in g le se rie s
ou b o th j aw s . T h e n a s a l te e th , a b o u t fo u rte e n in n um b e r,
a re a l ittle m o re rem o te , a n d th e p a la tin e o n e s a re m o re
c om p re s s e d , c lo s e r, m o re re fle x , a n d d im in ish in s iz e as
th e y a p p ro a c h th e c o rn e r o f th e m o u th , b u t th e r e is no
s u d d e n c h a n g e in llie s e rie s , e ith e r o f form o r h e ig h t. T h e
p a la tin e te e lh m im b e r a b o u t te n , a n d th e se rie s on th e
m a n d ib le c o r r e sp o n d s g e n e r a lly w ith th a t o f th e u p p e r
jaw . T h e u su a l th r e e m e s ia l te e th e x is t o n th e n a s a l disk,
a n d th e r e a re a b o u t se v e n sm a ll, a c u te v om e rin e te e th in
o n e row . W h e n th e te e th a re e x a in iu e d with a le n s th e
m a x illa ry o n e s a n d th o s e on th e a n te r io r p a r t o f th e low e r
jaw a re se e n to b e m im ite ly c r e n a te d tow a rd s th e b a s e
p o s te r io r ly , a n d b e n e a th th e c r e n a tu r e s is a com p re s s ed ,
ro u n d e d lo b e , w h ic h is in s e r te d in to th e gum.
E y e m o d e ra te -s iz e d . P o s te r io r n o s tr ils n o t tu b u la r.
S n o u t o b tu s e . P ro file fu ll, s lig h tly a r c h e d . G a p e m o d e ra
te . D o rs a l c om m e n c in g b e fo re th e g ill-o p e n in g . T h ro a t
p la ite d , d is te n s ib le . A n u s o n e -lw e lfth p a r t o f th e whole
le n g th b e fo re th e m id d le o f th e fish.
G ro u n d c o lo u r p a le h o u e y -y e llow , w ith a b o u t tw e n ty
d a rk , h a ir -b row n b a n d s , e n c ir c lin g th e b o d y a n d do rsa l
fin. T lic in te rv a ls a re a b o u t e q u a l to th e b a n d s in
b re a d th , a n d a re m a rk e d w ith ro u n d , brow-n d o ts , in te r-
M u r æ n a o c e l l a t a . A g a s s iz (G ym n o th o ra x ).
m ix e d w ith m a n y m in u te brown sp e c k s . T h e u p p e r p a r ts
o f th e b a n d s a re form ed o f a c lo se a s s em b la g e o f d o ts a n d
sp o ts , b u t th e b e lly p a r ts a re h om o g en eo u s . T h e h e a d
a n d low e r j a w a re sp o tte d with b row n , th e g ro u n d c o lo
u r o f th e low e r ja w a n d th ro a t a p p ro a c h e s to w h ile , a n d
th re e o f th e b a n d s w h ic h b e lo n g to th e n a p e a n d th ro a t
a re le s s c om p le te , b e in g d e c om p o s e d more o r le s s in to i r r
e g u la r sp o ts . T h e in te rv a ls b e iw e e n th e b a n d s on th e
b e lly a re n e a r ly a u ro r a reel, w h ile th e in te rv a ls o n th e d o r s
a l a n d a n a l a re white o n th e e d g e . T h e an a l is b a n d e d
lik e th e d o rs a l, b u t n o t sp o tte d a s tlia t fin is.
L e n g th 12 o in c h e s . D is ta n c e b e tw e e n th e lip o f th e
s n o u t a n d th e a n u s .5 o in c h e s . D is ta n c e b e tw e en d itto
a n d th e g ill-o p e n in g T o.
H ab. In d ia n O c e an (B loch). S e a o f B o rn e o (Sir E
B e lch e r).
Muncna tricolor. Banks ct Solaml. MSS. Parkins. Icon, in Bibl.
Banks, 2. Broussonnel MSS. Gtjmnolhora.r ocellatus, Ai;. Pise Bras
Spixii, p. 91, t. L. b. figs. 6—9.
P la te X L V IL , figs. 6— 10.
T h e in d iv id u a l fig u red in th e p la te s w a s o b ta in e d som e wh
e re in tlie A tla n tic , b u t th e e x a c t lo c a lity was n o t n o te d .
A B r a z ilia n s p e c im e n e x is ts in th e B r itis h M u s eum , a n d
th e r e is a n o th e r in th e M u seum a t H a s la r .
T h e t e e lh , w h ic li s ta n d iu a s in g le se rie s on all th e
b o n e s , a re imicli c om p re s s e d , w ith sh a rp ed g e s , ta p e rin g ,
a n d ve ry a c u te , m o s t o f th em fin e ly s e rra te d b e h in d and
b e fo re , th e s e rra tu re s b e in g m o s t re a d ily se e n n e a r th e
b a s e b e h in d . T h e h ig h e s t te e th s ta n d o n th e p a la tin e s
a tid fore p a r t o f th e m a n d ib le , a n d th e y a re th e r e more
w id e ly se t. O n th e p a la tin e s th e ir o u tlin e is n a rrow ly
la n c e o la te , a s a re a lso th e la te r a l o n e s o n th e m a n d ib le ,
T h e th r e e me sia l te e th e x is t, a s u su a l, on th e n a s a l disk,
a n d lh e y a re s e r r a te d lik e th e o th e r s , b u t th e y a re s c a rc e ly
so h ig h a s th e fro n t m a rg in a l te e th , a n d h a v in g b e e n p a r tly
b ro k e n away in th e sp e c im e n w h ich we h a v e fig u re d , th e y
liav e b e e n om itte d b y th e a r tis t in p la n , figure 3. T h e
v om e rin e te e th , sm a ll a n d a c u te , a re h id d e n b y th e soft
p a rts .
T liis m u rre y h a s a b liu it sn o u t, a la rg e ey e , a n d a
m o re th a n u su a lly ta p e r in g ta il, w ith a n a rrow tip. T h e
d o rs a l c om m en c e s a little b e fo re th e g ill-o p e n in g , a n d
ris e s ve ry g ra d u a lly , b u t is n o t h ig h a n yw lie re . T h e p o sitio
n o f th e a n u s v a rie s in d iffe re n t in d iv id u a ls . T h e
sp e c im e n w h ich is fig u red lia s th e v e n t o n e -fo u rte en th
p a r t o f th e w h o le le n g th b e fo re th e m id d le , two o th e rs
h a v e it re sp e c tiv e ly a t th e tw e lfth a n d th e n in e te e n th p a rt.
T h e p o s te rio r n a s a l o p e n in g s a re n o t tu b u la r. T h e la te r a l
lin e form ed b y a se rie s o f p o r e s in th e m id d le o f th e
h e ig h t is co n sp ic u o u s . T h e g ro u n d c o lo u r a fte r lo n g m a c
e ra tio n in s p ir its is h a ir -b row n , w liich , on c lo se e x am in
a tio n , is fo u n d to b e p ro d u c e d b y a m in u te r e tic u la tio n
o f d a rk e r a n d p a le r lin e s . I t is th ic k ly s tu d d e d b y ro u n d is
h a n d ova l sp o ts o f v a rio u s s iz e s , o n th e b a c k a n d s id e s ,
n o n e o f th e sp o ts e x c e e d in g a p e a in m ag n itu d e . A b o u t
th ir ty b la c k sp o ts on th e d o rs a l a n d fifte en on th e a n a l,
a lte rn a te w ith white m a rk s. T ow a rd s th e e n d o f th e ta il
th e s p o ts a re la rg e r, a n d form b a rs .
Atl. spec.
17 5
2ik1 (lu. Briiz. spec,
12'5 l<)5
5-5 9 2 5
L 4 2 2 '5 8
T o ta l le n g th ....
F rom sn o u t to a n u s
„ g ill-o p e n in g
H a b , W e s te rn s id e o f N o r th A tla n tic O c e an . C o a s t o f
B r a z il.
A m u rre y ta k e n in th e G u l f o f M e x ic o by A s s is ta n t-S u r-
g eo n R a y n c r , o f th e R o y a l N a v y , a n d p r e s e n te d to th e
M u s e um a t H a s la r , a p p e a r s to b e a s lig h t v a rie ty o f th e
above . I t h a s th e sam e form a n d d e n titio n , b u t th e sp o ts
on th e b o d y a re m u ch m o re n um e ro u s , a n d th e fins, in s
te a d o f b e in g d is tin c tly b a n d e d , h a v e a c o n tin u o u s b la ck
edge , iv ith a w h ile s tr ip e b e n e a th it. T h e w h ile s trip e
a p p ro a c h e s th e e d g e o f th e fin a t in te rv a ls , so a s to give it
som ew h a t o f a b a n d e d a p p e a r a n c e w h en fo ld ed . L e n g th
15 in c h e s . L e n g th from sn o u t to v e n t 7 in c h e s . L e n g th
from d itto to g ill-o p e n in g T 9 in ch .
H ab. G u l f o f M e x ic o .
M u r æ n a p u n c t a t a . BL S ch n .
Gymnothorax punctatus, Bl. Schn. p. 526. Calamaia pawn, Russell,
A d ried , ove rstiiffcd , a n d n o t q u ite p e r f e c t e x am p le o f a
M u ram a e x is ts in th e B ritish M u s e um , w h ic h p o s s e s s e s
th e c h a r a c te r s a s c r ib e d b y S c h n e id e r to p u n c ta ta .* I t
was p u rc h a s e d from a d e a le r , a n d its p la c e o f c a p tu r e c a n n
o t be a s c e rta in e d . R u s s e ll’s fig u re is a p r e tty goo d r e p
r e s e n ta tio n o f th e fish.
T e e th in a s in g le se rie s on th o s ev e ra l b o n e s . O n th e
b o rd e r o f th e n a s a l b o n e th e re a re fo u rte e n , w h ich are
com p re ssed , w ith a c u te e d g e s a n d p o in ts . T h ro e ta ll,
su b u la te , s le n d e r o n e s on th e me sia l lin e o f th e d isk , a n d
five sh o rt, s le n d e r , a n d very a c u te o n e s o n th e lin e o f th e
vomer, th e se rie s com m e n c in g a l som e d is ta n c e from th e
n a sa l disk. T e n o r e leven on e a ch p a la tin e b o n e sh o r te r ,
a n d s c a rc e ly w id e r th a n th e n a s a l o n e s , re flex , m ore
c lose ly se t, a n d d im in ish in g in s iz e tow a rd s th e c o rn e r o f
th e inoutli. E le v e n o r twe lve la te r a l te e lh o n th e m an d ib le
close ly s e t, e q u a l in s iz e , c om p re s s e d , a c u te a n d re flex ,
with two m u c h s to u te r a n d a li t t le ta lle r wfidely s e t in th e
same se rie s o n e a c h s id e o f th e sym p h y s is .
E y e r a th e r la rg e , o v e r th e m id d le o f th e g a p e o f th e
m outh, w h ic h is o f m o d e ra te siz e . N o s e s tr a ig h t, w ith
th e h in d e r p a r t o f th e h e a d a p p a r e n tly ris in g su d d en ly .
P o s te rio r n o s tr ils n o t tu b u la r. D o rs a l c om m e n c in g a little
b efore th e g ill-o p e n in g . A n u s in th e d rie d sp e c im e n very
little b e ib re th e m id d le o f th e fish.
In th e s p o ttin g th is M u r te n a m o s t re s em b le s p a v o n in a ,
b u t th e sp o ts a re sm a lle r, m ore n um e ro u s a n d le s s r e g u la r,
several o f th em in v a rio u s p a r ts b e in g o b lo n g . T h e y h av e
th e ir b o rd e rs s im ila rly d a rk e n e d , a re a b o u t tlie s iz e o f p a r trid
g e sh o t, a n d a re p r e tty r e g u la rly s c a tte r e d ov e r th e
h e ad , b o d y , b e lly a n d f in s ; tow a rd s th e lo p o f th e ta il
th e y a re sm a lle r a n d le s s c row d ed . T lie ra y s o f th e d o r sal
are s h o r t a t th e c o n in ie n c em e n t, a n d in c re a s e g rad u a lly
to o p p o s ite th e v e n t, w h e re th e y a re in th e sp e c im e n h e re
d e s c rib e d a b o u t a n in c h lo n g , a n d th e y lo s e little o f th e ir
len g th till w ith in th re e in c h e s o f th e lip o f th e ta il.
L en g ih 3 4 ‘25 in c h e s . D is ta n c e from lip o f sn o u t to
anus 16-75 in c h e s . D is ta n c e froni d itto to g ill-o p e n in g
4 '2 in ch e s.
H a b . In d ia n O c e an.
* Schneider's account of the species is “ Gymn. punctatus, ( Dmtium
paktinorwn louyd serie) corpora compresso, colore bmnneo, maciilis parvis
auranliacis, ovalibus, limbo brunneo, pinnà dorsi ante spiraciila exortà.
iribus tubulnsis, maxilla
M u r æ n a s im il i s .
e anteccdenlibus, naribus tubulns'
Longus 2 \ pcd. Variat punctis ß a t '
'a superiore lon-
■ b. punctis et maculis
Spec, altera, &c. Forster, J . R. Descr. An. p. 183.
Mweenophis. Faun. J ap .”
N a s a l te e th e ig h t o r te n , n io d e ra le ly ta ll a n d very a cu te ,
with th r e e ta lle r a n d m ore s le n d e r te e th o n th e m e s ia l line
o f th e d i s k ; s u c c e e d e d b y e ig h t o r n in e s lio r t, a c u te v o m
e rin e te e tii, s ta n d in g in a s in g le se rie s. T h e p a la tin e
te e th , a lso u n is e ria l, a re re fle x , a n d more c lo se ly s e t th a n
th e n a s a l o n e s , b u t n o t b ro a d en o u g h to b e te rm ed la n c e o
la te : a ll a re a c u te ly tw o - e d g e d tow a rd s th e tip s . T h e
m a n d ib le is a rm ed b y te n la te r a l te e th , s im ila r to th e n a s a l
o n e s , b u t ta lle r, a lso b y tw o s to u tly su b u la te o n e s o n e a ch
s id e n e a r th e sym p h y s is , s ta n d in g in th e sam e row.
'J'h e g a p e o f th e in o u tli is r a th e r la rg e , th e ey e m o d e r
a te ly so, th e p o s te r io r n o s tril is n o t tu b u la r , a n d th e d o r sa
l c om m en c e s b e fo re th e g ill-o p e n in g (a b o u t h a l f a n in ch
in th e sp e c im e n d e s c rib e d ). T h e a n u s is s iliia lc d a b o u t
o n e - s ix te e n th o f th e w h o le le n g ih b e fo re th e m id d le o f th e
fish.
C o lo u r p a le w o o d -b row n , fin e ly m o ttle d with ir re g u la r,
s ta r - lik e s p e c k s , o f d a rk h a ir-b row n . T h e sp e c k s a re
s c a tte r e d g e n e ra lly o v e r th e g ro u n d tin t, a n d a re a lso
d e n s e ly a g g re g a te d in p a tc h e s , p ro d u c in g a b o u t tw e n ty or
m o re la rg e sp o ts , w h ic h ru n a lo n g th e s id e s , a n d e x te
n d to th e d o rs a l fin. A n a rrow lin e a lo n g th e m id d le
o f th e th ro a t c o n n e c ls a se rie s o f th e sm a ll sp e c k s ,
a n d th e folds o f th e g ill-m em b ra n e a rc tr a c e d o n e a ch
s id e b y s im ila r lin e s . T h e a n a l fin is m a rk e d o u t b y a
b la c k lin e su rm o u n te d w ith a w h ite e d g in g . T h e d o rs a l
is n o t so e d g e d . L in in g o f th e m o u th b la c k ish a n d m o ttled
. L e n g ih 24 in c h e s . T o a n u s 1 0 '5 in c h e s . T o g ill-
o p e n in g 2 ‘7. .
H a b . P o ly n e s ia . R e d S e a . S e a o f J a p a n .
T h is M u r te n a h a s a p r e tty c lo se r e s em b la n c e to M - v a -
r ie t/a ta , b u t th e sp o ts d o n o t b r a n c h o ff in a ra d ia te d
w ay, a n d th e d e n titio n is w ide ly d is s im ila r. I t ag re e s in
its 'la rg e g ap e , shav]) te e lh , five p a r a lle l d a rk lin e s on th e
g ill-m em b ra n e s , a n d in co lo u rs with th e s p e c im e n o b ta in e
d a t O ta h c ite b y F o r s te r , a n d n o tic e d a f te r liis a c c o u n t
o f E c h id n a v a r ie g a ta . I t is p ro b a b le th a t th e n a tiv e
n am e o f “ B o o h e e ” is re s tr ic te d to th is sp e c ie s , a s th e
n am e o f “ P ip i r o ” o n ly , is w ritte n o n G eo rg e F o r s te r ’s
d raw in g o f M . v a r ie g a ta . R iip p e ll’s p la te ol M . o phis
h a s a s till c lo s e r re s em b la n c e in c o lo u r a n d m a rk in g s to
s im ilis th a n v a r ie g a ta h a s , b u t th e sh o rtn e s s o f th e g a p e
d is tin g u ish e s o p h is from th e p r e s e n t sp e c ie s . T h e s p e c imen
in th e B r itis h M u s eum , from wh ich th e a b o v e d e s
c r ip tio n was ta k e n , is from J a p a n , a n d is m a rk e d “M iir tc -
n o p h is , F a u n . J a p .” N o t k n ow in g w h a t a p p e lla tio n th e
a u th o r s o f th e F a u n a J a p ó n ic a m e an to give, it, I h av e
te rm e d i t s im ilis , to d en o te its g e n e ra l c lo s e r e s em b la n c e
to v a r ie g a ta a n d o phis. I w o u ld g la d ly h a v e a d o p te d
F o r s te r ’s n am e e c h id n a a s a sp e c ific a p p e lla tio n for th is
sp e c ie s , b u t it h a s b e e n a p p lie d b y S c h n e id e r to v a r ie g a ta ,
a n d w o u ld le a d to co n fu s io n i f u s e d to d e s ig n a te a n o th e r
sp e c ie s . L a c e p e d e ’s M u ræ n o p h is e c h id n a , w h ic h , h e
s ay s, h a s a ve ry la rg e g a p e , b ris tlin g with m an y te e th ,
c a n n o t b e v u r ie q a ta . H e re fe rs to E l l i s , in Co o k ’s th i r d
p 2