S o k i id e r d e s c r ib e s a M „ y ,e n a w h ic h h e o b s e rv e d am o n ^
tire S o c ie ty I s la n d s , w h e re i t is n am e d “ E a i d h a ” o r
iLawr h a , w h ich m a y p ro v e to b e th is fish. I am h ow ev
e r, p r e v e n t e d from a d o p tin g h is sp e c ific n am e b y th e
sp o ts in o u r fish h a v in g n o tr a n s v e r s e e lo n g a tio n n o r a n y
b a r -h k e a r r a n g em e n t. H i s d e s c r ip tio n is
‘ M u r æ n a a t o m a r ia . P . p e c i. nuUæ. T o ta g la u c a
i n a i a t a a tom is fu s c is fa s cU s q u e u um e ro s is s im is in t e rm p -
i i s s e n m a c u lis tr a n s v e r s a lib u s d o r sa lib u s , In te r a lib u s e t
a b d om in a h b u s s e r ia t im d isp o s itis . Muculc e p in n i s e.v-
te u d a n tu r . N a r e s tu b u lo sæ . P u n c ta in c a p ite a liq u o t
alb a , p o ro sa : 2 in te r oculos, 2 s u p r a n a r e s , p a n c a u tr in q u e
p ro p e In te ra m a x i l læ su p e r io r is ; c i r c ite r 5 u t r in q u e se^
c n n (ta m a .v iU am in fe r io r em . D e n te s la n c e o la ti ( i n m a x -
i l h s j p a r u m r e jle x i, com p r e s s i a c u tis s im i, f i . v i ; tr e s vel
q u a tu o r in e .v te r io r i p a r t e p a la t i , r e J le x ibU e s ; n u l l i in
J a u c e , s e d a d in ie r io r e s fa u c e s q u a s i la b ra d u a a n tr o r s um
a t t e n u a ta , s u p r a e t in fe r ite am b o d e n tib u s o b s ita I r i s
e x a rg e n te o p lum b e a . P u p i l la n ig r a a u n u lo a u r e o ."—
S o la n d e r, M S S ., p . 28.
T h e s am e n a tu r a lis t m e n tio n s a n o th e r M u ræ n a , ta k e n
in th e s am e n e ig h b o u rh o o d , n am e d “ E p i i i ,” w h ic h h e
th in k s m a y b e a v a rie ty o f a tom a r ia .
“ IIUKÆNA EEYTHROPTEIii, OCuli p a r v i p llim l e o - fm c i .
l u p d l a m g r a . A n n u la s la lu s in te n s e m in ia tu s . ' I r i s
g r iseo -coe ru le sc en s. M a c u la n ig r a c ir c a o rb ita s , p o s tic e
la tio r . T o tu s p is c ia f u s c u s im m a c u la tu s . P o r i la té ra le s
c a p itis p ro p e m a x i l la m p lu r e s ; ir e s u t r in q u e a lb i e t
p u n c ü 2 p o ro s i a lb i in t e r oculos. P in n æ so rd id e r vb e s -
c en te s. F o r te v a r . M . a tom a r iæ p . 28, m d læ a u tem a lo -
mæ. — S o la n d e r , MS S -, p . 102.
M u e ^ xa is in g l e e n a . R ic h a rd so n .
MurmnaUinglecM, Richardsou, Icluh. of Vov. of Soli.Lur, p. 108,
pi. xlvm. fig 1. Id«ni, Report on the Fishes of Chiiui to the Br. Assoc.
Icon .— Reeves, 237, Hardw. ined. 305, in Mus. Brit.
A b o u t te n u n is e r ia l, m a rg in a l n a s a l te e th , s u b u la te a n d
a c u te , w ith n o sm a ll o n e s in te rv e n in g . T h r e e ta ll o n e s on
th e m e s ia l lin e o f th e d isk , a n d o n e row o f ve ry sh o rt
a c u te v om e rin e te e th . E le v e n o r twe lve re flex p a la tin e
te e th , th e th re e h e a d in g th e se rie s sm a lle r, a n d within
th em two ta lle r, s le n d e r te e th , fo rm in g th e s e c o n d row.
l i r e m a n d ib le h a s te n o r e lev en la te r a l te e th , with four
la rg e r o n e s m o re w id e ly s e t a t th e fore e n d o f th e lim b.
I h e s p e c im e n a f te r m a c e r a tio n in sp irits h a s a d ilu te
b row n g ro u n d co lo u r, p a le r o n th e b e lly , a n d is m a rk e d
with b la c k ish s p o ts , v a ry in g in s iz e from th a t o f a p e a to a
sm a ll b e a n , m o s tly ro u n d , b u t in m a n y p la c e s , from a g g re g
a tio n o f s ev e ra l sp o ts , o f a n irre g u la r form. T h e h e a d is
c o v e re d w ith sp o ts o f th e s iz e o f a p e a , in w h ich i t differs
from b u l ^ t a , w h ic h h a s o n ly a few sm a ll d o ts on th e
Head. I h e iu rrow s o n th e th ro a t a re n o t b la c k , ancl th e
-spots a re s c a tte r e d o v e r th e b e lly , in w h ic h r e s p e c t a lso it
diffe rs from b u lla ta . N o w h ite e d g e s to th e fins.
e x te n d in g a lo n g th e n a p e . A n u s ve ry little b e fo re th e
m id d le oi th e fish.
L e n g th o f th e sp e c im e n in sp ir its 16 4 in c h e s . T o an u s
8 in c h e s . T o g ill-o p e n in g 2 in c h e s . L e n g th o f a d r ie d
sk in 47 in c h e s .
H a b . S e a o f C h in a , n e a r C a n to n .
M u r æ n a b u l l a t a . R ic h a rd so n .
M a rg in a l n a s a l te e th a b o u t e ig h t ta ll, su b u la te o n e s ,
w ith s ev e ra l sm a ll o n e s b e tw e en e a c h p a ir ; th re e te e th as
u su a l on th e m e s ia l lin e , a n d a se rie s o f a c u te vom e rin e
fe e th , m o s tly c o n c e a le d b y th e sw e llin g o f th e soft p a rts .
P a la tin e te e th s ix te e n c om p re s s e d -su b u la te , ve ry a c u te ,
re fle x , th e fo u r a n te r io r o n e s sm a lle r, a n d ivithin th em , in
a s e c o n d s e rie s , th re e ta ll, s e ta c e o u s te e th . S ix te e n la te ra
te e th o n e a ch lim b o f th e m an d ib le , r e s em b lin g th e p a la
tin e o n e s , a n d th r e e ta ll, s u b u la te o n e s n e x t th e sym p
h y s is , in th e sam e row . .
E y e m o d e ra te ly la rg e . P o s te r io r n o s tr ils n o t tu b u la r
D o r s a l c om m e n c in g b e fo re th e g ill-o p e n in g . A n u s a b o u t
o n e -fo u rte e n th o f th e w h o le le n g th b e fo re th e m id d le o f
th e fish.
G e n e ra l c o lo u r o f th e fish a f te r m a c e r a tio n in sp irits
la v e n d e r pin-ple, v a r ie d b y a b o u t fo u r rows o f ro u n d , b la ck
s p o ts , a s b ig a s swan sh o t, o n e o f th e rows b e in g on th e
d o rs a l : th e low e s t row is o f sm a lle r sp o ts th a n th e o th e rs ,
a n d n o n e o f th em a re p e r f e c tly r e g u la r in th e ir clistribu-
Uon. S om e o f th e sp o ts a re c o n ju g a te , a n d a t th e tip o f
th e ta il th e y form b a rs . T h e in s id e o f th e m o u th is p u r-
p le . T h e furrows o f th e th ro a t a n d c h e e k s a re b la c k
h -c ^ e s of th e d o rs a l a n d a n a l p a le . B e lly n o t sp o tte d
1 Ins fish IS sp o tte d m u c h lik e M . is in g le e n a , a n d i t m ay
b e m e re ly th e y o u n g o f t h a t sp e c ie s , o r a lo c a l v a rie ty , th e
d e n titio n b e in g s im ila r, b u t a s th e r e is a diffe ren c e in th e
g e n e ra l tin t, a n d th e sp o ts a re few e r, more s im p le a n d re h
i l a r , th e g a p e o f th e mouthy la rg e r , a n d th e a n u s a little
f a r th e r fo rw a rd , I h a v e g iv en i t a sp e c ific n am e . L e n g th
H . T J n SM-H ab. S e a o f B o rn e o (S ir E dw a rd BOePlc“h e«r)». I ' i e in ch e s .
E y e ARAWSW i u s re n u r n o s in i n o t tu b u la r. G a p e
o f th e m o u th m o d e ra te . D o r s a l com m e n c in g b e fo re th e
g ill-o p e nm g , a n d th e fo ld o f th e sk in w h ic h en c lo s e s it
M u r ®;na s t e l l i f e r . R ic h a rd so n .
N a s a l te e th te n in o n e se rie s, s u b u la te , v e ry a cu te
s lig h tly c om p re s s ed a t th e tip s , a n d p r e tty ta ll T h r e e
s le n d e r m e sia l te e lh , th e s e c o n d a n d th ird ve ry ta ll. O n e
row o f v e ry sh o rt, m o d e ra te ly a c u te v om e rin e te e th . P a la tin
e te e th b is e n a l, tw e lv e in th e o u te r row, g ra d u a lly a u g m
e n tin g in s iz e tow a rd s th e c o rn e r o f th e m o u th , a c u te
M fo“ *- o r fire sle n d e r, ta ll te e th .
M a n d ib le fu rn ish e d o n e a c h lim b w ith a se rie s o f a b o u t
tiv^enty o r tw e n ty -o n e la n c e o la te a n d ve ry a c u te te e th , all
i a te ta i b u t a s c lo s e ly s e t as th e
A n u s a b o u t o n e -tw e n ty -fo u rth p a r t o f th e le n g th an te -
t e n o r to th e m id d le o f th e fish. F in s c o n sp ic u o u s . D o r s
a l com m e n c in g b e fo re th e g ill-o p e n in g . T a il c om p re s s ed ,
ta p e rin g , r a th e r a c u te .
C o lo u r o f th e s p e c im e n in s p ir its liv e r-b row n , w ith four
row s o f r a th e r w id e ly -p la c e d , p a le b lu ish o r w h itish , ro u n d
dots, a little ra d ia te d o n th e ir m a rg in s . T h e u p p e r row is
a t th e b a s e o f th e d o rs a l, a n d is n o t very c o n sp ic u o u s u n le
ss w h en th e fin is r a is e d , th e u n d e r o u e o n th e b e lly
is re g u la r, a n d th e sp o ts o n th e s id e s a re v e ry u niform in
th e ir s iz e s a n d d is ta n c e s . T h e do rsa l a n d a n a l a re very
n a rrow ly frin g e d with w h ite o r p a le b lu e . L e n g th 7'1
in ch e s . T o a n u s 3 '8 in c h e s .
- T liis sp e c ie s difl'evs from b u lla ta in th e s p o ts b e in g
sm a lle r, m o re re g u la r a n d p a le on a d a rk g ro u n d . T h e ir
s e ria l a rra n g em e n t a n d le s s e r n um b e r d is tin g u ish i t from
p u n c ta ta . M . t ig r in a o f R iip p e ll h a s o c e lla te d d a rk sp o ts
on a p a le g ro u n d .
H ad. M a d a g a s c a r.
M u r .e n a c a n c e l l a t a . R ic h a rd s o n .
R a p i i :— Br. 1 0 ; D . 3 4 5 ; A. 2 3 6 = 581. A u s tr a lia n S p e c .
P la te X L V I ., figs. 1— 5.
S c h n e id e r’s d e s c r ip tio n o f G ym n o th o r a x fa v a g in e u s
m ig h t b e a p p lie d to th is M u roe n a , b u t h is fig u re a c c o rd s
so ill with i t in form, th a t I h av e n o t v e n tu re d to c o n s id e r
them to b e th e sam e sp e c ie s . M cC le lla n d ’s T h e ro d o n tis r e tic
u la ta ag re e s , h ow ev e r, w ith fa v a g in e u s , b o th in g en e ra l
sh ap e a n d in th e . c h a r a c te r o f th e m e sh e s , b u t i t p o s s e s s e s
two row s o f v om e rin e t e e th , v/hexed.s f a v a g in e u s is ra n g e d
by C uvie r w ith th e M u ræ noe , h a v in g o n ly o ne row ,—b u t for
th is c irc um s ta n c e 1 s h o u ld h a v e b e e n in c lin e d , in th e a b senc
e o f a iilh e n tic sp e c im e n s , to h a v e co n s id e re d th em a.s
o f th e sam e sp e c ie s.
• T h e sp e c im e n o f c a n c e lla ta w h ich we h a v e fig u re d was
p ro c u re d on th e c o a s t o f w e ste rn A u s tr a lia , b y Su rg eo n
By n o e , o f th e R o y a l Nav y , T h e Briti.sli M u seum p o s s e s se
s a n o th e r from C a p e U p s ta r t, a n d a lso o ne from S um a tra
.N
a s a l m a rg in a l te e th te n , p r e tty ta ll, c om p re s s e d , su b u la
te a n d a c u te , w ith tw o m in u te o n e s be tw e en e a ch p a ir.
T h re e ta ll su b u la te a n d n o t c om p re s s e d te e th s ta n d on th e
mesial lin e o v e r to p p in g th e m a rg in a l one s. A ll th e la rg e r
n a sa l te e tli a re a tta c h e d to th e orific e s o f d e e p h o le s in th e
bo n e . S ix sh o rt-c o n ic a l a c u te le e lh form a s in g le sh o rt
se rie s o n th e vom e r. P a la tin e te e th a b o u t s ev en te en ,
close se t, a n d m u c h re fle x e d fo rm in g a n o u te r se rie s. T h e y
are n a rrow ly la n c e o la te a n d com p re s s ed , with e n tire , a c u te
edges. T w o la rg e r o n e s s ta n d c lo s e w ith in th e c om m e n c e m
en t o f th e s e rie s , m a k in g a v e ry s h o r t in te r io r row. T h e
m a n d ib le is a rm e d b y a b o u t tw en ty or tw e n ty -o n e la te ra l
te e th , s im ila r to th e p a la tin e o n e s , a n d a lso b y two o r tlire e
on e a c h lim b n e a r th e sym p h y s is , s lo u tc r a n d ta lle r th a n
th e o p p o s in g m a rg in a l n a s a l le e lh ; a u d b e tw e e n e a c li p a ir
llieve a re o ne o r two m in u te , a c u te te e lh , a little e x te r io r
to th e c e n tre s o f th e la rg e one s, as iu th e u p p e r jaw .
T h is M u ræ n a is more c om p re s s e d ih ro u g h o iit th a n
many o th e rs , a n d th e com p re s s io n in c re a s e s a s usu a l to w
a rd s th e ta il. T h e d o rs a l is n o t e n v e lo p e d in so th ic k a
fo ld o f sk in a s in m o s t, a n d is th e re fo re m o re c o n sp ic u o u s .
T h e p o s te r io r ra y s a re lo n g e r th a n th e h e ig h t o f th e p a r t
o f th e b o d y on w h ic li th e y s ta n d , b u t owing to th e ir o b liq
u e p o s itio n th e fin is n o t so b ro a d . T h e d o rs a l a t its
o rig in b e fo re th e g ill-o p e n in g , a b o v e th e fo u rth v e rteb ra ,
ris e s in a low cu rv e . T h e s n o u t is o b tu s e , b u t b e in g d e p
re s s e d be low th e sw e llin g n a p e s e em s s le n d e r. Po.ste-
r io r n o s trils n o t tu b u la r . E y e m o d e ra te ly la rg e . L ow e r
j a w s c a rc e ly p e r c e p tib ly lo n g e r th a n th e u p p e r o ne . T e n
lo n g , s le n d e r , o r th r e a d - lik e b r a n c h io s te g o u s r a y s c u rv e
ro n iid th e w a fe r-lik e o p e rcu lum .
B o d y , ta il a n d fin s r e tic u la te d b y w h ite m e sh e s , e n c lo s in
g b rown d isk s , w h ich a re m o s tly h e x a g o n a l, a n d n um b e r
an te rio rly five o r s ix in th e h e ig h t o f th e b o d y a n d fin,
b e c om in g g r a d u a lly few e r as th e fish ta p e r s o ff in th e ta il.
T ire S um a tr a n sp e c im en in th e B r itis h M u s eum , wh ich
w a s re c e iv ed from th e C o lleg e o f S u rg e o n s , h a s m o re r e g u la
r a n d c o n tin u o u s m e sh e s th a n a re sh ow n in o u r figure.
T h e lin e s a re w id e r a t th e a n g le s o f th e m e sh e s , a n d th e
b rown c o lo u r o f th e a re a s is p ro d u c e d b y m ic ro s c o p ic a l,
wavy b a rs on a p a le r g ro u n d . T h e b e lly is w h itish , with
a s lig h t c lo u d in g .
T h e sk u ll o f th is fish h a s a very s lig h t, a c u te m e sia l
c re s t, e x te n d in g from th e h in d e r p o in t o f th e n a s a l b o n e
to th e o c c ip ita l sp iu e , a n d n ow h e re r is in g abosre its g e n e r
a l lev e l. T h o m a rg in o f th e o rb it is c om p le te d b e h in d
b y ra th e r s to u t, tu b u la r, s u b o rb ita l b o n e s , b u t u n d e r th e
o rb i t a n d be fore i t th e s e b o n e s rem a in m em b ra n o u s . T h e
tiirb iu a le b o n e s , a s in th e o th e r M u ræ n oe , a re lo n g , n a rrow
a n d th in , f la n k in g th e n a s a l rid g e . T h e n a s a l d isk is p e r fo
ra te d b y n um e ro u s h o le s , on which th e te e th s ta n d , a n d
se em s a s i f i t h a d a d o u b le floor.
T h e r e a re fifty v e rte b ræ a n te r io r to th e b e g in n in g o f th e
an a l, a n d a b o u t se v e n ty -s e v e n p o s te r io r to it , o r a b o u t 127
in all. Tw e lv e n e x t th e c ran ium h av e , in a d d itio n to th e
tra n sv e rs e p a r a p o p h y s is , a th in sp in e d e s c e n d in g from th e
u n d e r me sia l lin e o f th e c e n trum . T h is sp in e o r c r e s t is
h ig h e s t a t th e th i r d o r fo u rth v e rte b ra , a n d d im in ish e s
g r a d u a lly to th e tw'elftli. P o s te r io r to th a t th e u n d e r a n g
le s o f th e p a r a p o p h y s is g ra d u a lly a p p ro a c h e a c h o th e r
b e n e a th , fo rm in g a d e e p hæm a l c a n a l, a n d a t th e te rm in a tio
n o f th e ab d om in a l c a v ity a c e n tra l, u n d e r -p ro c e s s is
fo rm ed a s it we re b y th e u n io n o f th e u n d e r a n g le s o f th e
p a r a p o p h y s e s , w h ile th e u p p e r a n g le s r e ta in th e ir h o riz o n ta
l d ire c tio n , a n d g ra d u a lly d im in ish in s iz e a s th e y a p p
ro a c h th e e n d o f th e ta il. A lo n g s e rie s o f rib s re a c h in g
from th e c r a n ium n e a rly to th e tip o f th e ta il, is a tta c h e d
to tire c e n tr a o f th e v e rte b ræ a b o v e th e p a r a p o p h y s is ,
th ro u g h th e m ed ium o f m em b ran e ; ancl from th e b e g in n
in g o f th e a n a l to th e e n d o f th e ta il a s im ila r s e rie s is
a tta c h e d to th e c e n tr a b e iw e en th e la te r a l a n d in fe rio r
p a r ts o f th e p a ra p o p h y s e s . T h e s e r ib s a re s to u te s t a b o u t
th e m id d le o f th e ta il, ancl h a v e e a ch a fo rk ed e n d n e x t
th e c e n trum , th e s h o r t lim b o f th e fork fo rm in g a k n o b or
he a d . T h e in te rn e u r a l p ro c e s s e s c o r r e s p o n d in n um b e r
w ith th e d o rs a l ray s , a n d th e ra y s o f b o th fins, th o u g h fissile
a l th e ir tip s , a re n o t jo in te d .
S tom a c h a lo n g , w id e , cæ c a l tu b e (m e a su rin g in th e
sp e c im e n h e re d e s c r ib e d 5 6 in c h e s from lire g u lle t to th e
p o in t o f lire s a c ), p la ite d lo n g itu d in a lly w ithin, in a b o u t ten