Part 43

Length 3 inc. 3 lines.

COLOUR—(In spirits.) Sides very regularly banded with fourteen or fifteen transverse reddish brown fasciæ: the fasciæ extend on to the dorsal fin, and are much broader than the intervening spaces. All the under part of the head, belly as far as the vent, an irregular patch on the cheeks, and the spaces between the bands on the sides, yellowish.

Habitat, Tierra del Fuego.

This appears to be a new species. The individual described above is quite small, and stated in Mr. Darwin’s notes to be the young of another and larger specimen which he also captured, but of which he does not mention the exact size, and which unfortunately does not appear in his collection. He has, however, mentioned the colours, which appear similar to those given above, and are as follows:—“Sides with transverse bars of chocolate and brownish red, separated by narrow grey spaces.” Whether the form and proportions of the adult agree exactly with those of the young as above detailed must be left for future observers to determine. The colours, however, appear well to characterize the species, aided by the minute punctures with which the whole body is covered.

This species was taken by Mr. Darwin at the roots of fucus, at the east entrance of Beagle Channel, Tierra del Fuego. The larger specimen is said to have been very active.

1. MURÆNA LENTIGINOSA. Jen.

M. purpurascenti-fusca; maculis circularibus, parvis, flavis: capite et rostro valde compressis; fronte declivi: maxillis subelongatis, angustis, æqualibus, acutis; dentibus acutis, in maxillâ superiore anticis uni-lateralibus bi-seriatis; in inferiore anticis bi-lateralibus uniseriatis; in vomere uniseriatis; anticis supra subtusque, lateralibus secundariis supra, et vomerinis, fortibus: pinnâ dorsali anticè obsoletâ.

LONG. unc. 20. lin. 6.

FORM.—Very much compressed about the head and jaws. Body tapering posteriorly; the depth in the middle equalling about one-thirteenth of the entire length. Head, measured to the branchial orifice, about one-seventh. Profile falling obliquely in a straight line from the nape to the extremity of the snout. Jaws very narrow, rather lengthened and sharp-pointed, equal. Gape deeply cleft, reaching as far back behind the eyes as it advances before them. Teeth compressed at the sides, very sharp, slightly hooked and pointing backwards; above, in a single row in front, in two rows at the sides; below, in two rows in front, and in a single row at the sides; in each case, however, the secondary row is very imperfect, some of them appearing to have been lost; also a row down the vomer, but interrupted in the middle of the series: the front teeth above and below, and the secondary ones at the sides of the upper jaw, are much stronger than the others; but the first three on the vomer, being those anterior to the blank space, are perhaps longer and more developed than any in the jaws. Two tubular orifices above the eyes, and two at the extremity of the snout. Eyes distant from the end of the snout twice their own diameter. Branchial orifice of the same size as the eyes. Three or four large pores arranged in a line along the edge of the upper jaw, but none apparent on the lower.

Dorsal fin thick and fleshy, and not very distinguishable from the body, excepting posteriorly, so that its exact point of commencement cannot be fixed with precision. Vent a trifle in advance of the middle point of the entire length. Anal fin still less distinguishable than the dorsal.

COLOUR.—“Fine dark purplish brown, with yellow circular spots.”—D.—The spots are mostly small, and many of them not bigger than large pin’s heads. They are smaller and more crowded about the head than elsewhere, giving a freckled appearance.

A second specimen is smaller than the above, measuring thirteen inches and a half in length. This specimen has the teeth more perfect. In the upper jaw, there is first an outer row reaching all round, in which the teeth are mostly small and regular, but towards the front mixed with some much longer ones; behind this, about the middle of the sides, is a short secondary row consisting of five or six teeth as long as those in front in the first row: in the lower jaw, the secondary row consists likewise only of four or five long teeth, but here they are placed in front instead of at the sides. Mr. Darwin’s notes respecting the colours of this smaller specimen are as follows: “Dark reddish-purple brown, with pale, or whitish-brown spots: eyes bluish.”

Habitat, Galapagos Archipelago.

The larger of the two specimens above described was taken by Mr. Darwin at Charles Island, the smaller one in tidal pools at Chatham Island, in the Galapagos Archipelago. It appears to be an undescribed species, though bearing much similarity to the M. Meleagris of Shaw.

2. MURÆNA OCELLATA.

Gymnothorax ocellatus, Spix et Agass. Pisces Brazil. p. 91. tab. 50 b.

FORM.—Head but moderately compressed. Snout rather short and blunt. Jaws equal. Gape reaching a little beyond the posterior part of the orbit. Teeth apparently in only a single row above and below, very strong and sharp at the extremity of the jaws: none at the anterior part of the vomer, but a few very short ones not easily seen at the back part of the median line of the palate. Two tubular orifices at the extremity of the snout, but above the eyes only two simple pores not prolonged into tubes. Eyes rather large, much exceeding in size the branchial orifice; scarcely more than one diameter between them and the end of the snout. Two or three large pores along the edges of both jaws. Dorsal very distinct, commencing above the branchial orifice. Vent a little before the middle. Tail gradually tapering to a rather fine point.

Length 12 inc. 9 lines.

COLOUR.—(In spirits.) Head and trunk brown, with round whitish spots. Dorsal and anal spotted with black and white, the black spots occupying the edge of the fin. Extremity of the tail imperfectly banded with white and dusky brown. Belly pale.

Habitat, Rio de Janeiro.

This elegant and well-marked species, first discovered by Spix on the Brazilian coast, was taken by Mr. Darwin in the harbour of Rio de Janeiro.

3. MURÆNA ——?

FORM.—Head moderately compressed, rising considerably at the nape. Body slender, somewhat ensiform behind, and tapering towards the tail. Snout of moderate length. Jaws equal, or the upper one perhaps a very little longer than the lower. Gape reaching as far behind the eye, as it advances before it. Teeth partially in two rows above, in one below; sharp and strong at the extremity of the jaws, and on the anterior part of the vomer. Two tubular orifices at the extremity of the snout, but only simple pores above the eyes. Three or four large pores along the edges of the upper and under jaws. Eyes distant one diameter and a half from the end of the snout. Dorsal distinct, commencing almost on the occiput, and in advance of the branchial orifice. Vent before the middle. Anal commencing a little behind it, and, like the dorsal, distinct, but rather less so.

in. lin. Length 10 0 Depth, fins not included 0 6 From end of snout to branchial orifice 1 4 From the same to vent 4 3

COLOUR.—(In spirits.) Rather dark brown, nearly uniform, but here and there with lighter mottlings. The lower jaw appears to have had a row of whitish spots encircling the pores.

The species of Muræna above described was taken by Mr. Darwin at Porto Praya, Cape de Verds. The individual being small, and possibly not having attained its permanent characters, I have forborne giving it any name, though I have not been able to identify it in the works of authors.

4. MURÆNA ——?

FORM.—Snout rather compressed before the eyes, not very long, and slightly obtuse. Upper jaw a very little in advance of the lower. The gape extends behind the eyes, but the posterior portion is not equal to the anterior. The teeth, tubular orifices, and pores, are very much the same as in the species last noticed. Dorsal very distinct, commencing in advance of the branchial orifice. Anal not so distinct as the dorsal.