16 FOUR-HORNED COTTUS. 



nearer the tail; the base of which expands where the caudal 

 fin rises from it. The first dorsal fin rises behind the insertion 

 of the pectoral, and is not very high. Second dorsal opjjosite 

 the anal; both of them wide, and at a good distance from 

 the tail, which organ is round. Pectoral fins wide, the lower 

 rays passing up under the throat; the middle rays reaching 

 beyond the termination of the first dorsal. Ventral fins small 

 and separate. A row of low tubercles runs along the body, 

 from the hinder elevated tubercle of the head to the tail; and 

 a row of low spines runs parallel with this, but a little 

 separated, to the end of the second dorsal; intermingled with 

 several irregular tubercles at the side opposite this second 

 dorsal. 



It is probable that the colour of this fish varies as it is 

 found in dififerent districts; and the example which came to 

 me in spirit from London, and for which I am indebted to 

 the kindness of Dr. Gunther and Dr. J. E. Grey, was of a 

 uniform light brown, mottled on the dorsal, pectoral, and 

 caudal fins, with dotted points on the lips and gill-covers; 

 upper ridge of the tail with minute spines. 



Fin rays pectoral sixteen, first dorsal nine, second dorsal 

 fourteen, ventral three, anal fifteen, caudal sixteen in all. 



