MARINE FISHES. 211 



scales on the lateral line is 58 to 60 instead of abont 55, the number counted by 

 A i.cock. 



Galle, Station XXXIX., 1G to 30 fathoms, on a bottom of fine sand. The area 

 from which this fish was obtained had a very rich fish fauna; about 1350 specimens 

 were trawled belonging to the following species : Rhomboidichthys azureus, Arno- 

 glossus spilurus (very abundant), A. macrolophus, Callionymus longicaudatus, and 

 C. sagitta. 



Arnoglossus spilurus, Gunther. 



A large number of specimens of a species of Arnoglossus were collected, the 

 characters of which correspond almost entirely with those of the above species, which 

 was first found by the " Challenger " in the Arafura Sea. 



The dorsal fin has about 86 rays, and the anal 63 to 68. 



There are 48 scales in the lateral line. The upper ray of the pectoral fin is greatly 

 enlarged in the males (in some cases, however, "the sex is difficult to determine on 

 account of the immaturity of the specimens). In most cases the extreme length of 

 this elongated ray is two-thirds of the height of the body. There is a pointed knob 

 on the anterior part of the maxilla on the ocular side. The blind side of the body is 

 of a uniform smoky-grey colour (in spirit). 



Size, 1^ inches to 3|- inches in extreme length. From the pearl banks off Aripu ; 

 Galle ; south of Cheval Paar ; and south of Adam's Bridge. Common. 



Arnoglossus macrolophus, Alcock. 



A mature female, about 2|- inches in total length, is apparently this species. The 

 first few rays of the dorsal fin are more elongate than the others. The radial formula 

 is D. 85 ; A. 65 ; L.L. 55. Off Galle, Station XXXIX. 



OPHIDIIDjE. 



Fierasfer homei, Richardson. 



Two specimens, 4 inches and 4^ inches long, were obtained south of Adam's Bridge, 

 Station LIV. I refer them to Fierasfer homei, though they differ in a few respects 

 from the descriptions of that species. The head is contained 6^ times in the total 

 length and its breadth is one-half of its length. The greatest depth of the body is 

 10^ in the total length. 



There are several rows of teeth iir the upper jaw, the external of which are the 

 strongest ; several teeth on either side of the symphysis are larger than the rest. On 

 the vomer there are three large teeth forming a median ridge. 



The colour (in spirit) is yellowish, with a row of stellate markings above and below 

 the lateral line on each side. 



Alcock (2, p. 44), observed cases of commensalism between F homei and Stichopus 

 in the seas of the Laccadive and Andaman Islands. 



2 E 2 



