MAKINE FISHES. 215 



total body length ; the head is contained thrice in the body length ; the rostrum is 

 short, about one-sixth of the length of the head. 



This species has not been obtained previously from Indian waters. 



TMCHONOTTD.E. 



Trichonotus setigerus, Bl. Schn. Plate I., fig. 7. 



Several specimens of this species were obtained from south of Adam's Bridge, 

 Station LIV., north of Cheval Paar Station L1L, and outside Periya Paar, 

 Station XVII. The largest is 3 '8 inches long, its radial formula is D. 50; A. 40. 

 There are 58 scales in a longitudinal, and f in a transverse series. These are almost 

 exactly the numbers given by Alcock (2) for Tcmiolabrus cyclograptus, and they 

 approximate very closely to the corresponding numbers for T. setigerus. The 

 elongated first dorsal rays said to be present in the species are absent in the 

 specimens from Ceylon. They may, however, be broken off", as the fins are in other 

 respects somewhat injured. 



Several specimens collected are referred to T. setigerus (see Plate I., fig. 7), but 

 differ in possessing fewer rays in the dorsal and anal fins and in the larger size of the 

 scales. They may eventually prove to be a new species. 



Radial formula : D. 43 ; A. 35 ; P. 13 ; V.I. 5 ; C. 13. 



Scales : L.l. 51 ; L.tr. f. 



Length of the head nearly 5, height of the body 14, in total length. Lower jaw 

 protruding, and a knob at the mandibular symphysis. Mouth very wide. Eyes close 

 1 1 >gether. 



Colours (in spirit), one specimen reddish-brown (ground colour), the rest colourless ; 

 a row of ocelli on the back on each side of the dorsal fin ; a black blotch on the 

 commencement of the latter. 



Four specimens, 2|- inches to 1^ inches in total length, from Aripu reef, south of 

 Cheval Paar, Station LXII. (on pearl banks), and in Palk Bay. 



COTTID^E. 

 Platycephalus tuberculatus, Cuv. and Val. 

 A number of specimens were taken on Cheval Paar. 



Platycephalus insidiator, Forsk. 

 A single immature specimen from south of Adam's Bridge. 



Platycephalus serratus, Cuv. and Val. 

 One specimen from Station XX., Back Bay, Trincomalee. 



Platycephalus punctatus, Cuv. and Val. 

 Several specimens, 6 inches long and less, from Cheval Paar, Station X. 



