MARINE FISHES. 221 



Therapon puta, Ccrv. and Val. 



Several specimens from the pearl banks off Aripu. The average length is about 

 5 inches. 



Scolopsis phseops (Bennett). 

 A single specimen, if inches long, from Aripu reef. 



PRISTIPOMATIDJE. 



Erytlirichthys leucograminicus (Bleeker) Plate I., tig. 6. 



The genus Erytlirichthys is comparatively rare, and has not hitherto been recorded 

 from the coasts of India. It has been found in Cuba, Molucca, and Sunda seas, 

 Australia. New Zealand, Japan, and Sea of Valparaiso. It appears usually to inhabit 

 open water or rather deep seas. 



Height of body almost (!. length of head ih in total length; body fusiform; 

 vertical tins terminating some distance from the caudal fin ; spines and rays of vertical 

 tins very weak ; caudal fin deeply forked; abdomen rounded. 



Radial formula : D. IX, V, I, 10 ; A. Ill, 10 ; P. 19 ; V. I, 5 ; C. 17. 



The first dorsal and anal spines very short ; 5 free spines in the dorsal ; operculum 

 completely covered with scales ; a flat, pointed spine immediately above the origin of 

 the pectoral; inferior angle rounded. Lateral line nearly straight and with 79 scales 

 in a longitudinal row. L.tr. -,%. 



Teeth completely absent ; mouth very protractile. 



Colours in spirit, silvery below the lateral line ; brownish above, but with a faint 

 crimson band directly above the lateral line. 



A single specimen, 3- x - - inches long, from Cheval Paar in 7 fathoms. 



Synagris bleekeri, 1 >AY. 

 Several specimens, 2 inches long, from oft" Galle. 



Note. Several species of fishes, in addition to those recorded in the above list, 

 were also observed, and have been identified from the sketches made by Professor 

 Herdman and Mr. HoRNELL. Several species of Baliitcs are of particular interest, 

 since they form the intermediate host for the Tetrarhynchus, which is the parasite 

 concerned in pearl-formation. Baiisles undulatus, MuNGO Park, and li. mitts, 

 Bennett, occur, and a third form observed may possibly be li. erythrodon, Gunther. 

 A large Trygon-ray, in which an adult Tetrarhynchus occurred, was sketched by 

 Mr. Hornell, and has been identified by Mr. Botjlengee as Tceniura melanospilos, 

 Bleeker ; also the cockle-eating ray JEtobatis narinari, Marcgr. Finally, a species 

 of Echim is was caught, which appears t<> he E. albescens, Temm. and SCHLEG. 



I am greatly indebted to Mr. G. A. BoULENGER, F.U.S., for much kind assistance 

 in the identification of several doubtful species. 



