127 



The mouth is short and broad, the cleft approaching the vertical, the maxilla 

 being a little over three-fourths the length of the eye, which is slightly more 

 than one-third the length of the head. The teeth are in broad villiform bands 

 in the jaws on the blind side, the bands gradually becoming narrow and dis- 

 appearing on the coloured side. The upper eye bulges very strongly beyond the 

 general dorsal profile. The length of the snout — i.e., of the space between the 

 front wall of the lower orbit and the tip of the knob of the mandibular 

 symphysis — is less than half the length of the eye. 



The body, and the head excepting only the snout throat and gill-membranes, 

 are covered with scales. 



The rays of the vertical fins are stout, the longest are more than two-fifths 

 the greatest body-height. The caudal is large, with a distinct though broad 

 peduncle. The dorsal begins just behind the middle of the eye. 



The coloured pectoral is rather longer than its fellow, the latter being more 

 than half the length of the head. The coloured ventral is rather longer than its 

 fellow, the latter being as long as the eye. 



Colours in spirit : right side blackish-brown, with traces of six opalescent 

 cross-bands : irides and coloured pectoral fin blue-black, the pectoral with a 

 narrow white cross-stripe. Vertical fins (on coloured side), and right ventral, 

 almost black, tipped with milk white. Left side rather dusky. 



In the young, both sides are coloured, being grey with numerous large black 

 blotches, disposed in series. 



The largest specimen is 67 inches long. 



Gulf of Manar, 142 to 403 and 180 to 217 fathoms : Andaman Sea, 185 

 fathoms. 



Regd. Nos. 13733, 13734, 2, 3 ™^1, 3 -^, *±±?. 



103. Boopsetta maculosa, Alcock. 



Pcecilopsetta maculosa, Alcock, Jonrn. As. Soc. Bengal, Vol. LXII1. pt. 2, 1894, p. 130, pi. vii. fig. 1. Illus- 

 trations op the Zoology of the Investigator, Fishes, pl. XV. pig. 1. 



B. 6. D. 56. A. 46. C. 18. V. 5. 



Differs from B. prsdonga only in the following particulars, specimens of 

 about the same size being compared : — 



The height of the body is half the total length without the caudal. 



The maxilla is almost as long as the eye, which is a third as long as the 

 head. 



The dorsal fin begins above the middle of the eye : and the longest rays 

 are barely a fourth the greatest height of the body. 



