in the Fish Gallery of the Indian Museum. 45 



studded with tags and tassels, to resemble the fronds of 

 sea-weeds and zoophytes. By this means they avoid 

 scaring — if they do not actually allure — prey, and also 

 escape the notice of their enemies. Minous inermis 

 (Case 14) has no such tassels, but has the body encrust- 

 ed with small Hydroid Zoophytes which make an even 

 better disguise. 



Synanceia verrucosa (Cases 14 and 53), which in form 

 and coloration resembles a lump of encrusted rock, is 

 another instance of disguise for protective and offensive 

 purposes. This fish is also remarkable in having a series 

 of poison-glands connected with the spines of the dorsal 

 fin. 



The majority of the Scorpamidai are of small size. 



Family VII. Nandidce [Case 54]. 



In accordance with the arrangement followed in the 

 Fauna of British India, this family is allowed to stand 

 here. It is represented by Plesiops, which is really a 

 sea-perch ; and by three genera of small freshwater 

 fishes very distinct from Plesiops. 



Plesiops haunts the pools of coral-reefs in the Indo- 

 Pacific region. 



Badis, Nandus, and Pristolcpis are found in freshwater 

 in the East Indian region. 



Family VIII. TeutJiididm [Case 53]. 



This small family contains the single genus Teuthis, 

 easily recognized (1) by the structure of the ventral fins, 

 each of which consists of two spines with three soft 

 rays between them, and (2) by the incisor teeth, which 

 are adapted for cutting sea-weed and coral. Tcuthis is 

 confined to the Indo-Pacific region, where it is found 

 among coral-reefs. 



