278 ACANTHOPTERTGII. 



7. Platycephalus carbunculus. 



Cuv. and Val. ix, p. 461 ; Cantor, Catal. p. 39. 



Flatijcephahis Malabaricus, Giinther, Catal. ii, p. 181, pt. (not synon.) 



B. Yii, D. 1 I 8 1 11-12, P. 20, V. 1/5, A. 11-12, C. 13, L. 1. ^zn, L- tr. G/25. 



Lencrth of head 3 to 31, of caudal 5 to 6, lieiglit of body 6| in the total length, i/j/es— diameter 1/4 of 

 lonoth of h'ead 1 diameter from end of snout, and 1/4 of a diameter apart. Supraorbital edge with one or two 

 spiSes anteriorly, and a strongly serrated edge, posteriorly from the orbit the line to the occiput has sis and the 

 one to the shoulder spine five more spines. From the preorbital exists a raised line armed with 10 or 12 spmes 

 irointr to the two preopercular spines, the upper (which has a small one at its base) is longer than the lower. A 

 pair°or even three of turbinal spines, no nasal tentacle. Two well marked opercular spmes, and another m the 

 axilla Fi(iS— ventral reaches the origin of the anal : caudal cut square. ScaZes— ctenoid, present on the head, 

 but destitute of spines or raised points. Lateral-Unesmooth. C'oZo«rs-brownish, with numerous bro^vn spots : 

 three vertical bands on the body, one broad one through the anterior half of the first dorsal to the abdomen, the 

 second throuo-h the middle of the second dorsal, and the third over the free portion of the tail : opercle dark: 

 posterior half of first dorsal black : second dorsal spotted : pectoral with several lines of spots and a dark mark 

 near its base : caudal dark, with one or two iU-defined vertical bands. ,, , ., „, x. 



Habitat —Western coast of India to the Malay Archipelago. Cantor observes that it occurs, although 

 not numerously, at all seasons at Pinang, and it is eaten by the natives: his specimens were up to 6^ inches m 

 length. 



