304 



ACAXTHOPTERTGII. 



heii'lit and 1- in its length. Profile from ej-es to end of snout very abrupt, cleft of montli nearly borizontal, 

 the" maxilla reaching to below the middle of the eye. Skin of the snout forms fleshy flaps. Teeth— iihont 

 '^4 conical, pointed ones in each jaw. In some specimens they laterally decrease in size by degrees, as in one 

 from the Andamans of the same length as the specimen figured, which latter, however, has the teeth of unequal 

 sizes and distinct curved canines present in both jaws. In a smaller specimen fi-om the latter locality only one 

 canine has appeared, this seems due to an opposite tooth in the lower jaw having become lost. When teeth are 

 reo-ular, canines are absent, and the greater development of a tooth seems due to the loss of an opposite one. 

 p^,ts—the first dorsal fin is much more elevated in some specimens than in others, being shortest in 

 the immature. Ventrals short, connected with one another in theu- basal two-thirds. Colours — head sometimes 

 with blue spots. Body olive brown, with white or blue dots : fij-st dorsal bluish with a dark edge, having a 

 white tip and occasionally white spots at its base : second dorsal generally with a black-white-edged longitudinal 

 baud in its upper half or upper third, whilst its lowest portion has white dots. Pectoral and caudal often witli 



brown dots. nT-i'-ij/-i-i 



Steindachner, J. c. observes that Ferwplitluilmu,s Gahonicus and P. eri/thronemus oi JJumeril and (juichenot 



are identical with P. /toeZj-ewto-/. .is 



Bleeker considers P. papilio as the type of Genus FeriopMhalmus (as restricted) possessing canmes and 

 many fine rows of sharp teeth in the pharyngeals, and P. Koelreuteri as the type of Euclionstopus, having no 

 canines, and a few rows of mostly conical ones in the pharyngeals. Gunther observes " the size of the teeth 

 varies considerably in this species, not only according to age, but in specimens of the same size, and from the 

 same locality, and even on both sides of the same individual." (Catal. iii, p. 99.) 



Eahitat.— Seas and coasts of India, ascending estuaries and tidal rivers, also found at the Andamans, to 

 the Jlalay Archipelago and beyond. The specimen figured (life-size) is from Sind, and has five enlarged, 

 curved, canines in the lower, and four in the upper jaw much larger than the remainder of the teeth. 



Periophthalmus Schlosseri, Plate LXVI, fig. 4. 

 Gohins Scldossei-i, Pall. Spic. viii, p. 3, pi. 1, f. 1-4 ; Gmel. Linn, i, p. 1201 ; Lacep. ii, p. 573 ; Shaw, 



^"^PmopMalmnf! ScMosseri, Bl. Schn. p. 64 ; Cuv. and Val. sii, p. 192 ; Swainson, Fishes, ii, p. 280 ; 

 Bleeker, Blenn. en Gob. p. 39 ; Cantor, Catal. p. 191 ; Cuv. Reg. Anim. 111. Poisson. pi. 81, f. 1 ; Giinther, 



Catal. iii, p. 100. r, i. -c- i r^ ac a^ aq 



Gobms tredecem-radiatus, septem-radiatus, et novem-radiatus, Ham. Buch. ±isJi. Oanges, pp. 40, 4/-, 4», 



366, pi. ii, f. 14. .. 



Periophthalmus tredecem-radiatus, septem-radiatus, et novem-radiaius, Cuv. and Val. sii, pp. i«J, iJt) ; 



Swainson, Fishes, ii, p. 280. „^ i^.-vr -r^ t>- or- 



Periophthalmus Freycineti, Cuv. and Val. xii, p. 197. Quoy and Gaim. \ oy. Ireyc. Foiss. p. 2o/ ; 



Swainson, Fishes, ii, p. 280. 



? Periophthalmus Borneensis, Bleeker, Bom. i, p. 11. 



Feriophthahnodon Schlosseri, Bleeker, Gobioides, 1874, p. 39. 



B. V, D. 0-15 I y\, P. 9, V. 1/5, A. -^, C. 12, L. 1. 55, L. tr. 11-12. 



Length of head 4 to 4i, of caudal 5 to 6, height of body 5 to 6 in the total length. Eyes— high up, 

 diameter 4j to U in length of head, 1^ diameters from end of snout, and 1/4 of a diameter apart. Greatest 

 width of head equals If in its length and rather exceeds its height. Cleft of mouth nearly horizontal, 

 the maxilla reaches to below the middle of the eye. Teeth— in both jaws, pointed, erect, the fi-ont six in the 

 premaxillaries the longest. Fins— the first dorsal fin may be entirely absent, composed of very short spines, or 

 f)f moderate development, or the anterior spine elongated as in the males. Pectorals with a strong muscular 

 base. Ventrals united in their basal third or entirely separated. Lower edge of caudal obliquely truncated. 

 (jolnurs—vrhen alive, brownish banded, with emerald green spots most distinct on the head, but in certain lights 

 all over the body. Fii-st dorsal black, which becomes bluish superiorly, and edged with white, it has a 

 scarlet band along its centre with a white dot between each ray. Second dorsal the same, but the base lighter 

 and spotted: anal edged with white. In the male the first dorsal fin has a black band, becoming cobalt 

 externally and with a scarlet edging. , ,^ , . i • , i , , 



Hahitat.—Coa&is and large rivers of Bengal, Burma, Andamans, to the Malay Archipelago and beyond, 

 attaining at least 9 inches in length. The specimen figured (life-size) is from the Irrawaddi. 



Genus, 7— BoLEOPETHALMUS,* Cuv. and Val. 

 Branchiostefjals five: yseudolrancMce, a slit heJmid the fourth gill. Gill.openincjs narrow. Body 

 suh-cylhulrical : head oilong. Eyes very prominent, situated close together, the outer eyelids well developed. Cleft of 

 \)wuth nearly horizontal, the upper jaiv sometimes slightly the longer. Teeth in a single row, the anterior ones in the 



* Bleeker divides his Boleophthalmi thus : — , , ■ ■ i. i • 



1. Scartelaos. Swains. Anterior teeth in the premaxillaries unequal tized, curved, subulate, canmes: in ttie lower jaw 



sharp, simple, and of medium size. . • ,, , 



2. Bclenjhthalmtis, Val. Anterior teeth in the premaxillaries, simple, conical, sharp and curved camncB : in the lower 



jaw with their apices dilated, truncated or emarginate. 



