328 ACANTHOPTERYGII. 



separated by a deep cleft from the remainder,* they are 3/4 the height of the body ; the next ten rays are much 

 lower, projecting beyond the membrane and separated by a notch from the remaining 17 of the fin, which are 

 about 3/4 the height of the body, and are not continued posteriorly on to the caudal. Pectoral as long as the 

 head excluding the snout, ventral rather shorter. Caudal rounded. Colours — of a light brown stone colour, 

 vertically banded and marbled with dark brown or gray. Dorsal fin light brown, marbled and spotted vrith 

 darker, the upper two-thirds of the first portion neai'ly black, and some black marks near its base. Caudal 

 yellow, with dark spots. Anal with oblique rows of spots and a dark outer edge. Two black spots at base of 

 pectoral fin, which is yellow externally. 



This species approaches Blennechis a dorsale elevee, Lienard, from the Mauritius, which however has less 

 rays and from 34 to 36 teeth in the upper, and 36 to 38 in the lower jaw. Blennechis marhre of the same author, 

 or PctrosJciHes manrwratus, Bleeker, and 0. Thepassi, Bleeker ?, though closely allied, has the body more 

 elongated, its height being 8 in its length. 



Sabitat. — Sind, where they were found along with some Blennies, in pools left by a receding tide. The 

 specimen figured (twice life-size) is from Kurrachee. 



5. Petroscirtes cyprinoides. 



Blennechis cyprinoides, Cuv. and Val. xi, p. 286. 

 Omohranclius cyprinoides. Swains. Fishes, ii, p. 274. 

 Petroscirtes cyprinoides, Giinther, Catal. iii, p. 236. 



B. vi, D. 30, P. 15, V. 3, A. 20, C. 11. 



Length of head 4i, of caudal 6f , height of body 4^ in the total length. Eyes — diameter 1/4 of length of 

 head, 1 diameter from end of snout, and 1/4 of a diameter apart. Greatest width of the head equals its length 

 behind the eyes, and its height is a little more. The maxilla reaches to below the front edge of the 

 eye. Some iiTegularly-placed open pores on the head. Teeth — one or two large canines in the lower and one 

 in the upper jaw. Fins — dorsal commences over the hind edge of the opercle and does not extend quite so far 

 as the caudal. Pectoral as long as the head behind the middle of the eye. Ventral rather short. Caudal 

 neaiiy cut square. Colours — a white band along the side, another below the base of the dorsal fin : a rather 

 dark band along the base of the dorsal fin, and one or two rows of brown sjjots above it. A brown 

 spot at base of pectoral fin : anal brownish with two or three rows of dark spots : caudal yellowish- white. 

 Seven vertical bands are said to exist along the upper half of the back, extending on to the caudal fin. 



Habitat. — Seas of India to China. 



6. Petroscirtes breviceps. 



Blennechis hreviceps, Cuv. and Val. xi, p. 283. 

 Omohranchus breviceps. Swains. Fishes, ii, p. 274. 

 Petroscirtes breviceps, Giinther, Catal. iii, p. 234. 



B. vi, D. 30, P. 16, A. 19, C. 11. 



Length of head i\, of caudal 8, height of body Sj (4f ) in the total length. Eyes — diameter 3| in the 

 length of head, 1 diameter from end of snout, and also apart. Greatest width of head equals 2/3 of its length : 

 profile of snout oblique : interorbital space slightly concave. Cleft of mouth extends to below the first 

 third of the eye. A small supraorbital tentacle present in the type specimen. Teeth — a very large canine on 

 either side of the lower jaw, and a very much smaller one on each side of upper jaw. J^ms^-dorsal anteriorly 

 2/3 as high as the body, it commences above the gill-opening, posteriorly it reaches almost to the base of the 

 caudal, the membrane is rather deeply emai-ginate. Pectoral equals the length of the head behind the middle of 

 the eyes. Colours — a black band along the head and side of the body : dorsal fin dotted with black : 

 caadal yellowish. 



Habitat. — Bay of Bengal. 



Genus, 3 — Salaeus, Cuv. 



Alticus, Comm. . EMpiseartes, Swains. ; Entomacrodus, Gill. 



Branchiostegals six : pseudobranchim. Gill-openings wide. Body somewhat elongated. Mouth transverse, 

 rather wide : generally a tentacle above the orbit, especially in the males. Sometimes a crest upon the head. A row 

 of small moveable teeth in the gums, and often a posterior cu,rved canine in the lower jaw : palate almost invariably 

 edentulous. Dorsal fin single : a notch exists in some spiecies between the spinous and rayed portions : venirals 

 jugular, with one spine and two or three rays : fin rays simple, except those of the caudal, which are usually but not 

 invariably branched. Scales absent. Air-vessel and pyloric appendages absent. 



In some species the dorsal fin is more distinctly notched in the immature than in the mature. A crest 

 on the head generally shows the specimen to be a male, and in these the dorsal fin is often comparatively higher 

 than in the females. The presence or absence' of an orbital tentacle has been considered a mark of sexual 

 distinction. 



* The separation of the three first rays appears to be subject to coDsiderablc modification, and is most distinct in the adults. 

 The number of three may be reduced to a single one. 



