428 ANACANTHIXI. 



Head appears to have been marked as in A. pavoninus. Blind side of the body yellowish -nith scattered 



black blotches. 



This tish evidently cannot be A. pavoninus, the strongly ctenoid character of its scales more resembles 

 what is seen in Genus Sulea than in AcMnis, and it must be closely allied to A. poropterus, Kaup. ^ 



JJahitat. — Tranquebar, from whence Bloch received the specimen described (6-5 inches in length) and 

 for the opportunity of examining which I am indebted to Professor Peters of Berlin. 



Genus, 7 — Stnaptcea, Cantor. 

 BracUrus, Swains. : Achiroides, Blocker : JUsopia, Huryrjlossa, and Eurypleura, Kaup. 

 BrancJdostegals six. Body ohlong or oval. Eyes on the rirjht side, the upper in advance of the lower. Cleft 

 of the mouth narrow, twisted round to the left side: the lips fimbriated or entire: minute teeth on the left side only : 

 palate edentulous. One of the nostrils on the Mind side dilated in some sjiecies, not so in other.'!, ivhilst amongst the 

 latter both pectorals may be j)resent, the right being somewhat the longer, some of which have the nasal tube 

 small and simple (Synaptura), or bifid {Euryglossa). Secondly, the left pectoral may be longer than the 

 right (Anisochirus). Thirdly, the left pectoral may be rudimentary fJEsopia). Fourthly, both pectorals may 

 be absent (Achiroides). Vertiml fins confluent. Scales ctenoid (cycloid in S. cornuta), small. Lateral-line 

 straight. 



Geographical distribution.— Yrom Beloochistan, through the seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and 

 beyond. 



SYNOPSIS OF SPECIES. 

 A. Both pectoral fins present, the right the lunger. 



1. Synaptura Commersoniana, D. 71-81, A. Gl-63, L. 1. 155. Two tubular nostrils on the coloured side. 

 Leaden grav, vertical fins with a white margin. Seas of India to the IMalay Archipelago. 



2. Synaptura albomaculata, D. 72-74, A. 5G-59, L. 1. 110-1-20. Two tubular nostrils on the coloured side, 

 with a short barbel intermediate. Brown, with 5 rows of widely separated white spots. Pms slate-coloured 

 edged with white. Seas of India. 



3. Synaptura Orientalis, D. 61-65, A. 47-52, L. 1. 70-85. Scales on nape not enlarged. ^Slate-coloured, 

 with black 'blotches, and fine black vertical lines crossing the lateral-line at right angles. Seas of India to 



' 4. Synaptura pan, D. 57, A. 43, L. 1. SO. Scales on nape enlarged. Colours as in S. Orientalis. 

 Estuaries and tidal rivers from Orissa and Bengal to the Malay Archipelago. 



B. Left pectoral fin rudimentary. 



5. Synaptura midtifasciata, D. 93, A. 07, L. 1. 110. Nasal tube longer than the diameter of the eye. 

 Head and body with 27 narrow cross-bands. East Indies. 



6. Synapitura cornuta, D. 69-75, A. 61-G2, L. 1. 90-100. First dorsal ray thickened and prolonged. 

 Thirteen vertical chestnut bands. Coromandel coast of India. 



7. Synaptura zebra, D. 05-74, A. 5S-00, L. 1. 90-95. No prolonged dorsal ray, Ten reddish-chestnut 

 vertical bands. Seas of India. 



A. Both pectorals present, the right the longer. 



1. Synaptura Commersoniana, Plate XCIV, fig. 1. 



Pleuronectes Commersonianus, Lacep. iii, pi. 12, f. 32 (not iv, p. 050). 

 Pleuronectes, Russell, Fish. Vizag. i, p. 66, and Jerree-potoo A, pi. 70. 

 .f Solea Commersoniana, Cuv. Reg. Anim. 

 Brachirus Commersoniana, Swainson, Fishes, ii, p. 303. 



Synaptura Commersoniana, Cantor, Catal. p. 222 ; Bleekcr, Beng. en Hind, p. 70, and Atl. Ich. Pleur. 

 p. 18, t. 235, f. 3; Jerdon, M. J. L. and Sc. 1861, p. 148; Giinther, Catal. iv, p. 483. 

 Solea Bussellii, Bleaker, Verb. Bat. Gen. xxiv, Pleur. p. 15. 

 Synaptura Bussellii, Bleekei-, Beng. en Hind. p. 76. 



Erumi naah, Tam. 



B. vi, D. 70-81, P. 9, V. 4, A. 60-63, C. 12, L. 1. 165-160. 



Length of head 6 to 6J-, height of body 31 to 4 in the total length. Eyes— the upper almost entirely in 

 iidvance of the lower, diameter 7i in the length of the head, nearly 1/2 a diameter apart, and 1| from the end 

 of snout. Height of head rather more than its length. Upper jaw slightly the longer : angle of the moutli 

 below the middle of the lower eye. Two tubular nostrils in front of the lower eye. ScaZes— strongly ctenoid 

 on the coloured side. Colours — leaden-gray, vertical fins black with a broad white outer edge. _ 



Hahitat.—Se&s of India to the Malay Archipelago : it attains at least 12 inches in length. It is not 

 esteemed as food in Madras or along the ilalabar Coast. 



