222 BURMA, ITS PEOPLE ASD PRODUCTIOXS. 



practised on tlic coasts of Natal, Mozambique, and Madagascar. Cantor says that 

 they are regarded as a powerful manure for fruit trees, -nhence it would seem 

 they must be far from rare in tlie Malayan seas. Day enumerates four species 

 from the tropical seas : — E. neumifcs, L. ; JS. remora, L. ; H. bnichyplera, Lowe ; and 

 _£". albescens, Tem. 



Next to the scombers, Day ])laecs the TJiiANoscopin.T;, or ' mud fishes,' divided 

 into two genera, Uranoscopm and Irhihi/.scopus, the former possessing two dorsal fins, 

 the latter but one. These repulsive fish bury tliemselves in the mud, with only the 

 top of tlic head (whereon are the eyes) and moufli exposed ready to ingulph witliin 

 their vertical and capacious jaws any animal which may unwarily pass over them, 

 much as the ant-lion does, among insects. Day enumerates two species, Uranoscupus 

 guttatus, Cut. et Val. and Ichihyscopm inermis, Cuv et Val. 



Family TrachinidsB. 



Body elongated, posteriorly compressed. The preopcrcle articulates with the 

 suborbital bones. 



Peucis, Blocli. Schieider. 



Branchiostegals 6. Pseudobrancbia3. Lower jaw the longer. Tilliform teeth 

 in the jaws, with an outer enlarged row and caniue-like ones. Teeth on the vomer, 

 but not on the palatiues. Two dorsal fins, soft dorsal and anal similar. Air-vessel 

 none. 



P. ruNCTATA, Cuv. et Yal. 



B. vi.; D. 5: 21-22; P. 16-17; V. i; A. ttVt; C. 15. 



Snout sharjD. Eight curved teeth above the symphysis of the mandible. Fourth 

 dorsal spine longest. Caudal cut square. Colour whitish, with reddish-biown 

 vertical bands above the lateral line. A golden line from below the orbit to the base 

 of the dorsal, and another from the eye to the snout. Spinous dorsal sometimes 

 black-spotted. Soft dorsal with three rows of spots on the rays. Caudal banded, 

 and with sometimes an ocellus at the base. Anal yellowish, and ventruls slaty. 



The Audamans. 



P. HEXOPHTHALMA, CuV. et Val. 



B. vi.; D. 5: 19-21 ; P. 17; V. i ; A. 17-18; C. 15. 



Snout somewhat pointed. Teeth in outer row above enlarged, as are 8 or 

 10 of the anterior ones in the mandible, and some of the middle lateral teeth. 

 Fourth dorsal spine longest. Caudal cut square, with its upper ray a little prolonged. 

 Colour above, greyish blown, witli irregular vertical grey lines, also one or two narrow 

 longitudinal lines along the side, and three or more white spots, with a black centre 

 along tlie beUy. Some black lines about the eye. A black spot at the base of the 

 first dorsal. Three rows of black spots along the soft dorsal. Dorsals black-edged, 

 and a black blotch on the caudal followed by a white one. 



The Andamans. 



SiLLAGO, Ciivier. 



Branchiostegals 6. Pseudobrauchise. Upper jaw the longer. Villiform teeth 

 in jaws, with an outer conical row on the vomer also, but none on the palatines. 

 Two dorsals. Soft dorsal and anal similar. Air-vessel simple. 



S. BOMINA, Gill. 



B. vi. ; D. 9 ^nrhrr ; P. 24 ; V. i ; A. -rrnhrr ; C. 19. 



Head depressed, pyriform, cheeks swollen. Four central teeth in upper jaw 

 largest. Vomerine teeth in a st'micircle. First dorsal spine small. Second cur\ed 

 and extends to beyond the caudal, or in large specimens to its base. Scales strongly 

 ctenoid. Colour greenish shot with purple. Grows to 10 inches or more. 



Burma, ascending tidal rivers. 



