irilTHYOLOOY. 2S1 



a brown streak from the orbit to tlic gape, and a sccon<l over tlic opcMxle. A few 

 black spots below the mautlible. Body brown, barred bolow. Dorsal barred. 

 Caudal blackish. Grows to 5 inches, and enters tidal rivers and fresh-water. 



The Andamans. 



The ' Pipe fishes ' are curious creatures, and may be kept in an aquarium. 

 JIajor Holland describes a British species [8. ophidian) as being, whilst under his 

 observation over three moutlis, " particuhirly remarkable for ])erpetually getting 

 himself swallowed by the larger anemones. Whether liis skin was too tougli, or ho 

 didn't agree with them, we cannot say ; but they invariably rejected him after a 

 few minutes, and at last they ceased to pull bim in, when his tail, which hung 

 dangling down, dragged across their t<'ntacles." (Science Gossip, September, 1870.) 



B. Tail prclunsile. 



ACENTItOXUKA, Kutip. 



Body compressed, covered with non-tubercular shields. Occiput compressed 

 into a crest, without a coronet. Ova carried by the males in a sac situated below the 

 tail, and opening near tlio vent. 



A. GRACiLLiJiA, Temm. ct Schl. 



The dorsal fin stands on four rings, two of which belong to the tail. Brown, 

 ■white-dotted, and with little brown markings. A band of dark spots along the dorsal. 

 The male is darker, and of a bluish colour, with a milk-white spot on each body ring. 

 3 inches long. 



The Andamans, where dredged in 35 to -10 fathoms. 



lIiprocAJiPL's, Leach. 



Trunk compressed, with 10 to 12 rings, tubercular or spinate. Occiput corn- 

 netted posteriorly. Egg-sac as in Acenlrunura. Tail longer than the trimk. 



H. TRIMACULATDS, Lcach. 



D. l'J-20; r. 17 ; A. 4. Osseous rings 11 + 36. 



Pale yellow ocbre. Two rows of blackish spots along the dorsal fin. Sometimes 

 a brown blotch on the first, fourth and seventh rings. Sometimes the body is black- 

 dutted, in others banded. 



Andamans. Tenasserim. 



H. HvsTKis, Kaup. 



D. 17-18 ; P. 16. Osseous rings 11 + 36-37. 



Coronet high, with 5 spines and a tubercle anteriorly, with another spine in 

 front. Two spines below the orbit, and one behind it. All the tubercles (save the 

 last caudal ones) in the form of slender black-tipped spines. Grey or yellowish white 

 ■with brown, and white dots. G or 7 light patches on the tail, dark-spotted, and 

 a few similar spots on the body. Suout with a light ring. 



The Andamans, -where ch-edged by Mr. Wood-Mason in 3.5 to 40 fathoms. 



Order PLECTOGNATHI. 

 Teleostean fishes with an incompletely ossified skeleton, and a fe^w vertebra;. 



Fainih/ Sclerodermi. 

 Body compressed or angular. Distinct teeth in the jaws. Skin rough or .spinate 

 or mailed. 



TaIACA^'T^us, Cuvier. 



Body oblong, compressed. Teeth in two rows in both jaws, the outer incisor- 

 like, the inner more molariform. First dorsal consisting of a long and strong spine, 

 followed by smaller and weaker ones. Veutrals formed by a pair of strong spines. 

 Scales minute and rough. 



