32 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM 



VOL. 79 



Some of the clusters were 18 cm. long, and the eggs were nearly 1.5 

 cm. in long diameter. At an early stage of incubation the eggs are 

 coherent, but some time before hatching they become entirely sepa- 

 rate. The palatine teeth on elevated bases project conspicuously into 

 the cavity of the mouth, and may serve to assist in keeping the eggs 

 in the back of the pharynx. 



The nearest relative of this species appears to be ^. microcephalus 

 Bleeker, known only from 2 specimens from rivers of Borneo. That 

 species, however, has a smaller head much broader than high, longer 

 maxillary barbels, much stouter dorsal and pectoral spines, etc. 



The conical head, large eye, and pointed snout suggest a squirrel, 

 and the specific name has been applied in allusion to this resemblance. 



SYNAPTURA AENEA, new species 



Descri'ption. — Broadly ovate ; depth of body 1.8 in standard length, 

 2.12 in length with caudal; head broad, evenly rounded in front, its 

 length 3.8 in standard length, 4.6 in length with caudal; mouth 



.■%■ 



^s?-^ 



&*-.,,^' 

 ^^i- 



'Xi 



"■'J / 



s^^'"- 



FiGDItE 15. StNAPTURA AENEA 



slightly curved, rictus about" one-third length of head, angle extend- 

 ing below anterior port of lower eye; two small tubular nostrils in 

 advance of lower eye; nostril on under side dilated and having a 

 flap; lips on upper side sparsely, on lower side markedly, fringed, 

 and nostril on under side surrounded by long fringe; upper eye 

 slightly anterior to lower, 2 in snout, 6 in head, and greater than in- 

 terorbital space; teeth very minute; lateral line straight on both 

 sides of body; scales small, strongly ctenoid on dextral side, less so 

 on sinistral side, 66 in lateral line, about 32 rows above and 35 rows 

 below lateral line at widest part of body; rays in vertical fins 115, 



