188 TEIGLID^. 



the praeopercular spines 1|- in its length ; the interorbital space is 

 very slightly concave, and its width nearly equals the vertical dia- 

 meter of the eye. The superciliary ridge, a ridge from the eye to 

 the occiput, another from the eye to the scapula, and a fourth from 

 the prseorbital to the angle of the praeoperculum, armed with small 

 spines directed backwards. The length of the upper praeopercular 

 spine equals its distance from the orbit. The length of the second dor- 

 sal spine is 2|- in that of the head. Lateral line armed with forty- 

 four spines. 

 Indian Ocean. 



B. Species tvith more than two spines at the angle of the prceoperculum. 



22. Platycephalus bataviensis. 



Bleeker, Batavia, p. 460. 



D. 1 I 8 I 12. A. 12. L. lat. 60. 



The length of the head is 31 in the total, and its breadth one-half 

 of its length ; the width of the space between the eyes is one-third 

 of their diameter. Spines on the upper side of the head ; superciliary 

 ridge denticulated ; infraorbital ridge with two spines ; praeoper- 

 culum with tkree spines, the upper of which is the longest. Lateral 

 line smooth. The ventral fins reach to the anal. Above uniform 

 brownish-green ; the rays of all the fins, except of the anal, varie- 

 gated with brown; the membrane of the caudal spotted with 

 brown. {Bl.) 



Sea of Batavia. 



23. Platycephalus pristis. 



Peters in Wiegm. Arch. 1855, p. 240. 



D. 1 I 7 I 13. A. 14. L. lat. 51. 



The space between the eyes is concave, and one-fourth of their 

 diameter. Crown of the head with several series of spines ; another 

 series between the prseorbital and the praeoperculum ; a pair of 

 turbinal spines. Three praeopercular spines, the upper of which is 

 the longest. Lateral Kne smooth. The two dorsals rather remote 

 from each other. Yellowish-brown, marbled with darker on the head 

 and on the sides ; all the fins with spots, arranged in bands. (Pet.) 



Coast of Mozambique. 



24. Platycephalus macrolepis. 

 Bleeker, Japan, p. 399, and Verh. Bat. Gen. xxvi. Japan, tab. 4. f. 1. 

 D. 1 1 8 I 11. A. 12. L. lat. 40. 



The length of the head is 3| in the total, and its breadth 1'^ in 

 its length ; the width of the space between the eyes is one-third of 

 their diameter ; orbit without filament. Spines above the snout and 

 on the crown of the head ; supraorbital and infraorbital ridges den- 

 ticulated, opercular ridges entire ; three praeopercular spines, the 



