220 TRIGLID^. 



their extremities from the anterior margin of the orbit. A single 

 spine in the middle of the forehead, a pair of obtuse ones above the 

 posterior angle of the orbit, and another pair of larger ones on the 

 posterior extremity of the occipital bones. The anterior ventral 

 plates irregularly shaped, longer than broad. The lateral ridge of 

 the head terminates posteriorly in a very long, flat spine. The upper 

 side of the head, the back, and the rays of the dorsal fins punctulatcd 

 with brown. 

 East Indies ? 



a, b. Have been dried. Probably from Chinese insect-boxes. 



Bescri])tion. — The length of the head is 21 in the total ; the crown 

 is quadrangular, very shghtly excavated, each corner being armed 

 with a small spine ; it is crossed by a longitudinal and a transverse 

 sutui-e, and separated from the neck by another deeper suture. The 

 space between the orbits is concave, and fi'om one-seventh (probably 

 in females) to one-eighth (probably in males) of the entire length of 

 the head. There is a small triangular spine in front of the eyes, in 

 the middle of the forehead, from which four slight ridges radiate, 

 two towards the space between the eyes, and two towards the snout. 

 The snout is very broad and elongate ; its length, without the prse- 

 orbital processes, equals that of the remainder of the head. The 

 prseorbital processes also are elongate, and converge slightly ante- 

 riorly* ; they are continued posteriorly into a very broad, flat, pro- 

 minent ridge, which terminates in a long spine. The operculum is 

 armed with two small spines. The diameter of the eye equals the 

 distance between the orbits in one of the specimens, in the other it 

 is rather smaller. I can find only two pairs of barbels at the man- 

 dibula. 



The nape of the neck is cuirassed with a broad bony plate, angu- 

 larly bent downwards on each side. I am imable to see distinctly 

 the situation of the vent ; but there appear to be three pairs of ab- 

 dominal plates before the vent : the anterior is longer than broad, 

 irregidarly formed, anteriorly with an acute process, posteriorly with 

 a small notch ; the middle plate is broader than long, pro\ided with 

 a longitudinal ridge and with a small posterior notch, like the former ; 

 the posterior is stiU shorter. Each side of the body and tail is 

 cuirassed with three series of scale-like plates, each of which bears a 

 sj^ine, directed backwards. The spines of the three series are nearly 

 equally developed. The scales of these series are distinguished by 

 their great breadth and small length. The lateral line is evidently 

 present hi this species, and prohahly in all the others, its openings 

 being situated behind eveiy spine of the middle lateral series of scales. 

 In this species it commences behind the siiprascapula, follows the 

 course of three additional scales intercalated between the dorsal 

 and middle series of scales, is then abruptly bent downwards and 

 is visible through the scales, and finally passes in the direction of the 



* The strong convergence of the processes in the figiu-e quoted, is merely the 

 result of the posterior part of the prseopercles being very much stretched out. 



