SAMARIN^ 403 



I. SAMARIS CRIST ATUS, Gray. 



Samariscristalus, Gray, 1831, Zool. Miscell. (Gray), (i), p. 5 ; Gunther, 1862, Cat. Fish., iv, p. 420 ; 

 Alcock, 1889, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Iviii (2), p. 291, pi. xvii, fig. 4 ; Alcock, 1896. J. Asiat. Soc. 

 Bengal, l.xv (2), p. 327 ; Alcock, 1898, lUust. Zool. " Investigator ", Fishes, pi. xxiii, fig. 2 ; 

 Norman, 1927, Rec. Ind. Mus., xxix, p. 44 ; Weber and Beaufort, 1929, Fish. Indo-Austral. 

 Arch., V, p. 138, fig. 34. 



Fig. 291. — Samaris cristatus. B.M. (N.H.) [750 



Depth of body 2\ to 3 in the length, length of head 3I to 5J. Snout shorter than 

 eye, diameter of which is 2 1 to 4 in length of head ; anterior margins of eyes level. 

 Maxillary extending to below anterior edge of eye or a little beyond, length 2j to 

 3^ in that of head ; lower jaw a little projecting, ij to 2 in head. Scales ctenoid on 

 ocular side, cycloid or rather feebly ctenoid on blind side ; 68 to 76 in lateral line. 

 Dorsal (73), 77-80 (81) ; first 13 or 14 rays greatly prolonged (except in verj- young), 

 highest rays 4 or 5 times length of head. Anal 50-54 (57). Pectoral with 4 rays, 

 length I J to I i times that of head. Caudal with 16 simple rays, rounded. Brownish, 

 variegated with paler and darker in the young, spotted and blotched with blackish in 

 adults ; generally a series of more distinct dark blotches along upper and lower edges 

 of body ; snout pale ; anterior dorsal rays white, some of them blackish at their 

 bases ; rest of dorsal and anal fins brownish, freckled with small white spots, and 

 darker towards their edges ; tip of caudal often dark brown or black ; pectoral dark 

 brown. 



Type. — British Museum (Nat. Hist.). Reg. No. [750]. 



Distribution. — Indian Ocean and Archipelago ; Chinese seas : in rather deep 

 water. 



