1. BATUACHtJS. 173 



neural ajMne of the first vertebra to the upper end of the humerus ; 

 it is slighly moveable at both its extremities, and fixes the humerus 

 at a certain horizontal distance from the vertebral column. 



Each pubic bone is formed of two pieces horizontally directed 

 inwards ; the anterior is broad, triangular, the posterior styliform 

 and tapering : the pubic bones arc very loosely attached to the 

 humerus. 



There are twelve abdominal and seventeen caudal vertebra', the 

 length of the former portion of the vertebral column being to that 

 of the caudal as 1 : 1-43. The vertebra; are stout, rather short, and, 

 especially the anterior ones, firmlj' wedged into one another ; their 

 neural spines are strong, reclining backwards ; the interneurals of 

 the spinous dorsal fin are firmly united to the neurals of the third, 

 fourth and fifth vertebra). The interneurals of the second dorsal, 

 the ha^mals and interhaemals, and the ribs are feeble. 



8. Batrachus pacific!. 

 D. 3 I 25-26. A. 21-22. V. 1/2. 



Scaly. The length of the head is nearly one-fourth of the total ; 

 the diameter of the eye is more than one-half of the width of the 

 bony bridge between the oi'bits, or one-ninth of the length of the 

 head. GiU-covers with four spines directed backwards, two at the 

 operculum and two at the suboperculum, the latter being more back- 

 wardly situated than the former. A very slight and short horizontal 

 fold of the skin behind the eye. Teeth on the vomer, the palatines, 

 and on the side of the lower jaw in a single series, obtusely conical ; 

 mandible anteriorly with a patch of villiform teeth, and ^v'ith tAvo 

 pairs of strong conical teeth in the outer series. Snout very broad, 

 obtuse, fiat and depressed, surrounded by a wreath of tentacles ; no 

 tentacle above the orbit. The maxillary extends far behind the ej'c. 

 Axil without foramen, but a\ ith a pocket-like excavation formed by a 

 fold of the skin ; a wide pore at the inner base of each pectoral ray. 

 Ventral fin not quite half so long as the head. Brownish-grey, 

 marbled with darker ; some indistinct blackish bands across the back. 

 Dorsal with about eight oblique, rather irregular blackish bands ; 

 caudal with some indistinct cross-bands ; anal with black margin 

 and with some spots posteriorly ; pectoral with blackish spots ; ven- 

 tral blackish. 



Coast of Panama. 



a, h. Adult and half-grown. From Mr. Eraser's Collection. 



inclies. lines. 



Total length 8 



Length of the head 2 1 



Width of the head 2 



Diameter of the eye 2| 



This species appeared to me to bo the representative of B. surma- 



