230 BLENNIID^. 



moderate, extent. A single dorsal fin (in one species with a semi- 

 detached portion) ; ventrals jugular, composed of two or three rays. 

 Cleft of the mouth narrow ; a single series of immoveable teeth in 

 the jaws ; a strong curved canine tooth behind this series ; that of 

 the lower jaw much stronger than that of the upper (in two species no 

 canine tooth). Head sometimes with tentacles. Gill-opening closed 

 beneath, and reduced to a small fissure above the root of the pectoral. 

 Branchiostegals six (seven); air-bladder and pseudobranchiae present; 

 pyloric appendages none. 



Tropical parts of the Indian Ocean and Archipelago and of the 

 Pacific. (Two anomalous species from Chile.) 



1 . Petroscirtes tapeinosoma. 



Sleeker, Act. Soc. Sc. Lido-Nederl. ii., Amhoina, p. 64. 

 D. 45. A. 30. 



The height of the body is contained ten times and a half in the 

 total length, the length of the head nearly six times. Snout convex, 

 projecting far beyond the cleft of the mouth ; tentacles none. The 

 width of the interorbital space nearly equals the diameter of the eye. 

 Upper jaw without canines. The dorsal fin is not elevated, and 

 commences on the occiput. The upper haK of the body violet, the 

 lower white ; the margin of the upper colour forms a band, including 

 the superior part of the eye, and passing into a narrower stripe edged 

 with white on the caudal fin ; the middle of the sides is spotted with 

 black ; two bluish longitudinal streaks on the back ; fins yellow, the 

 dorsal and anal with a broad brown margin. {Bl.) 



Seas of Amboyna and Celebes. 



2. Petroscirtes rhinorhynchus. 



Sleeker, Amboina i^ Ceram, p. 273. 



D. 44. A. 32. 



The height of the body is contained seven times in the total length, 

 the length of the head five times and a half to five times and two-thirds. 

 Snout conical, projecting beyond the cleft of the mouth ; tentacles 

 none. The ^vidth of the interorbital sjDace equals the diameter of 

 the eye. No canines in the upper jaw. The dorsal fin is not elevated, 

 beginning on the occiput and terminating at the root of the caudal. 

 Brownish, with two bluish longitudinal bands ; fins yellow, the dorsal 

 and anal edged with brown. {Bl.) 



Coasts of Celebes, Amboyna, Ceram, and Ooram. 



3. Petroscirtes amblyrhsmchus. 



Bleekei; Act. Soc. Sc. Indo-Nedcrl. ii., Amboina, p. 64. 

 D. 43. A. 31 . 

 The height of the body is one -eighth of the total length, the 



