32 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA,. 
(c) Syngnathus argyrostictus, Kuhl et Van Hasselt ; Kaup, 
1856, p. 33; Duméril, 1870, p. 545. 
Syngnathus spicifer, Ginther, 1870, p. 172 part. 
? Syngnathus biserialis, Gray; Kaup, 1856, p. 33. 
Diagnoses of the two Species. 
Syngnathus spicifer, Rupp. 
Ann. 14-16 plus 38-43 ; ann. subdors. — 2-0 plus 6-9; D 23-30, 
A 2-3, © 10, P 13-18, B R 14-21. Middle lateral edges of trunk 
subcontinuous with lower ones of tail. Opercle keeled in its entire 
length. Sides of trunk without ocellated spots. Total length up 
to 15:4 cm. k 
Distribution,—From East Africa to Polynesia: 
Syngnathus argyrostictus, Kuhl] et Van Hasselt. 
Ann. 15-16 plus 33-41 ; ann. subdors. — 1-0 plus 6-8; D 25-29, 
A 3, C 10, P 15-17, B R 16-19. Middle lateral edges of trunk 
subcontinuous with upper ones of tail. Opercle keeled in its entire 
length. Length of rostrum equal to distance of preorbital margin 
from base of P. Sides of trunk with numerous small white black- 
bordered ocellated spots in 3-7 longitudinal series. Total length 
up to 13-6 cm. 
Distribution.—Malay Peninsula, China, Japan. 
Diagnoses of the Varieties of Syngnathus spicifer, Rupp. 
(a) Var. gastrotenia, Bleek. 
Rostrum longer than the remaining part of the head. Trunk 
rather deep, but without a particularly prominent abdominal edge. 
Abdomen with about 14 dark cross bars. Total length up to 15:4 
cm. Mature males 10°0-15:4 cm. 
(b) Var. djarong, Bleek. 
Rostrum about as long as the postorbital length of the head. 
Trunk deep; abdominal edge very prominent. Abdomen uni- 
coloured, lighter than the bluish-black abdominal edge. Total 
length up to 14-1 cm. ; mature males 8-3-12-°6 cm. 
The formule of numbers of rings, &c., taken from 44 specimens 
of the first and 29 of the second variety are :— 
(a) Ann. 14-15 plus 38-42; ann. subdors. — 2 ~ 1 plus 7-9; 
D 25-30, P 14-18, B R 15-21. 
(b) Ann. 14-16 plus 39-43; ann. subdors. — 2-0 plus 6-7; 
D 23-29, P 13-16, B R 14-17. 
More distinctly these differences will come out from the corre- 
sponding average values :— 
(a) Ann. 14~—73 plus 39-81; ann. subdors. — 1-32 plus 7-41 ; 
D 27-61, P 16-37, B R 18-26. 
