17 

 5. ScylUimi quagga, n. sp. 



Illustrations of the Zoology of the Investigator, Fishes, pl. XXVII. fig. 1. 



Head broad, depressed. Snout flat, elliptical in outline with a bluntly acu- 

 minate tip ; its length, measured from the convexity of the upper jaw is half its 

 greatest breadth. 



Nasal valves separated by an interval the width of which is rather more 

 than two-fifths the length of the snout : each with a very short and inconspic- 

 uous cirrus. 



Eyes large, their major diameter rather over two-thirds the length of the 

 snout. 



Spiracles small, their diameter about equal to that of the pupil ; situated 

 immediately behind and below the eye. 



Mouth large, crescentic ; a short labial fold at the angles only. Teeth in 

 both jaws tricuspid, the middle cusp much the longest and most acute. 



Body everywhere covered with minute scales, which are tricuspid or anchor- 

 shaped, except on the throat and belly, where they are granular. 



The dorsal fins are not very unequal : the first arises just in front of the 

 vertical through the after end of the base of the ventrals : the second arises 

 just in advance of the vertical through the after end of the anal. 



Base of anal a httle longer than that of either of the dorsals, between a 

 half and two-thirds the length of the interval between itself and the caudal. 



Posterior margin of ventrals very oblique. 



Colours in spirit : very numerous well-defined alternate cross-bands cf lio-ht 

 and very dark brown, from snout to tip of tail, not passing on to ventral 

 surface : the cross-bands are rather irregular in breadth, but the dark ones are 

 usually the narrowest. The dark cross-bands are not broken up into spots, but 

 are continuous stripes, and the light cross-bands are unspotted. 



An apparently adult male is 11 inches long. 



Off Malabar coast, 102 fathoms. 



Eegd. No. ^^r^. 

 c 1 



This species comes nearest to S. Bilrgeri M. & H. 



Suborder Batoidei. 

 Family Torpediriidw. 



Benthobatis, Alcock. 



Benthohatis, Alcock, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist, Augnst, 1S98, p. Hi. 



The whole animal invested in a loose, soft, naked, glandular skin. 



