59 



The great cuboidal head is at least half the total length without the caudal, 

 and its greatest height, behind the eyes, is from a third to two-fifths the same 

 measure. 



Eyes large, subcutaneous, lateral although placed high up near the dorsal 

 profile. 



Snout short, squarish, underhung by the massive square-cut lower jaw. 

 Nostrils two tiny pores situated near the edge of the snout. On the top of the 

 snout, folding backwards on to a shallow smooth depression of the skin, is a 

 tentacle, about half as long as the eye, ending in a leaf -like tassel : this repre- 

 sents the first dorsal fin. 



Mouth-cleft wide, the length of the maxilla being two-ninths the total 

 without the caudal. 



Skin extremely loose, covered with minute granules or prickles which are 

 finest on the throat and belly, traversed by chain-like rows of mucous pores as 

 follows : — 



(1) one extending, on each side, fx-om the snout over the eye, and then 

 curving downwards to run along the ventral surface of the tail and on to the base 

 of the caudal : 



(2) one extending from the tip of the chin, on each side, along the lower 

 border of the head, to near the gill-opening : 



(3) one across the head (" like a headstall ") behind the level of the eyes 

 from ('2) to (2) : 



(4) one on each side from the snout, in continuation of (1), round and across 

 the cheek, to (3) : 



(•5) one across the chin from (2) to (2). 



Pectorals fairly broad, ventrals small and narrow. 



Colours in spirit, either uniform light yellow, or light yellow with large 

 faint-brown spots ; throat white. 



In the Indian Museum are numerous specimens from the Bay of Bengal 

 193, 272 and 145 to 2-50 fathoms, and two from off Colombo 142 to 400 fathoms 

 and 480 fathoms. 



Regd. Nos. 11087, 11090, 11693-11G9.J, 11719, 11720, 13468, 13483-13492, 



528 



T* 



Distribution : West Indies and neighbouring Atlantic coasts of America, 

 Madeira, C. Verde and neighbouring coasts of Africa : Arabian Sea, Bay of 

 Bengal : Fiji, Japan : at moderate depths, 130 to about 400 fatlioms. 



