20 



Memoir!^ oj the Indian Museum. [Vol. Ill, 



Disk distinctly broader than long. Dorsal surface covered with stout stellate 

 spines, most of which have more than four roots. They vary considerably in size, 

 but none are very small. Over the greater part of the disk the spines are single 

 At the edge, where they are accompanied by numerous cuticular processes, they 

 have at least four sharp points. The anterior extremity of the roof of the tentacular 

 cavity does not reach the edge of the disk. The apertiue of the cavity slopes down- 

 wards and forwards, so th^^t it is partly visible from above. The disk is much flatter 

 than in H. coccmca. Superciliary ridge with strong simple spines. Interorbital 

 space distinctly broader than diameter of eye. Ventral surface with very minute and 

 widely scattered spines. 



Colour (in spirit). Dorsal surface pinkish grey with numerous black spots, the 

 centre of each of which is much darker than the periphery. These spots tend to be 

 arranged in eight groups, four on each lateral half of the disk. The most marked 

 group is that on each side of the centre of the mid-dorsal region. The whole of the 

 dorsal surface is covered with minute pigment cells; the ventral surface white In 

 life the ground colour of the dorsal surface is a deep red. 



Pectoral and caudal fins white, broadly edged with black. Dorsal fin black, 

 edged with wliite. 



This species appears to reach a much larger size than H. mdica. In some res- 

 pects it resembles H. coccinea, but the disk is much flatter, the spines on the dorsal 

 surface are stouter, and those on the ventral surface are smaller or more widely 

 scattered. The coloration is also different, and there are only 4 rays in the 



dorsal. 



We had proposed to describe this species as new, but notes that Prof. Max 

 Weber has been kind enough to send convince us that we would have been wrong in 

 so doing. 



Family ANTENNARIIDAE. 



Genus Antennakius, Cuv. 



Kev to the Indian species of Antennarius. 



I. — Skin devoid of spines 



Skin bearing numerous foliaceous processes . . A. marmoratus. 



II. — Skin covered with minute spines. 



A. — Sides pale with numerous dark streaks, which 



radiate from the eye and from the pectoral fin . . A hispidus. 

 B.— vSides variously mottled or s]>otted. 



(6) First dorsal spine (tentacle) longer than the 



second .. .. .. .. A. commersonu. 



(b') First dorsal spine not longer than the second A. nummiler. 



Antennarius hispidus, Bloch and vSchneid. 



Two specimens have been taken by the " Golden Crown " off the Ganjam coast. 

 There are several others in the collection of the Indian Museum, one of which from 



