EDWIN CHAPIN STARKS 71 



A few specimens were taken in the sandy tide pools at Natal in company 

 with Dactyloscopus tridigitatiis. The type and largest specimen is just two 

 inches in entire length. 



216. Dactyloscopus tridigitatus Gill. 



A few specimens of this form were taken in sandy tide pools on the open 

 beach at Natal. It has not before been recorded south of the West Indies. 



In life they are of a transparent flesh-color. When frightened they bury 

 themselves in the sand. 



Family BATRACHOIDID^. 

 217. Batrachoides surinamensis (Bloch and Sclineider). 



This species was rather common in the market at Para. Comparing a 

 specimen about 10 inches in length with one of similar size of Batrachoides 

 pacifici (Giinther), the eye is smaller, being contained 11 times in the length 

 of the head, while it is contained 9 times in B. pacifici; the fin rays are less 

 deeply incised ; the cross bars on the body are much more conspicuous ; the 

 teeth are finer; the pairs of spines on the opercle and preopercle are closer 

 together, and the interruption in the lateral lines is much greater. The 

 alleged difference in the number of dorsal rays cannot be relied upon to 

 separate these species, as B. surinamensis may have as few as 26, which is 

 the usual number in the other. 



I am now able for the first time to compare this species directly with 

 B. boulengcri Gilbert and Starks. A specimen 14 inches in length, or an 

 inch longer than the type of B. houlengeri, has a slightly sharper mandible 

 projecting a little more. The eye is little if any smaller ; the dorsal membrane 

 is not so deeply incised ; the interruption in the lateral lines occurs a little 

 farther from the base of the caudal ; the last dorsal and anal rays do not 

 project so far past the caudal base, and the scales are a little smaller. Im- 

 bedded scales occur in front of the ventrals where the breast is entirely naked 

 in the other species. Perhaps the greatest difference lies in the entire absence 

 of the interradial canals and pores on the inner surface of the pectoral, which 

 is such a characteristic feature in B. houlengeri. The teeth on the outer end 

 of the vomer are in two irregular rows for a short distance in the large speci- 

 mens, but in the small ones they are in a single row as in the other species. 

 The teeth do not otherwise differ. The cross bars are more definite, and the 

 interspaces and the head are not so much freckled with small spots. 



In life this species is light reddish brown, growing lighter below to 

 nearly white on the belly. Dark brown, irregular cross bars are on the body. 



