Dr. A. Giinther on new Reptiles and Fishes. 137 



dorsal. Caudal fin sealeless, rounded, contained four times and two- 

 thirds in the total length. The anal commences opposite the four- 

 teenth dorsal spine ; its second spine is the longest, contained twice 

 and two-thirds in the length of the head. The pectoral has the rays 

 branched, and extends nearly as far backwards as the ventral, which 

 is composed of a strong spine and five soft rays ; the region round 

 the base of the pectoral and ventral fins is naked, covered with soft 

 skin. 



The gill-membranes are scarcely united below the throat. There 

 is a distinct cleft behind the fourth gill*. 



Length of the specimen, 3 inches. 



Catopra siamensis. 



D. g. A. i. L. lat. 27. L. transv. g. 



The height of the body is contained twice and a third in the total 

 length. Cheek with six series of scales, the lower of which covers 

 the prseopercular limb. Body with eight dark cross bands ; scales 

 on the nape with some minute whitish dots ; the outer edge of the 

 ventral white. 



Siam. 



Description. — The height of the body is contained twice and a 

 third in the total length, the length of the head thrice and a third ; 

 head as high as long. Snout rather shorter than the eye, the dia- 

 meter of which is one-fourth of the length of the head, and equal to 

 the width of the interorbital space. The lower jaw is scarcely longer 

 than the upper, and the maxillary extends slightly beyond the ante- 

 rior margin of the orbit. Two nostrils remote from each other, both 

 very small. Prseorbital and angle of the prseoperculum slightly ser- 

 rated ; opercles, throat, and isthmus entirely scaly. The dorsal fin 

 commences above the end of the operculum, and terminates close by 

 the caudal ; its spines are very strong, and can be received in a 

 groove ; the fifth, sixth, and seventh are the longest, not quite half 

 as long as the head ; the last spine is shorter than the penultimate ; 

 the soft dorsal is elevated and scaly at the base. The second anal 

 spine is exceedingly strong, rather stronger and longer than the third, 

 and not quite half as long as the head ; the soft anal is similar to the 

 soft dorsal. Caudal fin rounded, slightly produced, one-fourth of 

 the total length ; its basal half is scaly. Pectoral rather narrow, as 

 long as the head without snout. The ventral is inserted immediately 

 behind the base of the pectoral ; it has a strong spine, and extends 

 to the vent. 



Scales minutely ciliated ; the upper part of the lateral line termi- 

 nates below the last dorsal rays, the lower commences above the 

 third anal spine. 



Gill-membranes united below the throat, not attached to the 



* I have been induced by that circumstance to re-examine C. australis, and 

 have found a very small opening behind the fourth gill ; so that the presence of 

 such a narrow cleft is to be introduced into the diagnosis of the genus Centro- 

 pogon (Catal. Fish. ii. p. 128). 



Ann. fy Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 3. Vol. xi. 10 



