LUCIOCEPHALIDiE. 519 



siclerable annual revenue to the King of Siam. The species 

 abounds in the rivulets at the foot of the liills of Penarig. 

 The inhabitants name it 'Pla-kat,' or the Tighting-fish;' 

 but the kind kept especially for fighting is an artificial variety 

 cultivated for the purpose." 



MiCRACANTHUS. — This genus represents the three last- 

 named genera in Africa, where it has been recently discovered 

 in tributaries of the river Ogooue. It seems to differ from 

 the Indian genera chiefly by its more elongate body, the 

 structure of the fins being scarcely different (D. ^, A. -^, ^-'4). 



Second Family — Luciocephalid^. 



Bod]/ elongate, covered with scales of moderate size. Late- 

 ral line freseyit. Teeth small. Gill-opening wide ; psetido- 

 hranchim none. The supei^hranehial organ is formed hy two 

 branchial arches, which are dilated into a memhrane. One 

 short dorsal fin ; dorsal and anal spines none ; ventrals com- 

 posed of one spine and five rays. Air-bladder none. 



A small Freshwater-fish {Lucioccphalus puleher^, from the 

 East-Indian Archipelago. 



Seventeenth Division — Acanthopterygii lophotifoemes. 



Body riband shaped, ivith the vent near its extremity ; a 

 short anal behind the vent ; dorsal fin as long as the body. 



Only one species is knoAvn of this division or family, 

 Lophotes cejjedianus. It is most probably a deep-sea fish, but 

 does not descend to so great a depth as the Traehyp)tcridm, 

 its bony and soft parts being well coherent. It is a scarce 

 fish, hitherto found in the Mediterranean, off Madeira, and in 

 the Sea of Japan ; its length is known to exceed five feet. 

 The head is elevated into a very high crest, and the dorsal 

 fin commences with an exceedingly strong and long spine on 

 the head. Silvery, with rose-coloured fins. 



