112 TELEOSTBI. PIITSOSTOMI. 



its width equals its length behind the angle of the mouth. Mouth 

 very wide. Head and body in specimens from India having short 

 tentacles, with a ring of them round the eyes, and several along 

 the edge of the lower jaw, but such were not present in a specimen 

 I captured in the Irrawaddy. Fim dorsal spines slightly serrated 

 on both sides, pectoral spine serrated internally. A few tentacles 

 along the lateral line. Colour brownish, marbled darker. 



Fig. 46. Chaca lophioidcs. 



Ham. Buchanan observed, " Of all the horrid animals of this 

 tribe the Chaka of this district is the most disagreeable to behold. 

 It has the habit of the fishes called by Lacepede Uranotcopt and 

 Cotte, that is, it conceals itself among the mud from which, by its 

 lurid appearance, and a number of loose filamentous substances on 

 its skin, it is scarcely distinguishable, and with an immense open 

 mouth it is ready to seize any small prey that is passing along. 

 In order that it may see what is approaching, the eyes are placed 

 on the crown of the head. All persons turn away from it with 

 loathing." 



Hob. Brahmaputra, Ganges, and Irrawaddy rivers, and tanks in 

 connection with them ; also some fresh waters of Bombay. This 

 species attains to at least 8 inches in length. 



Third group. PLOTOSINA. 



5. Genus PLOTOSTTS, Lacepede. 

 Syn. Platystacus, Bloch ; Cojndoglanis, Giinther. 



Branchiostegals nine to twelve. Gill-openings wide, the mem- 

 branes separated by a deep notch, and not being confluent with the 

 skin of the isthmus. Head depressed, covered with thin skin. 

 Eyes with a free circular margin. Nostrils remote from one 

 another. Barbels eight. Teeth conical in the upper, mixed in the 

 lower jaw; molariform on the vomer. Two rayed dorsal fins, the 

 first with one spine and four or five rays ; the second many-rayed 

 and confluent with the caudal, as is also the anal. A pectoral 

 spine. Ventral fin many-rayed (12). Air-bladder of moderate 

 size, and not enclosed in bone. A dendritic post-anal apparatus. 



Geographical Distribution. From the east coast of Africa through 

 the seas and estuaries of India and Buima to Polynesia and 

 Australia. 



