LOPHOBRANCHII. 



Genus 1. SOLENOSTOMUS, (Seba) Laeep. 1803. 



Snout sharp-edged on its dorsal and ventral aspects. A 

 sharp denticulated ridge, passing from the occiput over the 

 eves and nostrils, disappears in the acute rostral crest. Surface 

 of the forehead and occiput showing irregular acutely-edged 

 lines. Gill-plate having three sharp lines, one of which runs 

 along the middle. Back and breast acutely ridged ; the leathery 

 skin forms three rings, between which there are lines which in- 

 crease to irregular folds in descending to the breast. Pectoral 

 tin broad and short. The belly down to the tail-fin divided into 

 rings and armed with three longitudinal rows of short spines. 

 The first back-fin very long; the second as well as the anal rudi- 

 mentarv. Ventrals and caudal much developed. 



In the males an egg-pouch is formed by the union of the 

 inner borders of the ventrals to the skin of the belly. In the 

 females the ventrals are free as in other fish. 



1. Solenostomns paradoxus. 



Solenostomus paradoxus, Lacepede, Polss. v. p. 36. 

 Fistularia paradoxa, Pall. Spicil. Zool. viii. t. 4. f. 6. 

 Seba, Thes. t. 34. f. 4. 



This is one of the strangest forms to be found in the whole 

 class of fishes. The colour of a large specimen is blackish-brown; 

 others are yellowish-brown dotted with black, except on the 

 pectoral, second dorsal and anal. Some of the specimens have 

 little skinny tags round the mouth and rostral tube, as repre- 

 sented in Pallas's figure. Rod.— D. 5 — 18 or 19; A. 18 or 19 ; 

 C. 15; P. 27; V. 7. 



Dr. Bleeker describes the colours in the following words : — 

 " Corpore rosea, toto nigro punctato j pinnis roseis j dorsali 

 prima inter radium primum et tertium macula magna, pulchra, 

 cmrulea, ventralibus caudalique postice violaceis." 



Five individuals exist in the Paris Museum. An old male, 

 4f inches long, brought from the Isle of France by M. Lienard ; 

 a smaller female from the same sea, by the Expedition of Capt. 

 Duperrey ; a black female from India, presented by Mr. Bosk ; 

 two young ones from New Guinea, by Quoy and Gaimard. Dr. 

 Bleeker obtained his specimens in the sea of Hawaii and 

 Cerani. 



