30 LOPHOBRANCHII. 



thick as the body, and suddenly pointed at the setting on of the 

 very rudimentary caudal fin. Anus situated under the beginning 

 of the dorsal fin. This genus approaches very nigh to Corythb- 

 ichthys, but is distinguished from it by its more tetragonal form, 

 and by the characters mentioned above in the diagnosis. 



1. Ichthyocampus Belcheri, Kp. PI. V. f. 39. 



Diagn. — The very short snout constituting one-third of the 

 entire length of the head. Tail a httle longer than the 

 body. The lateral line extending nearly three rings beyond 

 the anus. 



Descr. — An unwontedly short form in comparison with its 

 thickness. Head oval, with a distinct crest on the dorsal aspect 

 of the breast-rings, nuchal shields and occiput. A distinctly 

 raised line running from the orbit to the occiput, and a notched 

 crest passing from the forehead over the abbreviated snout. The 

 under nostril shortly tubular. The bulging operculum lineated, 

 and showing a trace of a curved longitudinal line, by which it is 

 divided into two dissimilar portions. Body flat on the back, 

 and rendered septangular by its lateral and ventral borders. 

 Fifteen rings before the dorsal fin, and 1 6 up to the anus. The 

 dorsal fin stands on 5 rings, the anal ring being the first of 

 them. The lateral line reaches the 4th of these dorsal fin-rings. 



Ground-colour yellowish- or blackish-brown. The lighter- 

 coloured specimens have more numerous spots in rows, four or 

 five dark cross-bars on the body, and five on the dorsal aspect 

 of the tail. In the darker individuals the bands have lighter 

 borders. 



Had.— P. 12; D. 22; A. 3; C. 10. 



Length of snout 0*16 inch, of head 0"39 inch, of body 1*42 

 inch, of tail 2'05 inches, of dorsal fin - 24 inch. 



Specimens procured in China by Captain Sir Edward Belcher 

 are deposited in the British Museum, and in the Leyden Museum 

 there are others brought from Borneo by Dr. Muller. 



2. Ichthyocampus carce, Kp. 



Syngnathus carce, Ham. Gang. Fish, p. 13. 



Bleeker, Natez. op de Ichth. Fauna, v. Beng. und Hindost. 

 p. 161. 

 Syngnathus platygnathus, Kuhl § Van Hasselt, MSS. 



Diagn. — Snout half the length of the head. A continuous, 



