64 LOPHOBRANCH1I. 



until they are hatched and the young come forth. It is impos- 

 sible to bring the two species here alluded to into the genus 

 Nerophis, and I am therefore under the necessity of introducing 

 a new generic name into the science. 



1. Microphis deocata, Kp. 



Syngnathus deocata, Hamilt. Fish of the Ganges, p. 14. 

 Dr. Gray, hid. Zool., a figure. 



Diagn. — Snout longer than that of cuncalus. Body composed 

 of 16 rings, the tail of 32. 



Descr. — Dorsal fin standing on 6 rings, two of them belonging 

 to the body. Colour brown generally, bright red under the lateral 

 line and dotted with blue. The species inhabits the Testa, Kur- 

 walayi, and other rivers of Puraniya or Mitbilla in the north of 

 Bengal and Behar. I have not seen the species, and this notice 

 of it is taken from Buchanan Hamilton's work above quoted. 



Rad.—P. 15 ; D. 30; A. . . ; C. about 17. 



2. Micropliis cuncalus, Kp. 



Syngnathus cuncalus, Ham. Fish of the Ganges, p. 12. no. 1. 

 Tvphlus Dussumieri, Bibron, MS. Paris Mus. 



Diagn. — A prominent line divides the silvery gill-cover into 

 two similar parts. The lateral line unites in an arch with 

 the under border of the first caudal ring. Ten rings ; 3 of 

 them belonging to the body sustain the dorsal fin, before 

 which there are 14 rings, and up to the anal ring there 

 are 17. 



Descr. — The uncommonly rich Parisian collection possesses 

 seven female specimens, which were sent from Malabar by Dus- 

 sumier. It is an easily distinguished species, slender, elongated, 

 and up to the extremity of the dorsal fin equally thick. The 

 somewhat tip-turned snout projects a little from the fore- 

 border of the orbit, and is traversed inwardly by a prominent 

 line, which extends from the hind-head to the nasal end. 

 Occipital shield rhomboidal and keeled. Tail somewhat longer 

 than the body, composed of 25 to 27 rings. The upper dorsal 

 edge reaches to the last ring, and the edge of the tail extends to 

 over the anal ring. Snout dark brown, and the body has dark 

 bands down to the lateral line. The caudal cross-bands are 



