from the Bay of Bengal. 439 



Snout obtusely pointed, very short, its length about half 

 the major diameter of the eye, which is about ^ of the head- 

 length. Eyes on the left side, separated by a ridge, the 

 lower slightly in advance of the upper, which bulges into the 

 dorsal profile. 



Mouth small, twisted towards the right, its cleft approaching 

 the vertical ; the maxillary barely reaches the vertical from 

 the anterior limit of the lower orbit. Villiform teeth in the 

 jaws on the blind side only. 



Gill-cleft narrow, the gill-membranes united together 

 throughout. Minute very deciduous scales. Lateral line 

 with a strong supra-pectoral curve. 



The dorsal fin begins in front of the eye and ends on the 

 base of the caudal ; its first two rays are isolated ; its longest 

 rays, about the middle, are |- the greatest body-height and 

 equal to the corresponding anal rays. Pectorals almost 

 equally developed ; the left, which is slightly longer than 

 the right, equals the length of the head behind the middle of 

 the lower eye. Ventrals equally developed ; the left is in 

 the same straight line with the anal. Caudal obtusely 

 pointed ; its length about 6^ in tlie total. 



Colours in life : — Deep ruddy brown ; vertical fins and 

 left ventral black. 



Length of largest specimen 4'5 inches. 



Found (1) in the Gulf of Martaban, 20 fathoms, bottom 

 mud ; (2) off Ganjam and Vizagapatam coasts in 15 to 30 

 fathoms, usually on muddy bottoms, but sometimes on sand, 

 broken shells, &c. 



This species is very similar to Lceops parviceps, Giinther, 

 but the characters which distinguish it are so constant 

 throughout a number of individuals, that one is obliged to 

 recognize their specific value. 



SOLEA, Gthr. 



SoJea cyanea, sp. n. 



D. 77. A. 54. C. 18. P. 0. V. 5. L. lat. 78-80 ^ 



Body elongate ; its height in the total is 2| with, 2^ 

 without the caudal. The length of the head is about 4^ in 

 the latter standard and about one fourth less than its height. 



Snout semicircular in outline ; its length is one third that 

 of the head and twice the diameter of the eye. Eyes circular, 



* To its termination behind the upper eye. 



