296 MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. [ Mar. 14, 
Genus PLATACANTHUS. 
Body elongate, moderately compressed ; back low; a fleshy keel 
on the back, midway between the termination of the dorsal and com- 
mencement of caudal, on to which it is continued; opercular and 
suborbital regions scaled. Eyes veiled. Snout obtuse. Cirri eight, 
on snout two; on superior maxillaries four; on inferior maxillaries 
two. Suborbital spine free, bifurcated, close to orbit; no tubercle 
on end of lower jaw. Nostrils simple. Dorsal fin arises opposite 
ventral, in centre of the body. The internal ray of pectoral form- 
ing a large flattened spine, half the length of the soft rays. Caudal 
emarginate. No swimming-bladder apparent. 
PLATACANTHUS AGRENSIS, Day, sp. nov. 
B. ii D7. P.6—1. ¥..7.. A. 6. C.16. Cirri8. 
Length of specimen 32; inches. 
Length of head +1, of pectoral 4, of base of dorsal ,};, of base of 
anal =1;, of caudal + of the total length. Height of head 7, of 
body 4, of dorsal ;';, of anal 51; of the total length. Diameter of 
eye + of the length of the head, eyes 1 diameter from end of snout, 
Tadiameter apart. A strong bifurcated suborbital spine arises below 
the orbit, close to its anterior margin, and then passes backwards 
with a slight inward curve. 
Body elongated, compressed ; profile curving considerably from 
snout to opposite orbits, from back of head to caudal nearly straight. 
A raised adipose keel along the posterior sixth of the back, and ex- 
tending on to the upper surface of the base of the caudal fin. Sides 
compressed, but with a slight bulging just before the commencement 
of the caudal. 
Opening of the mouth below, transversely oval, and extending a 
very short distance posteriorly. End of snout fleshy, and overhang- 
ing the mouth. Lips thick, continuous ; no enlargement of inter- 
maxillaries, nor tubercle on lower jaw. Cirri two, fleshy on snout, 
their bases not united ; four on superior maxillaries, and two on 
lower jaw; the longest cirrus reaches as far as the eye. Nostrils 
midway between orbit and end of snout; neither tubular. Upper 
margin of orbit close to profile. Eyes covered with veil. Opercles 
rounded posteriorly. Interorbital space smooth, scaleless. 
Fins. Dorsal arises midway between snout and base of caudal. 
Ventral arises under the commencement of the dorsal. Pectoral 
Pectoral fin, magnified. 
