156 LETTER FROM MR.W. G. BLANFORD. [Feb. 27» 



of head smooth, covered by skin. Nostrils some distance apart, the 

 anterior between the orbit and the snout, and covered by a thick 

 strong cirrus, which reaches to | the length of the pectoral fiu. 

 Mandibular cirri situated one anterior to tiie other, at a distance 

 equalling the diameter of the orbit ; both of them extend nearly as 

 far as the base of the pectoral fin. Gill-openings wide, central cleft 

 extends to above the isthmus. 



Teeth. Numerous rows of fine sharp villiform ones in both jaws, 

 and two oval patches, one on each side of the vomer, divided by 

 a small interspace. None on the palate. 



Fins. Dorsal small, without any spine, situated anterior to the 

 origin of the ventral ; no adipose dorsal. Pectoral with a very short 

 but strong spine, ending in a short termination. Ventrals extend to 

 the origin of the anal, wliich last is slightly joined to the caudal, tlie 

 latter being rounded or rather emarginate. 



Air-bladder present. 



Lateral line straight, ceasing just anterior to the base of the caudal 

 fin. 



Colours. Leaden, becoming ])urplish beneath, covered all over 

 with minute black points, which form an irregular dark finger-mark 

 on the shoulder. Cavidal in some specimens yellowish. 



Mr. Burnett was good enough to send me several specimens of this 

 interesting fish, which he ca])tured in the Wynaad, in a stream about 

 3000 feet above the level of the sea. Some were full of ova. The 

 fish does not appear to grow above 12 inches in length. 



February 27, 18G8. 

 Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S., V.P., in the Chair. 



The following extract was read from a letter addressed to the 

 Secretary, by Mr. W. G. Blanford, Corr. Memb., dated " Annesley 

 Bay, Feb. 3rd :"— 



*' I have got Pectinator spekei, or else a second species of the 

 same genus. It abounds up the passes, living amongst the rocks, 

 and it is, without exception, the most tender-skinned mammal I ever 

 tried to preserve. Tt is rather a pretty little beast, fond of lying 

 out on lumps of rock, and feeding upon green leaves, though I have 

 never seen one on a tree. It is constantly out in the morning and 

 evening, but I fancy it only feeds at night. 



" I have also two species of Hyrax (one from the passes, a second 

 from the shoresof Annesley Bay), a species ofGround-Squirrel(A''e/-?/s), 

 which does not agree in colour with any of those described in Dr. 

 Gray's list, and a Jew other things. The Jackal is quite different 



