446 



Supralateral scales 1\. Depth of body 2'7-2'9 in the 

 length to the hypural joint ; head 3'l-3'4 in the same. Eye 

 much shorter than the snout, slightly broader than the inter- 

 orbital space, and 4' 2 in the head. Fourth dorsal spine 

 2*5-2*6, second dorsal ray 2*9-3*08, second anal ray, 1*5-1*6, 

 and longest pectoral ray 1*2-1*3 in the head. 



Body compressed, elevated anteriorly. Profile from the 

 snout to the back very oblique, slightly convex on the snout ; 

 the nape obtusely keeled. A bony tubercle is present on each 

 side of the snout anteriorly, and another larger one is placed 

 before each eye. Orbit defined above by a granular ridge, 

 and by four granular ossicles which encircle the posterior and 

 inferior margins of the eye. Nostrils large, close together ,. 

 the anterior with fimbriate margins. Lips very thick, the 

 upper overhanging the lower. Maxillary narrow, extending 

 backward to below the nostrils. Preorbital and preoperculum 

 entire; operculum with a small flat spine. A band of small, 

 cardiform, depressible teeth in each jaw ; palate toothless. 

 Body covered with moderately large scales, the exposed sur- 

 faces of which are minutely granular. They form sheaths at 

 the bases of the dorsal and anal fins, and extend on to the 

 caudal and pectoral fins. They are very small on the head and 

 breast, and extend forward to between the nostrils on the 

 upper-surface of the head. Lateral line slightly arched, ex- 

 tending over the upper part of the caudal peduncle to the 

 middle of the caudal fin ; it is formed of simple tubules placed 

 on small scales, which are intercalated with the others. 



Fins. — Dorsal originating above the operculum ; the 

 spines increase rapidly in length to the fourth, whence they 

 decrease evenly backward, leaving the margin of the fin not 

 or scarcely excavate. The anterior rays are much longer than 

 the last spine : the others decrease regularly backward to the 

 last. Anal short, falcate, its hinder margin incised. Longest 

 simple pectoral ray not greatly produced, not reaching so far 

 back as the adpressed ventrals, which reach nearly or quite 

 to the vent. Caudal forked. 



Col oar. — Light-brown' in formaline with oblique darker 

 cross-bands. An indefinite dark bar extends from the nape 

 to behind the operculum ; a second broad band extends 

 obliquely backward from the anterior third of the spinous 

 dorsal to the middle of the side; a third covers the greater 

 part of the remainder of the back, and encloses three large 

 light spots below the soft dorsal. A blackish mark surrounds 

 the eye and extends forward on to the snout ; sides of head 

 with dark reticulating lines enclosing lighter spots. Breast 

 and caudal fin with some very indefinite greyish ocelli. 

 Spinous dorsal blackish, the soft portion with a median lighter 



