748 



Memoirs of the Indian Museum. 



[Vol. V, 



eyes are in the anterior half of the head and are situated near the dorsal surface ; they are 

 not visible from below. The mouth is small and has a slightly oblique opening ; the 

 maxilla just reaches to below the anterior third of the orbit. The snout is small and rounded 

 and the margins of the eyes almost meet on the dorsal surface. 



The commencement of the first dorsal is in the anterior third of the distance between 

 the tip of the snout and the base of the caudal fin. All the spines are greatly produced ; 

 the third is the longest and reaches to the base of the fifth ray of the second dorsal fin when 

 adpressed. The base of the second dorsal is as long as the length of the head ; the rays 

 increase in length as they proceed backwards. The anal fin commences slightly behind the 

 anterior origin of the second dorsal and ends slightly in front of the end of the second dorsal 

 fin. The rays in the middle of the pectoral fins are greatly elongated and are provided with 

 silky terminations. The pelvic fins are shorter than the length of the head. The caudal fin 

 is slightly longer than the pelvic fins and is rounded posteriorly. 



The teeth are arranged in several rows both in the upper and the lower jaws ; those of 

 the outer rows in each are longer and stronger than the others and are somewhat curved 

 inwards near their extremities. In the lower jaw the outer teeth are well-marked and form 

 a formidable series resembling canines. 



The scales are large and well-developed. There are 28 to 31 between the angle of the 

 operculum and the base of the caudal fin. Between the anterior origin of the second dorsal 

 and the anal there are 9 series of the longitudinal rows. Scales are absent on the cheeks 

 and the opercula, but on the dorsal surface of the head they are continued up to the margins 

 of the orbits. 



On the head there are a number of open pores ; they are arranged along the margins 

 of the opercular bones and on the surface just behind the eyes. 



In spirit the colour of the body is yellowish red. The pelvic and the anal fins are dark, 

 while the remaining fins are white near their bases and dusky near their free margins. The 

 snout, sides and under surface of the head are lighter in colour. The most characteristic 

 feature of the colouration is the presence of a deep black spot on the bases of some of the 

 upper pectoral rays. 



The new species is readily recognised by its elongate dorsal spines and by the presence 

 of well-developed canine-like teeth. 



Measurements in hundredths of the total length. 

 Total length without caudal 

 Length of head 



Width of head 

 Height of head near occiput 

 Greatest depth of body- 

 Diameter of eye 

 Length of snout 

 Length of caudal peduncle 

 Height of caudal peduncle 

 Length of caudal fin 

 Length of pelvic fin 

 Longest ray of second dorsal fin 

 Longest ray of anal fin 



40 mm. 



27-5 



22-5 



18-2 



20-0 



7-5 



5-7 

 25-0 

 14-5 

 25-0 

 23-7 

 22-0 

 21-2 



