32 On a New Genus of the Oadidce. [No. 1, 



Description of a supposed new Genus of the GadidcB, Arcikan. — By 

 Lieut.-Col. S. R. Tickell, Bengal Staff. Plate I. 



[Author's date, October, 1862.] [Received 8th June, 1864.] 



Order. Malacopterygh subbraohiati. 



Family. Gadid^e. 



Genus. Asthenurus (milii). 



(ao-0evr)s feeble and Ovpa Tail). 



Body rounded — very little compressed — -head small, muzzle short, 

 mouth wide with a single row of minute teeth in each jaw, and a 

 band across the anteal part of the palate. Scales of a medium size. 

 No lateral line visible. Fins ; two dorsals and two anals, joined by 

 intermediate detached rays, which are partially membraned. The 

 anterior dorsal and anal, quadruple the height of their posterior 

 fellows. Vcntrals jugular and filiform. Caudal bilobed and veiy small. 

 Brancheostegous rays 7. 



Asthenurus Atripinnis. Tickell. 



Specimen 5|" long. The largest of 4 or 5 observed, Akyab harbour. 

 Arakan. October 15th, 1862. 



Structure. See above for Genus. Body lengthened in the portion 

 of the tail behind the 1st dorsal. Head small ; snout short and blunt. 

 Gill plates smooth and smooth- edged, their divisions not veiy distinct : 

 but suboperculum large : scales medium-sized, semitransparent and 

 deciduous. Along the back, from occiput to 1st D, a mesial groove, 

 with a ridge along each side for the whole length of the fish to caudal. 

 A deeper groove along mesial belly, in which the ventrals can lie 

 encased. Intermaxillary long and narrow, and set with a row of 

 minute pointed teeth jammed close together. Mandibles with a similar 

 row, smaller still. Rest of mouth smooth. Tongue short, round, tied 

 down to floor of mouth. Scales round at free edge, concentrically 

 furrowed ; about 67 from gill cover to base of C and 14 tiers. Air 

 bladder large. Its shape and that of the intestines could not be ascer- 

 tained, as the specimen examined had been a long time in spirits. 



Fins. 1st D 20, detached rays 15— 2nd D 20.— P, 21.— V 5.— 

 A 20, detached rays 12— 2nd A 26.— C 6-13-6. 



