LUCIOCEPHALIDiE. 519 



siderable annual revenue to the King of Siam. The species 

 abounds in the rivulets at the foot of the hills of Penang. 

 The inhabitants name it 'Pla-kat,' or the 'Pighting-fish;' 

 but the kind kept especially for fighting is an artificial variety 

 cultivated for the purpose." 



MiCEACANTHUS. — This genus represents the three last- 

 named genera in Africa, where it has been recently discovered 

 in tributaries of the river Ogooue. It seems to differ from 

 the Indian genera chiefly by its more elongate body, the 

 structure of the fins being scarcely different (D. |-, A. -^, V.'J). 



Second Pamily — LuciocephalidjE. 



Body elongate, covered with scales of Ttwderate size. Late- 

 ral line 'present. Teeth small. Gill-opening wide; pseudo- 

 IranchicB none. The superlranchial organ is formed ly two 

 branchial arches, which are dilated into a membrane. One 

 short dorsal fin ; dorsal and anal spines none ; ventrals com- 

 posed of one spine and five rays. Air-bladder none. 



A small Preshwater-fish (Luciocephalus pulcher), from the 

 East-Indian Archipelago. 



Seventeenth Division — Acanthopteeygii lophotifoemes. 



Body riband shaped, with the vent near its eodremity ; a 

 short anal behind the vent ; dorsal fin as long as the body. 



Only one species is known of this division or family, 

 Lophotes cepedianus. It is most probably a deep-sea fish, but 

 does not descend to so great a depth as the Trachypteridce, 

 its bony and soft parts being well coherent. It is a scarce 

 fish, hitherto found in the Mediterranean, off Madeira, and in 

 the Sea of Japan ; its length is known to exceed five feet. 

 The head is elevated into a very high crest, and the dorsal 

 fin commences with an exceedingly strong and long spine on 

 the head. Silvery, with rose-coloured fins. 



