FAMILY, XXV— COTTID^. 277 



of the orbit. Interorbital space flat or slightly concave, two ridges extending backwards from the orbit, the 

 internal dividing over the occiput, whilst the external or temporal terminates at the shoulder in two blade-like 

 spines. One spine exists at the anterior-superior angle of the orbit, none at nostrils, which are patent but not 

 tubular. Preorbital with three raised grooves starting in a stellated form from a common centre. Preopercle 

 with most of its surface forming a portion of the flattened upper plane of the head, and having two very strong 

 spines at its angle, the inferior of which is the longest and sometimes equals the diameter of the eye. Opercle 

 with two spines. Fins — first dorsal spines weak, the first slightly the longest, interspinous membrane very 

 slightly emarginate. A small, stout, single spine before the first dorsal, and sometimes another fine one between 

 it and second dorsal, the rays of which anteriorly are as high as the spines of the first dorsal. Caudal obtuse or 

 even rounded. Golov/rs—hro-wmBh above, becoming dirty white beneath : fins spotted. Caudal yellow, with a 

 deep black band, having a white border obliquely crossing its upper lobe, a second along its lower lobe. 



The specimen of P. tasmcmms " (?) Half-grown, Madras, Presented by T. 0. Jerdon, Esq., M.D." in the 

 B. M. catalogue, is a young P. insidiator nearly 6 inches long. 



Habitat. — Red Sea, East coast of Africa, seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and beyond ; attaining 

 at least a foot and a half in length. 



5. Platycephalus punctatus, Plate LX, fig. 3. 



Cuv. and Val. iv, p. 243 ; Bleeker, Sclerop. p. 25 ; Quoy and Gaim. Voy. Astrol. Poissons, p. 682, 

 pi. X, f. 2 ; Giinther, Catal. ii, p. 180. 



Platycephalus Maldbmieus, Cuv. and Val. iv, p. 245 (Giinther, Catal. ii, p. 181, not synon.) ; Day, Fish. 

 Malabar, p. 45 ; Kner, Novara Fische, p. 121. 



B. vii, D. I I 8 I 12, P. 21, V. 1/6, A. 11-12, C. 13, L. 1. U%, L. tr. 8/25. 



Length of head 3^ to 3|-, of caudal 8 to 9, height of body 6|- in the total length. Eyes — diameter from 

 5 to 5^ in the length of head. If to 2 diameters from end of snout, and 1/2 to 2/3 of a diameter apart. Interorbital 

 space slightly concave. Width of head between the preopercular spines equals half its length. The maxilla 

 extends to below first third of eye. Supraorbital margin with four or five teeth, the ridge from it towards 

 occiput with two more small ones : ridge from eye to shoulder spine with three to four teeth : ridge from pre- 

 orbital to preopercular spine with two or three teeth. A small spine internal to either front nostrU. Spine at 

 angle of preopercle strong, its length equalling about 1/7 of that of the head, superiorly it has a small one at its 

 base, and inferiorly a large one directed slightly downwards as well as backwards. Posterior nostril rather 

 tubular, anterior also tubular and with a valve which sometimes terminates in a short filament. A small spine 

 above the axilla. Teeth — -villiform in jaws, in two parallel bands on vomer, and in a long narrow patch along 

 palatines. Fins — second spine of first dorsal not so high as the third to the sixth which are subequal in length, 

 and 1/2 the length of the head : second dorsal anteriorly 3/4 the height of the spinous. Pectoral 1/2 and 

 ventral 3/4 of length of head. Anal commences before second or third ray of dorsal. Caudal cut square. 

 Scales — about 10 rows between the lateral-line and base of the spinous dorsal : those on the head and cheeks 

 have no trace of any spine. Lateral-line — smooth in its entire extent, tubes with one or two simple branches. 

 Golows — brown, becoming lighter beneath : four or five wide and dark bands pass from the back to the middle 

 of the sides, and numerous black spots over head and body. First dorsal stained nearly black, second dorsal and 

 anal yellowish, the first with brown points. Pectoral covered with dark markings so as to appear almost black. 

 Ventral dark in its last two-thirds. Caudal dark. 



The distinction between P. pimctatus and P. Malabaricus is said to be that the latter has one more spine 

 on the ridge of the infraorbital bone. The type specimen of the latter at Paris has L. 1. l^. The specicnen 

 figured has only two spines along each infraorbital bone. 



Habitat. — Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago ; the specimen figured (9i inches long) is from Malabar, 

 it attains at least 15 inches in length. 



6. Platycephalus serratus. 



Cuv. and Val. iv, p. 269 ; Giinther, Catal. ii, p. 183. 



B. vii, 1 I 8 I 11-12, P. 19, V. 1/5, A. 11, C. 13. 



Length of head 1/4 of the total length. Interorbital space 1/4 of the transverse diameter of the eye. 

 The crests on the various bones of the head and suborbital ring are serrated but destitute of spines. The 

 ' supraorbital ridge is elevated : that across the opercle is smooth. The ridge from the eye to the angle of the 

 preopercle is elevated and finely denticulated, above it is another less pronounced aiid smooth. Upper spine at 

 the angle of the preopercle the largest, it is succeeded by a shorter one, and on the border of the interopercle are 

 two more small ones, it does not appear to have any spine directed anteriorly, or if it has it is but a little one. 

 Teeth — fine. Scales — with rough borders. Lateral-lvne — smooth. Colours — reddish-brown, with six or eight 

 irregular brown bands descendmg from the back to the white abdomen. Fins gray, with black points. On the 

 top of the dorsal a black blotch. Ventrals bluish above and whitish below. 



Habitat. — Trincomalee, to 7 inches in length. 



