424 ANACANTHINI. 



Ttus I do not find tHe scales along the lateral-line as a rule so numerous as recorded from the Malayan 

 examples, for out of 16 specimens two had 85, one had 81, three had 80 ; one had 79, six had 78 ; one had 76, 

 and two had 74. The dorsal branch of the lateral-line varied from the ninth to the eleventh dorsal ray. The 

 teeth likewise showed great differences in number. 



Plewronectes, Eussell, Fish. Vizag. i, p. 68, and Noree nalaka, pi. 76, or Bhombus mobculosm, Cuv. Efeg. 

 Anim. and Jerdon, M. J. L. and Sc, is probably this species marked as in pi. 91, f. 5. 



P. arsius, H. B., is this species which is not uncommon at Calcutta, and is coloured as figured (MS.) by 

 Hamilton Buchanan. 



Psevdorhomius oligodon, Bleeker, is distinguished from this species, more especially by its possessing 

 ctenoid scales on both sides of the body. 



Habitat. — From the east coast of Africa, through the seas and estuaries of India, to Australia. It attains 

 at least a foot in length. The specimen figured is 7'4 inches in length, and from the Andamans. 



3. Pseudorhombus Javanicus,* Plate XCII, fig. 2. 



Bhombus Javanicus, Bleeker, Batav. p. 603. 



Pseudorhomhus Jamamms, Giinther, Catal. iv, p. 427; Bleeker, Atl. Ich. Pleuron. pi 8, t. ccxiii, f. 3. 



B. vi, D. 69, P. 10, Y. 6, A. 62-53, 0. 18, L. 1. 70-75. 



Length of head 4|, height of body 2| in the total length. Eyes — diameter 4J in the length of head, 

 1 diameter from the end of snout : they are divided by a mere ridge. Lower jaw the longer : the maxilla 

 reaches to below the middle of the eye. Anterior nostril with rather a tubular valve posteriorly. Head as 

 high as long. Teeth — small, sharp, conical, subequal in size, upwards of 30 in either side of upper jaw, 

 and from 22 to 25 on either side of the lower. Pms — anterior dorsal rays not higher than the middle ones, 

 which equal nearly half the length of the head. Pectoral as long as the head behind the middle of the 

 eyes. A well- developed preanal spine. Scales — ctenoid on the coloured, cycloid on the blind side. Lateral- 

 line — ^with a strong anterior curve : the nuchal branch goes to the tenth dorsal ray. Golowrs — of a 

 purplish-brown, having three black spots on the lateral-line, surrounded by a row of white dots, or else a light 

 blotch surrounded by a dark ring-: the first of these spots is at the commencement of the straight portion pf 

 the lateral-line. There are two or three other spots variously placed, usually one is below the last third of the 

 pectoral fin, midway between the lateral-line and the abdominal profile : another above the arch of the 

 lateral-hue, and a third between the straight portion of the lateral-line and the back. The whole of 

 the coloured side is more- or less covered with dots or dark rings, which are also continued on to the 

 vertical fins. 



Bleeker gives D. 73 to IQ, A. 54-56, height of body 2% to 2| in the total length. 



Habitat. — Coromandel coast of India to the Malay Archipelago. The one flgiired is from Madras. 



3. Pseudorljombus triocellatus, Plate XCII, fig. 1. 



Plewronectes triocellatus, Bl. Schn. p. 145. 



Pleuronectes, Russell, Pish. Vizag. i, p. 59, and Nooree-nalaha, pi. 76. 



Bhombus triocellatus, Cuv. Beg. Anim, ; Bleeker, Sumatra, ui, p. 528 ; Jerdon, M. J. L. and Sc. 1851, 

 p. 147. 



Bhombus triocellatus, Bleeker, Beng. en Hind. p. 76. 



Pseudorhomius triocellatus, Giinther, Catal. iv, p. 428 ; Kner, Novara Fische, p. 285. 



Patne sootong, Tam. (Jerdon). 



B. vi, D. 66-69, V. 5, A. 49-51, L. 1. 66-70. 



Length of head 4i to 4^, height of body 2 in the total length. Uijes — with their anterior margins on 

 nearly the same level, diameter 4 in the length of the head, 1 diameter from the end of snout, and a mere ridge 

 dividing the two. Lower jaw slightly the longer, the maxilla reaches to below the middle of the eye. Height 

 of head 1/4 more than its length. The maxilla 4/7 of length of head. Posterior nostril patent, anterior more 

 tubular, and with a short barbel-like prolongation. Teeth— minute. Fins — both ventrals present. Anterior 

 dorsal ra,ys elevated, a rather strong preanal spiue. iScaZes— ctenoid on coloured, cycloid on the blind side. 

 Lateral-line— height of its curve equals half its length. Ooloms—oi a rich brown, with three large heart,shaped 

 purplish ocelli, each having a light centre and a yellowish circumference, situated in the form of a triangle, the 

 two anterior on a vertical line slightly anterior to the centre of the total length of the fish, the central one 

 midway between them and the base of the caudal. Vertical fins dusky yellow, covered with irregularly 

 shaped dark blotches : pectoral yellowish, with some fine black spots. 



Habitat.— Madras, to the Malay Archipelago. It attains to six or eight inches in length. 



* 



PseudorTwmlus (Plemonectes) nawphela, Ham. Bach. Tish. Ganges, p. 126, is said to have D. 73, A. 55, shaped like the 

 head of a lance. Lives in the Gangetic estuaries, where it attains about 8 inches in length. Coloww— greenish-bvown, on which are 

 Eome scatter'ed black spots. 1 his species J have b.een upable to recpgnize, unless it is this fish. 



