428 ANACANTHINI. 



Head appears to have been marked as in A. pa/vomi/iius. Blind side of the body yellowish, with scattered 

 black blotches. 



This fish evidently cannot be A. pavonirms, the strongly ctenoid character of its scales more resembles 

 what is seen in Genus Solea than in Achvms, and it must be closely allied to A. poropterus, Kaup. 



Eabitat. — Tranquebar, from whence Bloch received the specimen described (6-6 inches in length) and 

 for the opportunity of examining which I am indebted to Professor Peters of Berlin. 



Genus, 7 — Stnaptuea, Ccmtor. 



Brachwus, Swains. : AcMroides, Blocker : ^sopia, Ewryglossa, and Euryplewa, Kaup. 



BrcmcMostegals six. Body ohlong or oval. Eyes on the right side, the upper in'advamce of the lower. Gleft 

 of the mouth narrow, twisted round to the left side : the lips fimbriated or entire : minute teeth on the left side only .- 

 palate edentulous. One of the nostrils on the blind side dilated in some species, not so m others, whilst amongst the 

 latter both pectorals may be present, the right being somewhat the longer, some of- which have the nasal tube 

 small and simple (Synaptura), or bifid (Uuryglossa). Secondly, the left pectoral may be longer than the 

 right (Anisochirus) . Thirdly, the left pectoral may be , rudimentary ('^st^ia) . Fourthly, both pectorals may 

 be absent (Achirmdes). Vertical fins confluent. Scales ctenoid {cycloid in S. cornuta), small. Lateral-line 

 straight. 



Geographical distribution. — Prom Beloochistan, through the seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and 

 beyond. 



SYNOPSIS OP SPECIES. 



A. Both pectoral fins present, the right the longer. 



1. Synaptura Gommersoniana, D. 71-81, A. 61-63, L. 1. 155. Two tubular nostrils on the coloured side. 

 Leaden gray, vertical fins with a white margin. Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago. 



2. Synaptura albomaculata, D. 72-74, A. 66-69, L. 1. 110-120. Two tubular nostrils on the coloured side, ' 

 with a short barbel intermediate. Brown, with 6 rows of widely separated white spots. Fins slate-coloured 

 edged with white. Seas of India. 



3. Sijnaptura Orientalis, D. 61-65, A. 47-52, L. 1. 70-85. Scales on nape not enlarged. Slate-coloured, 

 with black blotches, and fine black vertical lines crossing the lateral-line at right angles. Seas of India to 

 China. 



4. Synaptura pan, D. 67, A. 43, L. 1. 80. Scales on nape enlarged. Colours as ia S. Orientalis. 

 Estuaries and tidal rivers from Orissa and Bengal to the Malay Archipelago. 



B, Left pectoral fin rudimenta/ry. 



5. Synaptura rrmltifasciata, D. 93, A. 67, L. 1. 110. Nasal tube longer than the diameter of the eye. 

 Head and body with 27 narrow cross-bands. East Indies. 



6. Synaptura corrmta, D. 69-75, A. 61-62, L. 1. 90-100. First dorsal ray thickened and prolonged. 

 Thirteen vertical chestnut bands. Coromandel coast of India. 



7. Synaptura zebra, D. 65-74, A. 58-60, L. 1. 90-96. No prolonged dorsal ray. Ten reddish-chestnut 

 vertical bands. Seas of India. 



A. Both pectorals present, the right the longer. 



1. Synaptura Commersoniana, Plate XCIV, fig. 1. 



Plemonectes Gommersonianus, Lacep. iii, pi. 12, f. 32 (not iv, p. 666). 



Plewronectes, Russell, Fish. Vizag. i, p. 56, and Jerree-potoo A, pi. 70. 



.*" Solea Gommersoniana, Cuv. Reg. Anim. 



Braahirus Commersordama, Swainson, Fishes, ii, p. 303. 



Synaptura Gommersoniana, Cantor, Catal. p. 222 ; Bleeker, Beng. en Hind, p. 76, and Atl. Ich. Pleur. 

 p. 18, t. 235, f. 3 ; Jerdon, M. J. L. and Sc. 1851, p. 148 ; Giinther, Catal. iv, p. 483. 



Solea Russellid, Bleeker, Verb. Bat. Gen. xxiv, Pleur. p. 15. 



Synaptura Bussellvi, Bleeker, Beng. en Hind. p. 76. 



Erumd naaJc, Tarn. 



B. vi, D. 70-81, P. 9, V. 4, A. 60-63, C. 12, L. 1. 166-160. 



Length of head 6 to 6i, height of body 3| to 4 in the total length. Eyes— the upper almost entirely in 

 advance of the lower, diameter 7i in the length of the head, nearly 1/2 a diameter apart, and 1^ from the end 

 of snout. Height of head rather more than its length. Tipper jaw slightly the longer : angle of the mouth 

 below the middle of the lower eye. Two tubular nostrils in front of the lower eye. &aZes— strongly ctenoid 

 on the coloured side. CoZoMra— leaden-gray, vertical fins black with a broad white outer edge. 



Eabitat.— Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago : it attains at least 12 inches in length. It is not 

 esteemed as food in Madras or along the Malabar Coast. 



