21. 



TETRODON OCELLATUS. 



Order, Apodal. 





Native Name, dTs&<d&~i &f£) <5^T Jul-Potobahah. 



T. ocellatus. Body variously spotted • a large black mark at the base 

 of the dorsal fin, surrounded by stripes and dots extending in regular eliptical 

 forms toward the pectoral and caudal fins. The eye placed high and distant 

 from the mouth ; small blue and pink stripes intermingled with spots on either 

 side of the mouth and eyes. No ventral fin. 



Branchiostegous rays none. Dorsal 10. Pectoral 14. Anal 8. Caudal 9. 



The Potobarah species is very extensive on the southern coast of 

 Ceylon. The native fishers seldom agree together as to the distin- 

 guishing names of more than a very few of the commonest of the 

 tribe to which they are most accustomed. From a supposed resem- 

 blance of the color of the belly to that of the rind of the " Jul," 

 a fruit known to Europeans by the name originally given to it by the 

 Dutch, namely, " Wood Appel," anglice Wood Apple, when ripe, 

 the native imagination, naturally a fertile one, has affixed to this 

 variety of the Tetrodon family the designation of " Jul-Potobarah." 

 It seldom exceeds five or six inches in length, and is not eaten, 

 being considered poisonous. 



Figure — The natural size of the Specimen. 



