FISHES. 11 



membrane is supported by six curved cylindrical rays. The four small branchial arches lie 

 deep in the cavity covered by the ample gill-flap. They are furnished with sessile knobs on 

 their borders. The teeth on the jaws are microscopical, and set in close-shaven, villiform 

 bands. They are even smaller on the chevron of the vomer and in a narrower transverse band. 

 The palatines are toothless. 



The integuments are soft, lax, scaleless, and almost everywhere furnished with small 

 slender filaments, either simple or bifid. These are numerous on the jaws and most parts of 

 the head, and are most conspicuous on the spinous dorsal fins and lateral line. They are 

 small, but numerous on the lower half of the pectoral, and exist on the soft dorsal anal and 

 caudal. The lateral line runs parallel to the back in the upper quarter of the height, and is 

 furnished with bifid filaments. 



The anterior dorsal consists of three approximated rays which stand between the eyes : 

 the middle ray is the tallest, and is connected to the other by membrane as high as the tips. 

 The next dorsal ray is over the preoperculum, and is connected to the following ones by low 

 membrane, but stands at a greater distance from them than they do from each other. The 

 membrane is deeply notched between them, but they are all clothed with thick skin studded 

 with filaments. The soft rays are higher than the spines, and the last one is connected to 

 the caudal by low membrane. The existence of an anal spine was not clearly made out. 

 The pectorals are obliquely rounded, but not connected to the sides after the manner of Sy- 

 nanceia. All the rays are jointed, unbranched, and have prominent curved tips, the lower 

 ones being thicker. The ventrals are exactly under the base of the pectorals, are small, and 

 are composed of a short spine and two soft rays. The generic name is derived from their 

 comparatively diminutive size. The caudal is rounded at the end with the tips of the rays 

 projecting. 



The colour of the specimen, after immersion in spirits, is blackish-gray, passing on the 

 under surface into pale purplish -brown and white. There is a row of pale spots on the 

 lateral line, and there are some pale dots scattered over the head, flanks, and fins. The fin 

 membranes, particularly the borders of the pectorals, are dark. Length, 3 inches. 



Hab. Sea of China. 



PODABRUS CENTROPOMUS, Mchardson. 



•Radii.— B.6; D. 10|-20 ; A. 18; C.llf; P. 17; V. 1(2. 



Plate I. Fig. 7-11. 



This fish is much compressed, the height, which is greatest under the spinous dorsal, 

 being more than twice the thickness. The profile approaches a semi-ellipse, the line of the 

 belly being nearly horizontal with a slight convexity, while the back is elevated. The mouth 

 is horizontal and low down, and the ascent from it to the dorsal is at an angle of 45°, nearly 

 in a straight line ; while the posterior part of the back is a little more arched than the under 

 outline, both meeting in the very slender short trunk of the tail. 



