14 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. SAMAKANG. 



as the middle of the orbit when the mouth is closed. The premaxillary does not reach quite 

 to the corner of the mouth, which is membranous. The jaws are armed by bands of acicular 

 teeth, standing about four deep at the symphyses, and narrowing to a single row towards the 

 corner of the mouth. The edges of the palatine bones, the prominent chevron of the vomer, 

 and the hemispherical pharyngeals are set with similar teeth. There is no tongue. The 

 preorbitar is not much broader than the rest of the suborbitar chain, and its under edge is 

 curved in the segment of an ellipse, and is slightly uneven. The process which crosses the 

 cheek from the second suborbitar to the preoperculum can be felt rather than seen. The 

 preoperculum is curved with a narrow disk and no prominent angle, but is armed by a small 

 acute spine, directed a little upwards, and springing from its upper limb above the apex of 

 the curve. The triangular bony operculum is unarmed, and the gill-flap ends in a narrow 

 strap-shaped tip, formed by the flexible extremity of the suboperculum. The upper edge of 

 the gill-plate is connected to the shoulder by membrane, but the gill-opening is ample, and 

 the thin gill membranes, supported on each side by six, slender, curved rays, are united 

 beneath and play freely over the isthmus. The ventral is composed of two simple jointed 

 rays, and a short spine. The lateral line, formed of a series of short tubes, is somewhat undu- 

 lated and moderately curved over the pectoral, after passing which it runs straight to the caudal. 

 The general tint is brownish, with some silvery tints towards the belly. The back is darker, 

 and the sides are crossed by about six vertical brown bars of a deeper tint. The tubes of 

 the lateral line are silvery, and are strongly relieved by a series of small brown spots. The 

 head and lips are also spotted with brown, and the vertical fins are barred transversely, each 

 by about four brown lines. The pectoral is likewise marked with brown. 



Several shrimps were contained in the oesophagus of this fish. Length, 3J inches. 



Hab. Sea of China. 



BATRACHUS QUADRISPINIS, Cuv. et Valenc. 



Bateachus quadrispinis, Cuv. et Valenc, Hist, des Poissons, vol. xii. p. 487. 

 Radii.— Br. 6; D. 3]-17; A. 16; 0. 15f; P. 21 ; V. 1|2. 



Plate I. Pig. 12-16. 



Our specimen agrees with the description in the Histoire des Poissons, in the opercular 

 and subopercular spines., and with the other particulars noticed in the brief description, 

 except that the dark points or dots on the back and belly cannot be traced, but in place 

 thereof the belly is pale without dots, and the back is clouded in a somewhat banded 

 manner. 



The head forms one third of the total length of the fish, including the caudal, and its 

 height and thickness at the occiput are equal. The cleft of the mouth reaches to under the 

 middle of the eye. The premaxillary teeth are in two rows and are acute, though short ; 



