270 ACANTHOPTERYGI1. 



its length behind tlie middle of the eyes. Gill covers with four backwardly directed spines, two on the opercle 

 and two on the subopercle, the inferior of these last being often indistinct (B. trispinosus), sometimes only 

 two spines are visible on the opercles. Snout broad and depressed, surrounded by a wreath of tentacles, 

 those above the orbit very distinct. The maxilla extends to below the posterior margin of the orbit. A round 

 foramen in the upper part of the axilla. Teeth — in several sharp, pointed rows in both jaws, becoming a single 

 row laterally, also present in one or two rows on vomer and in a single row on palatines. Fins — 

 first dorsal triangular, spines moderately strong, the second the longest : caudal wedge-shaped. Air-vessel — 

 in two rounded lateral portions, connected across the body of the vertebra. Colours — yellowish, marbled with 

 darker. 



B. Dussumieri, C. V., may be a distinct species, known by having narrow bands of villiform teeth 

 on the palatines. 



Habitat. — Seas of India (most numerous along the Malabar coast) to the Malay Archipelago. The 

 specimen figured is 7^ inches in length. 



2. Batrachus Gangene, Plate LX, fig. 1. 



Batrachoides Gangene, Ham. Buch. Fish. Ganges, pp. 34, 365, pi. 14, f. 8. 



Batrachus grunniens, Gunther,* Catal. iii, p. 168 (not Bl. Sehn.) ; Day, Fishes of Malabar, p. 119. 



B. vi, D. 3 | 20-22, P. 21, V. 1/2, A. 16-18, C. 15. 



Length of head 3J, of caudal 7\ to 8, height of body 4 to 4J in the total length. Eyes — diameter 1/7 

 to 1/8 of length of head, 3 diameters from end of snout, and 3J apart. Head broad, depressed, its greatest 

 width nearly equal to its length. Maxilla reaches to below the hind edge of the orbit. Four backwardly 

 directed spines on the gill-covers, two being on the opercle, and the other two on the subopercle. Snout broad, 

 depressed, surrounded by tentacles which are most distinct along the edge of the mandibles, some are also 

 round the eye, and numerous fine ones over the surface of the head. No foramen in axilla. Teeth — two or 

 more rows of teeth in the centre of either jaw, a single row laterally, those in the mandibles the largest and 

 directed a little inwards : two rows of teeth on vomer : a single one on palatines. Fins — as in the last species. 

 Colours — light reddish-brown, marbled with darker. 



Hamilton Buchanan observes that this fish " is found in the salt-water estuaries of the Ganges, is an 

 ugly animal, does not exceed a span in length, and when frightened emits a remarkable creaking noise." 



Habitat. — Estuaries of the Ganges and other large Indian and Burmese rivers ; attaining at least a foot 

 in length. The specimen figured is from Calcutta. 



* See note on dentition of palate, Gunther, An. anil Mag. 1872, ix, p. 439. 



