276 ACANTHOPTERYGII. 



serrated ridge passes from the preorbital to the angle of the preopercle. A few spines in the median line 

 midway between eye and snout : a spinate ridge passes forwards from them on either side above the limbs of the 

 premaxillaries. A serrated bony ridge goes across the opercle to a strong spine at the middle of its 

 hind edge. Angle of preopercle with a strong spine which equals half the distance between its base and the 

 orbit. This spine has one superiorly at its base at the end of the serrated ridge, and another a little longer 

 inferiorly, and situated on the lower margin of the preopercle, which contains from 2 to 4 more decreasing in 

 size anteriorly and all pointing backwards. The number and size of these lower spines varies. Several spines 

 at the shoulder, and a strong one above the axilla. Teeth — villiform in jaws, in two oval parallel 

 patches on the vomer, and in an elongated band on the palatines. Fins — second dorsal spine 2^ in length of 

 head, and not quite so high as the third, soft dorsal as high as the spinous. Ventral nearly reaches the anal, 

 which last arises below the second dorsal : caudal slightly rounded. Scales — from 4 to 5 rows between 

 the lateral-line and base of first dorsal fin : most of those on the cheeks have a rudimentary spine. Lateral- 

 line — with from 15 to 20 spines in the first third of its course. Colours — brown, becoming lighter beneath, 

 vertical bands pass from the back to the sides. First dorsal blackish brown : second dorsal spotted. Pectoral 

 with brown spots in its upper two-thirds, and a black margin with a white edge along its lower border : outer 

 half of ventrals gray. 



The objection to considering this Cuv. and Val. fish is that it is observed that the lateral-line is nearly as 

 spinate as in P. scaber. It is identical with the species thus named in the British Museum. P. spinosus 

 according to a communication from Dr. Hubrecht has from 36 to 38 scales along the lateral-line. 



Habitat. — Seas of India. 



3. Platycephalus macracanthus, Plate LIX, fig. 3. 



Bleeker, Versl. and Meded. Ak. Wet. Amsterd. 1867, p. 7, c fig. 



B. vii, D. 1 | 8 | 12, P. 23, V. 1/5, A. 12, C. 13, L. 1. f|, L. tr. 4/15, Spines 15. 



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

 head, \\ diameters from end of snout, and about 1/2 a diameter apart. Interorbital space concave. Width of 

 head between the preopercular spines equal to about 1/2 its length. Lower jaw the longer : the maxilla 

 extends to below the first third of the eye. Supraorbital margin with six strong denticulations, and the ridge 

 from it to occiput with about five more : ridge from eye to shoulder with about five spines : the one from pre- 

 orbital to preopercular spine with six, (besides being serrated), its lower edge serrated. A small spine internal 

 to the front nostril which is furnished with a cirrus. Spine at angle of preopercle reaching to the base of the 

 pectoral, and having a short one inferiorly succeeded by another still more minute. Teeth — villiform in two 

 parallel patches on vomer, and in a narrow band along either palatines. Fins — second dorsal spine 2J in length 

 of head, and nearly as high as the commencement of the second dorsal. Pectoral 2j in length of head, ventral 

 slightly longer. Anal commences below second ray of dorsal : caudal cut square. Scales — those on the head not 

 spinate. Lateral-line — with about 15 small spines in the first portion of its course. Colours — brownish above, 

 becoming dull white beneath, first dorsal and end of caudal darkish, second dorsal with brown spots on the rays. 



Habitat. — Madras, Amboina. The specimen figured (life-size) is from Madras. 



B. Lateral-line smooth. 



4. Platycephalus insidiator. 



Cottus insidiator, Forsk. p. 25 ; Gmel. Linn. 1213; Shaw, Zool. iv, p. 260. 



Callionymus Indicus, Gmel. Linn. p. 1153; Russell, Fish. Vizag. ii, p. 36, and Irrwa, pi. xlvi. 



Cottus spatula, Bl. t. 424. 



Platycephalus insidiator, Bl. Schn. p. 59; Cuv. and Val. iv, p. 227; Riipp. N. W. Fische, p. 102; Bleeker, 

 Selerop. p. 6 ; Temm. and Schleg, Fauna Japon. Poiss. p. 39, pi. 15, f. 1 ; Cantor, Catal. p. 37 ; Richards. Ich. 

 China, p. 216 ; Jerdon, M. J. L. and Sc. 1851, p. 142 ; Giinther, Catal. ii, p. 177 ; Day, Fishes of Malabar, 

 p. 43; Kner, Novara Fische, p. 121 ; Klunz. Verh. z. b. Ges. Wien, 1870, p. 815. 



Batrachus Indicus, Bl. Schn, p. 43. 



Platycephalus spatula, Bl. Schn. p. 59. 



Calliomorus Indicus, Lacep. ii, p. 343. 



Cottus Madagascariensis, Lacep. iii, p. 248, t. xi, f. 12 ; Shaw, Zool. iv, p. 261, pi. 37. 



Calliomorus chaca, Ham. Buch. pp. 133, 373. 



Platycephalus endrachtensis, Quoy and Gaim. Voy. Freyc. Zool. p. 353 ; Cuv. and Val. iv, p. 240. 



? Platycephalus cultellatus, Richards. Ich. China, p. 217. 



Platycephalus chacca, Gray and Hard. Lid. Zool. ii, pi. 93, f. 2. 



Irrwa, Tel. : Ool-pa-thy, Tarn. : Nga-paying-ki, Mugh. : A-ra-wud-dah or Chou-ur-dah, And. 



B. vii, D. 1 | 7 | 13, P. 17, V. 1/5, A. 13, C. 15, L. r. \W-\ih L- tr. 12/24, Csec. Pyl. 14, Vert. 12/15. 



Length of head 3-f, of caudal 7, height of body 7 in the total length. Hyes — superior, diameter 

 6f to 7 in length of head, If diameters from end of snout, and 2 apart. Head strongly depressed, its upper 

 surface being of a triangular shape, the base being a line drawn from one preopercular spine to its fellow, width 

 of head at this place 3/4 of its length. Lower jaw slightly the longer : the maxilla reaches to below the middle 



