50 TELEOSTEI. ACANTHOPTERYGII. 



Eyes diameter 4| to 5| in length of head, 1| cliam. from end of 

 snout, and 1 apart. Anterior nostril rather valvular and fringed. 

 Teeth strong canines on either side of symphysis of upper jaw, 

 two large and some small lateral conical canine-like teeth in the 

 mandible ; the villiform teeth on the vomer in a triangular patch, 

 with its base behind. Fins dorsal spines increasing in length to 

 third and fourth, then slightly decreasing in length to the last but 

 one ; interspinous membrane with a fine prolongation behind each 



Fig. IQ.Cirrkites forsteri. 



spine, highest rays of dorsal as long as those of anal ; lower free 

 rays of pectoral longer than branched rays ; second anal spine the 

 strongest and as long as the third ; caudal cut square or slightly 

 emarginate. Colour reddish ; head, chest, and base of pectoral fin 

 with black spots ; a broad -dark band along the middle of the body 

 to the upper half of the caudal, becoming brown with black blotches 

 in its last third. A wide yellow band from above pectoral to 

 lower half of caudal. Upper edge of last half of spinous dorsal 

 black, continued as a black band along base of soft dorsal ; front 

 edge of anal and outer edge of soft caudal with narrow black 

 margins. 



Hal). lied Sea, east coast of Africa, seas of India to the Malay 

 Archipelago and beyond. Bennett observes, " The Tik kossah of 

 the Cingalese inhabits rocky situations, seldom exceeds eighteen 

 inches in length, and is a firm-fleshed and wholesome fish." 



2. Genus CIRRHITICHTHYS, Bleeker. 

 Syn. Cirrhitopsis, Gill. 



Branchiostegals six. Preopercle denticulated ; opercle spinate. 

 Villiform teeth and canines in the jaws ; teeth also in the vomer 

 and palatines. A single dorsal fin with 10 spines; anal with 3; 

 5 to 7 of the lower pectoral rays unbranched. Scales of moderate 

 size. Air-bladder absent. Pyloric appendages few. 



