64 TELEOSTEI. ACANTnOPTEEYGII. 



807. (1.) Apistus carinatus. (Fig. 24.) 



Scorpsena carinata, Bl. Schn. Syst. Ich. p, 193. 

 Apistus carinatus, Day, Fish. India, p. 155, pi. xxxvii, fig. 4 (see 

 synon.). 



D. 14-16/9. P. 12+i. V. 1/5. A. 3/7. C. 12. L. r. 70. 



Length of head from 3 to 3f , height of body 4 to 4% in the 

 total length. Eyes directed slightly upwards and outwards, 

 diameter 3| to 4 in length of head, rather above 1 diam. from end 

 of snout, and 3 apart. Upper surface of the head rugose, with 

 two divergent lines passing from snout between eyes to occiput, 

 where they terminate in small spines a little in front of either side 

 of base of dorsal fin. Barbels a long slender one, equalling 

 diameter of eye, below mandibular symphysis, and another a short 

 distance behind it. Fins dorsal spines increase to 6th, then de- 

 crease to 14tb ; membrane deeply notched ; pectoral reaching to 

 base of last dorsal ray, its single appendage to first of anal ; third 



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Fig. 24. Apistus carinatus. 



anal spine longest ; caudal cut square. Scales small, somewhat 

 trefoil in shape. Colour body greyish along the back, becoming 

 rosy on the abdomen ; pectorals deep black ; appendage milk-white ; 

 dorsal diaphanous, tinged with grey and edged with black ; a deep 

 black blotch from 8th to 14th spine ; three oblique brownish streaks 

 on the soft dorsal, which also has a brown edging ; upper pectoral 

 ray white ; caudal with four vertical black bands ; anal greyish, 

 with a yellow horizontal band. 



Hob. Bed Sea, seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and 

 beyond; attaining 5 inches in length. 



6. Genus CENTROPOGON, Giinther. 

 Syn. Gymnapistes, sp. ; Swainson. 



Branchiostegals six or seven. Head and body rather strongly 

 compressed ; no groove on occiput. Preorbital with a strong spine, 

 preopercle likewise spiniferous ; opercle armed. Villiforrn teeth in 

 the jaws, vomer, and palatine bones. A single dorsal fin with 

 more spines than rays (D. 14-15/7-9); anal with three spines; 



