65 



pectoral without any free rays at its base ; articulated fin-rays 

 branched. Scales present. (A narrow cleft behind the fourth 

 gill.) 



Geographical Distribution. Seas of India to the Malay Archipe- 

 lago and beyond. 



808. (1.) Centropogon indicus. (Fig. 25.) 

 Centropogon iudicus, Day, Fish. India, p. 155, pi. xxxyiii, fig. 2. 



B. vii. D. 14/8. P. 10- Y. 1/4. A. 3/5. C. 14. L. r. 80. 



Length of head 3|, height of body 4 in the total length. Eyes 

 diameter 3| in length of head, f diaru. from end of snoufc, and f 

 apart. Interorbital space slightly concave, traversed by two ridges 

 which posteriorly have rather spiny terminations. Preorbital with 

 a strong spine extending to below hind edge of eye. A strong 

 preopercular spine equal to two thirds of the diameter of the orbit 

 in length. Fins second and third dorsal spines the longest, 



Fig. 25. Centropogon indicus. 



longer also than the rays ; third anal spine considerably the longest 

 and equal in length to the highest in the dorsal fin ; caudal slightly 

 rounded. Colour pinkish with irregular markings over the head, 

 the cheeks barred with pinkish and brown vertical bands ; three or 

 four badly defined vertical bars on the body, the last being over 

 base of caudal ; a vertical brown baud over last third of caudal, 

 and posterior third of anal banded; ventral nearly black in its 

 last half. 



Hob. Madras ; growing at least to 2| inches in length. 



7. Genus GYMNAPISTUS, Swains. 



Syn. Apisttts, sp., Cuv. & Val. ; Trichosomus, sp., Swainson; Proso- 

 podasys, Giinther. 



Branchiostegals six. Head and body somewhat compressed ; 

 no groove across the occiput. Preorbital and preopercle with 

 strong, sharp spines ; opercle armed. Villiform teeth in jaws, 

 vomer, and palate. Dorsal fin formed of two portions, the first of 

 three spines which are connected by membrane with the second, 

 the spines in greater number than the rays ; three anal spines ; 



