67 



810. (2.) Gymnapistus dracsena. 



Apistus dracsena, CUK. fy Vcd. H. N. Poiss. iv, p. 403. 

 Gymnapistus dracaena, Day, Fish. India, p. 150, pi. xxxviii, fig. 1 

 (see synon.). 



B. vi. D. 3 | 8-9/7-8. P. 13. V. 1/5. A. 3/5-6. C. 13. 



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

 diameter 4 in length of head, f diam. from end of snout, and f 

 apart. Lower jaw the longer and having a tubercle at the sym- 

 physis. Fins dorsal spines sharp but slender ; the first arises 

 over middle of eye, the second or third spine the longest, equalling 

 half the height of body, all three longer than spines of second 

 dorsal ; membrane deeply notched between the two dorsals. Pec- 

 toral reaching to above middle rays of anal ; ventral reaches the 

 anal spines, the third of which is the longest ; caudal cut almost 

 square. Scales rudimentary. Colour greyish brown, a black 

 blotch on dorsal fin between the 3rd or 4th and 7th or 9th spines ; 

 soft dorsal nearly black in last three-fourths ; pectoral blackish, 

 as is also outer half of ventral and anal ; caudal yellowish white, 

 with some small brown spots. 



Hob. Common in the seas of "Western India and Ceylon, 

 especially off Canara, where it attains 3 inches in length. 



8. Genus AMBLYAPISTUS, Bleeker. 

 Syn. Apistus, sp., Cuv. & Val. ; Platypterus, Swainson. 



Branchiostegals five or six. Head and body strongly compressed ; 

 no groove across occiput. Strong and sharp preorbital and preoper- 

 cular spines ; opercle armed. Villiform teeth in jaws, vomer, and 

 palate. A single dorsal fin with more spines than rays, generally 

 elevated anteriorly ; three anal spines ; pectoral without any free 

 ray at its base. Articulated tin-rays branched. Scales, if present, 

 rudimentary. Air-bladder present. Pyioric appendages few. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



A. Dorsal fin begins above the eyes ; caudal 



rounded or square. 



Dorsal fin slightly connected with caudal 1. A, leenianotus, p. 07. 

 Dorsal fin quite distinct from caudal . . 2. A. lonyispinis, p. 68. 



B. Dorsal fin begins in front of eyes ; 



caudal pointed .................... 3. A. macracanthns, p. 08. 



811. (1.) Amblyapistus tsenianotus. 



Apistus tjenianotus, CUD. $ Val. H. N. Poiss. iv, p. 404. 

 Amblyapistus taenianotus, Day, Fish. India, p. 157, pi. xxxviii, fig. o 

 (see synon.). 



B. v. D. 17-16/8-7. P. 12. V. 1/5. A. 3/5-7. C. 12. 



F2 



