D. 9-11/12-9. P. 10 + i. V. 1/5. A. 9-11. C. 10. Csec.pyl.4. 



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

 Eyes diameter 3| to 4 in length of head, 1| cliam. from end of 

 snout and also apart. Fins dorsal spines moderately strong, the 

 first distinct from the remainder, the membrane deeply cleft. 

 Colour head greyish brown above, sides and abdomen lighter or 

 flesh-coloured, with dark blotches and marks ; dorsal fin light brown 

 margined with black ; pectoral black, its appendages white ; caudal 

 buff, with three vertical brown bars. 



Nab. Seas of India to China; attaining 4 or 5 inches in length. 



11. Genus COCOTROPUS, Kaup. 



Syn. Corythobatus, sp., Cantor ; Tetraroye, pt., Giinther. 



Branchiostegals six. Head and body strongly compressed ; no 

 groove across the occiput. Preorbital with a strong blunt spine ; 

 preopercle with a similar one ; opercle armed. Villiform teeth in 

 jaws and vomer, palatines edentulous. A single dorsal fin with 

 more spines than rays ; two weak anal spines ; pectoral without 

 any free ray at its base. Articulated fin-rays single, unbranched. 

 Scales absent. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



D. 13/11, P. 11 ; first dorsal spine longest 1. C. echinatus, p. 71. 



1). 14-15/9-10, P. 14 ; second dorsal spine longest. 2. C. roseus, p. 71. 



816. (1.) Cocotropus echinatus. 



Corythobatus echinatus, Cantor, J. A. S, B. xviii, p. 1027; Catal. 



Mai. Fish. p. 45, pi. 13. 

 Cocotropus echinatus, Day, Fish. India, p. 159 (see synon.). 



D. 13/11. P. 11. V. 1/3. A. 2/8. C. 12. 



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

 near the dorsal profile, diameter 4| in length of head, lj diam. 

 from end of snout, and f apart. The anterior profile from dorsal fin 

 to snout almost vertical. Fins dorsal commences over orbit, first 

 spine rather curved and longest, the last spiues as high as the rays ; 

 from end of dorsal a membranous continuation extends to base of 

 caudal. Caudal rounded. Body and head studded with small 

 obtuse prickles. Lateral line indistinct. Colour buff, with five 

 brown lines radiating from the eye ; dorsal fin reddish with its 

 upper edge purple ; fins generally reddish or yellow, the pectoral 

 with three light vertical bands on its basal half ; some large brown- 

 ish blotches in the upper half of the body. 



Hub. Andamans and Pinang ; attaining a few inches in length. 



817. (2.) Cocotropus roseus. (Fig. 30.) 



Cocotropus roseus, Day, Fish. India, p. 1GO, pi. xxxviii, fig. 8 

 (see synon.). 



