SCORPJENID.E. 77 



with 18 strong spines and 5 unbranched rays; anal with 3 spines 

 and 7 rays. No pectoral appendage. Articulated fin-rays un- 

 branched. Scales absent. Skin smooth. 



Geographical Distribution. From Sind to the Malay Archipelago. 



822. (1.) Leptosynanceia melanostigma. (Fig. 35.) 



Pseudosynanceia melanostigma, Day, Fish. India, p. 163, pi. Iv, 

 fig. 6, Suppl. p. 788. 



D. 16/5. P. 14. Y. 1/3. A. 3/7. C. 11. 

 Length of head 4g, height of body 6 in the total length. Eyes 

 diameter 7 in length of head, 1|- diameters from end of snout, 

 and 3 apart. Upper surface of the head with sinuous, but not 

 spiny, ridges. Opercle with a spine. Lower jaw the longer, 

 its sympliysis forming a portion of the dorsal profile. Fins dorsal 

 spines strong, commencing over the centre of the opercle, the 

 posterior ones being somewhat the longest but not so high as the 

 rays ; interspinous membrane deeply cleft. Anal spines short but 



Fig. 35. Leptosynanceia melanostigma. 



pungent. No skinny tentacles on head, body, or fins. Colour 

 grey mottled with black on top of head and along back, becoming 

 yellow on abdomen. Spinous dorsal also mottled, a vertical yellow 

 band across front half of soft dorsal, its last half black. Pectoral 

 yellow, with some grey spots at its base and a wide black edge. 

 Ventral and anal yellow, edged with black. Caudal yellow, with a 

 black band down the last half, externally edged with yellow. 



Hab. Kurrachee, in Sind ; growing to at least 7 inches in length. 

 This fish lives in the mud and is difficult to obtain. 



17. Genus POLYCAULIS, Giinther. 

 Syn. Synanceia, sp., Bloch ; Trachicephalus, Swainson. 



Branchiostegals seven. Body anteriorly subcylindrical, pos- 

 teriorly compressed ; head broad, rather depressed. Eyes directed 

 upwards. Preopercle armed. Gill-opening with a superior as well 

 as posterior orifice, the two being continuous. Villiform teeth iii 

 the jaws, none on the vomer. A single dorsal fin with flexible 



