80 TELEOSTEl. ACANT1IOPTERYGII. 



brownish, each scale on the body with a blue centre, some of 

 those on the shoulder and head with several blue spots. Opercle 

 with a large black, blue-edged ocellus. A blue band along the dorsal 

 and anal fins ;. dorsnl, caudal, and anal with a white margin ; soft 



Fig. 37. Plesiups nigricans. 



dorsal and anal with blue streaks in the direction of the rays ; 

 streaks are also present on the caudal but in the form of transverse 

 blotches. 



Hob. From the Eed Sea, through the seas of India to the Malay 

 Archipelago and beyond. This fish is very common at the Andaman 

 Islands, attaining at least 6 inches in length. 



Second group. NANDLNA. 

 2. Genus BADIS, Bleeker. 



Bran chiostegals six ; pseudobranchiao apparently absent. Mouth 

 protractile. Opercle with one sharp spine ; other bones of the head 

 armed. Villiform teeth on the jaws, vomer, and palatines, absent 

 from the tongue. A single dorsal fin, the spinous portion of much 

 greater extent than the soft ; anal with 3 spines, its rayed portion 

 similar to that of the dorsal ; ventral 1/5. Scales ctenoid, of 

 moderate size. Lateral line interrupted or absent. Air-bladder 

 large and simple. Pyloric appendages absent. 



Geographical Distribution. Fresh waters of the hills and plains 

 of India and Burma. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



Lateral line interrupted. Purplish, banded or 



spotted 1. B. buchanani, p. 80. 



Lateral line absent. Stone-colour with vertical 



bands 2. B. dario, p. 82. 



825. (1.) Badis buchanani. (Fig. 38.) 



Labrus badis, Ham. Stick. Full. Ganyes, pp. 70, 3G8, pi. 25, fig. 23. 



Badis buchanani, Bleeker, Batav. Genootsch. Verhand. xxv, Bcny. 



Hind. p. 106 ; Day, Fish. India, p. 128, pi. xxxi, fig. 6 (see synon.). 



