218 TELEOSTEF. ACANTITOPTERTOII. 



Gill-openings without any superior orifice. Cleft of mouth 

 vertical. Some of the bones of the head may be armed. No 

 filament below or before the tongue. Villiform teeth on upper 

 jaw, vomer, and palatines, a single conical row in the lower jaw. 

 One continuous dorsal fin, with fewer spines than branched rays ; 

 ventrals jugular. Scales rudimentary. Air-bladder absent. 

 Pyloric appendages in moderate numbers. 



991. (1.) Ichthyscopus inermis. (Fig. 78.) 



Uranoscopus inermis, Cuv. 8f Vol. H. N. Poiss. iii, p. 310, pi. Go. 

 Ichthyscopus inermis, Stvainson, Lardner's Cab. Cycl., Fishes, $c. 



ii, p. 269 ; Day, Fish. India, p. 261, pi. Iv, fig. 5 (see synon.). 

 Nittum koranjan, "A diver into the mud," Tarn. 



D. 8 | 3-4/16-18. P. 18. A. 16-19. C. 11. CJBC. pyl. 9 (8). 

 Length of head 3 to 3|, height of body 4 to 4| in th'e total 

 length. Eyes situated considerably before middle of head. 

 Greatest width of head equals | of length. Lips covered with 

 numerous branched papillae. Anterior nostril round, situated in 

 front of the centre of the eye and surrounded with papilla? 

 resembling those on the lips, similar papilla? surround the large 

 oval posterior nostril on inner side of orbit. No spines on head 

 or shoulder; posterior edge of opercle fringed. An elongate 

 angular flap edged with papilla? behind the shoulder. Fins dorsal 

 spines weak, and not so high as the rays. Caudal slightly 



Fig. 78. Ichthyscopus inermis. 



rounded. Scales present on the body, except above the lateral 

 Hue, on the breast, chest, and to about the sixth anal ray; they are 

 not imbricate but are covered by the skin, and in rows, -'each 

 bounded by a muciferous channel. Lateral line from shoulder to 

 base of third dorsal spine, and continued close to the base of 

 dorsal in its whole length. Colour canary-yellow, with buffy- 

 brown markings along the sides, enclosing pure white round or 

 oval spots, also some white spots on pectoral and dorsal fins. 

 Upper surface of head brownish ; caudal brownish yellow with 

 dark extremities, a dark bar across pectoral and caudal fins. 



H<ib. Seas and estuaries of India to Japan, said to live in the 

 mud and be taken with difficulty ; attaining to at least 2 feet in 

 length. 



