PEDICTJLATI. 233 



with points extending over fins except some of the rays of the 

 pectoral, ventral, and caudal. Lateral line ceases below the 

 commencement of the second dorsal. Colour greyish brown with 

 a purplish tinge ; a black ocellus having a yellow edge behind and 

 above the end of the base of the pectoral fin. Fins yellow, the 

 dorsal with a black yellow-edged ocellus below its seventh and 

 eighth rays, its end with black bands and spots, as have also the 

 pectoral, ventral, caudal, and anal fins. Tongue whitish, with green 

 marks ; eyes golden. 



Hub. Red Sea, east coast of Africa, seas of India to the Malay 

 Archipelago and beyond. Grows to at least 6| inches in length. 



1006. (3.) Antennarius marmoratus. 



Lophius marmoratus, Bl. Schn. Syst. Ich. p. 141. 



Antennarius marmoratus, Day, Fish. India, p. 272 (see synon.). 



B. vi. D. 3 | 12. P. 9-10. V. 5. C. 9. A. 7. Vert. 9/9. 



The variations in this species due to age or locality are so con- 

 siderable that two specimens are very rarely found possessing 

 complete similarity. Eyes about 1 diameter from end of snout. 

 The skin may be smooth, minutely or distinctly granulated, 

 while the length of the third dorsal spine varies from one half to 

 less than one third of the height of the body. The anterior dorsal 

 spine is short and slender, and terminates in a small knob having 

 a minute tentacle attached, sometimes it is very short, or it may be 

 entirely absent ; the second and third spines are fringed on their 

 summits. The last two dorsal rays branched, the last if laid back- 

 wards extends to or slightly beyond the root of the caudal. Skin 

 usually smooth, or sometimes granular, rarely rough. Head and 

 body with cutaneous tentacles, those at the angle of the mouth and 

 on the abdomen being the largest. Stomach a large sac. Air- 

 bladder large and simple. Colour variable, generally reddish 

 yellow marbled with brown, and brown spots mostly edged with 

 white, radiating from the eye ; round white spots on sides and 

 on abdomen. In some the fins are banded. Iris golden, with 

 radiating brown lines. 



Hob. Eed Sea, east coast of Africa, seas of India, Malay Archi- 

 pelago, and beyond. 



2. Genus HALIEITTJEA, Cuv. & Val. 



Syn. Astrocanthus, Swainson. 



Body and head depressed, the latter very large and broad, an- 

 teriorly forming the arc of a circle. Eyes antero-lateral. Cleft 

 of mouth horizontal, rather wide, with the upper jaw rather pro- 

 tractile. A transverse bony ridge across snout, beneath which is 

 a retractile tentacle. Gill-opening near the axilla on the upper 

 surface of the body. Gills two and a half ; the anterior branchial 

 arch destitute of lamina?. Small teeth on jaws and tongue ; palate 



