236 TELEOSTEI. ACA.NTHOPTERYGII. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



A. Lateral line with spines throughout . . 1. P. scaber, p. 236. 



B. Anterior third of 1. 1. spiny, remainder 



smooth. 



L. 1. 53-55. Width of head | of length. 2. P. tuberculatus, p. 237. 

 L. 1. 75. Width of head | of length . . 3. P. macracanthus, p. 238. 



C. Lateral line without spines. 



D.I | 7 | 13. (First dorsal with 7 spines.) 



Head as broad as long 4. P. insidiator, p. 238. 



D. 1 | 8 | 12. Eyes to diameter apart. 5. P. punctatits, p. 239. 

 1). 1 | 8 | 12-13. Eyes diam. apart ; 



crests on head serrated, not spiny 6. P. serratus, p. 240. 



D. 1 | 8 | 12-13. Eyes diam. apart; 



crests on head spiny 7. P. carbunculus, p. 240. 



1008. (1.) Platycephalus scaber. (Fig. 86.) 

 Cottus scaber, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 451. 



Platycephalus scaber, Day, Fish. India, p. 275, pi. Ix, fig. 3 (see 

 synon.). 



Irwa, Tel. ; Vet-ool-pa-thy, Tarn. 



B. vi. D. 1 | 7-8 | 12. P. 21. A. 12. C. 15. L. r. 105. 



Length of head 3| to 3f , of caudal fin 8, height of body 8 in 

 the total length. Eyes diameter 4| to 5^ in length of head, 1| to 

 1 diain. from end of snout, and f apart. Interorbital space 

 concave. Greatest width of head ^ of its length. A sharp spine 

 at anterior upper edge of orbit ; supraorbital margin serrated, and 

 from it a spiny ridge goes to the occiput ; a similar ridge from 

 hind edge of eye to shoulder ; a third from preorbital to angle of 

 preopercle, where there are two spines, the upper as long as | or f 

 distance to orbit ; a third short spine at anterior base of larger one. 



Fig. 86. Platycephalus scaber. 



In a young specimen 5 inches long the preopercular spine if laid 

 forwards would reach as far as the orbit. No spines at nostrils, 

 but in some specimens, on the median ridge, opposite the nostrils, 

 are two small ones. Two opercular spines. Teeth small in jaws, 

 in two oval parallel patches, about as long as the eye, on the vomer ; 

 in an elongate band on either palatine. Fins second dorsal spine 

 equals | to 4 length of head, and is not quite so high as the two 

 next, second dorsal about same height as first. Ventral nearly 

 reaches anal, which commences slightly behind vertical from first 

 dorsal ray. Caudal cut nearly square. Scales 4 or 5 rows be- 

 tween the lateral line and base 'of first dorsal fin, each of those on 



