COTTIER. 237 



the cheeks is furnished with a small spine, which in old individuals 

 is occasionally divided into several. Lateral line with about 

 55 rather strong spines directed backwards, and extending along 

 its entire length, one on every alternate scale. Colour brownish, 

 becoming dull white beneath ; more or less distinct vertical bands 

 pass from the back to the sides. First dorsal clouded with black, 

 second dorsal spotted. Pectoral and ventral usually dark exter- 

 nally. Caudal greyish in its last half. The young are more 

 distinctly banded than the adults, and the first dorsal, pectorals, 

 and ventrals are nearly black. 



Hob. Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and beyond. 



1009. (2.) Platycephalus tuber culatus. 



Platycephalus tuberculatus, Cuv. 8f Vol. H. N. Poiss. iv, p. 258 ; 

 Day, Fish. India, p. 275, pi. Ix, fig. 5 (see synon.). 



B. vi. D. 1 | 7-8 ] 11-12. P. 21. A. 11-12. C. 15. L. 1. 53-55. 



Length of head 3 to 3|, of caudal fin 7, height of body 6 in 

 the total length. Eyes directed upwards and somewhat out- 

 wards ; diameter 3| to 4 in length of head, 1| to 1| diam. from end 

 of snout, and | apart. Interorbital space concave. Width of 

 head between preopercular spines |- of its length. Supraorbital 

 margin serrated, with two sharp spines anteriorly ; from it a 

 serrated ridge runs back to occiput, a second from behind eye to 

 upper opercular spine ; a third ridge from preorbital to angle of 

 preopercle. A few spines in median line midway between eye and 

 snout ; a spiny ridge passes forwards from the spines on either 

 side above the limbs of the premaxillaries. A serrated bony ridge 

 across opercle to a strong spine at middle of its hind edge. Angle 

 of preopercle with a strong spine which equals half distance 

 between its base and orbit ; this spine has one above at end of 

 serrated ridge, another a little longer below, situated on lower 

 margin of preopercle, which bears from 2 to 4 more, decreasing in 

 size anteriorly and all pointing backwards. Several spines at the 

 shoulder, and a strong one above the axilla. Teeth villiform in 

 jaws, in two oval parallel patches on vomer, and in an elongate 

 band on palatines. Fins second dorsal spine $ length of head, 

 and not quite so high as third, soft dorsal as high as spinous. 

 Ventral nearly reaches anal, which arises below the second dorsal; 

 caudal slightly rounded. Scales 4 or 5 rows between lateral line 

 and base of first dorsal fin ; most of those on the cheeks have a 

 rudimentary spine. Lateral line with from 15 to 20 spines in 

 the first third of its course. Colour brown, becoming lighter 

 beneath, vertical bands pass from back to sides. First dorsal 

 blackish brown; second dorsal spotted. Pectoral with brown 

 spots in its upper two thirds, and a black margin with a white 

 edge along its lower border ; outer half of ventrals grey. 



Hal. Seas of India. 



