COTTID^E. 239 



tiroes equals the diameter of the eye. Opercle with two spiues. 

 tins first dorsal spines weak, the first slightly the longest, inter- 

 spinous membrane very slightly emarginate. A small, stout, single 

 spine before first dorsal", and sometimes another fine one between 

 first and second dorsal, the rays of which anteriorly are as high as 

 the spines of the first dorsal. Caudal obtuse or even rounded. 

 Colour brownish above, becoming dirty white beneath ; fins spotted. 

 Caudal yellow, with a deep black band, having a white border, 

 obliquely crossing its upper lobe, a second along its lower lobe. 



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

 Archipelago and beyond ; attaining at least a foot and a half in 

 length. 



1012. (5.) Platycephalus punctatns. 



Platycephalus punctatus, Cuv. Sf Vol. II. N. Poiss. iv, p. 243 ; Day, 

 Fish. India, p. 277, pi. Ix, fig. 3 (see synon.). 



B.vii. D. 1 | 8 | 12. P. 21. A. 11-12. L.I. 110/100. L.tr.8/25. 

 Length of head 3| to 3|, of caudal 8 to 9, height of body 6 in 

 the total length. Eyes diameter from 5 to 5| in length of head, 

 If to 2 diam. from end of snout, and | to f apart. Inter- 

 orbital space slightly concave. Width of head between preoper- 

 cular spines equals half its length. Supraorbital margin with four 

 or five spines, the ridge from it towards occiput with two more 

 small ones ; ridge from eye to shoulder-spine with three or four 

 spines ; ridge from preorbital to preopercular spine with two or 

 three spines. A small spine on the inner side of each front nostril. 

 8pine at angle of preopercle strong, its length about ^ that of 

 head, a small one above its base, and a large one below directed 

 slightly downwards as well as backwards. Posterior nostril rather 

 tubular, anterior also tubular and with a valve which sometimes 

 terminates- in a short filament. A small spine above the axilla. 

 Teeth villiform in jaws, in two parallel bands on vomer, and in 

 a long narrow patch along palatines. Fins second spine of first 

 dorsal not so high as third, spines from that to sixth subequal in 

 length, and length of head ; second dorsal anteriorly | height 

 of spinous. Pectoral \ and ventrals length of head. Anal 

 commences before second or third ray of dorsal. Caudal cut 

 square. Scales about 10 rows between lateral line and base of 

 spinous dorsal ; those on head and cheeks have no trace of any 

 spine. Lateral line smooth in its entire extent, tubes with one 

 or two simple branches. Colour brown, becoming lighter beneath ; 

 four or five wide and dark bands pass from the back to the middle 

 of the sides ; numerous black spots over head and body. First 

 dorsal stained nearly black, second dorsal and anal yellowish, the 

 first with brown points. Pectoral covered with dark markings so 

 as to appear almost black. Ventral dark in its last two thirds. 

 Caudal dark. 



