240 TELEOSTEI. ACANTHOPTEUYGII. 



Hub. Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago ; attaining at least 

 15 inches in length. 



1013. (6.) Platycephalus serratns. 



Platycephalus serratus, Cuv. < Vol. H. N. Poiss. iv, p. 259 ; Day, 

 Fish. India, p. 277 (see synon.). 



B. vii. D. 1 | 8 | 11-12. P. 19. V. 1/5. A. 11. C. 13. 



Length of head 4 in the total length. Interorbital space | of 

 transverse diameter of eye. The crests on the various bones of the 

 head and suborbital ring are serrated but destitute of spines. The 

 supraorbital ridge is elevated ; that across the opercle is smooth. 

 The ridge from eye to angle of preopercle is elevated and finely 

 denticulated, above it is another less pronounced and smooth. 

 Upper spine at the angle of the preopercle the largest, it is suc- 

 ceeded by a shorter one, and on the border of the interopercle are 

 two more small ones ; there does not appear to be any spine directed 

 anteriorly, or if there is it is but a little one. Teeth fine. Scales 

 with rough borders. Lateral line smooth. Colour reddish 

 brown, with six or eight irregular brown bands descending from the 

 back to the white abdomen. Fins grey, with black points. On 

 the top of the dorsal a black blotch. Ventrals bluish above and 

 whitish below. 



Hub. Trincomalee, growing to 7 inches in length. 



1014. (7.) Platycephalus carbunculus. 



Platycephalus carbunculus, Cuv. fy Vol. H. N. Poiss. ix, p. 461 ; Day, 

 Fish. India, p. 278 (see synon.). 



B. vii. D.I | 8 | 11-12. A.ll-12. L.l.75-80/65-70. L.tr.6/26. 

 Length of head 3 to 3, of caudal 5 to 6, height of body 6| in 

 the total length. Eyes diameter 4 in length of head, 1 diam. from 

 end of snout, and | apart. Supraorbital edge with one or two 

 spines anteriorly and a strongly serrated edge ; the line from the 

 orbit to the occiput has six, and that to the shoulder-spine five 

 spines. From the preorbital a raised line armed with 10 or 12 

 spines runs to the two preopercular spines, the upper (which has 

 a small one at its base) longer than the lower. Two, or even three, 

 turbiual spines ; no nasal tentacle. Two well-marked opercular 

 spines, and another in the axilla. Fins ventral reaches origin of 

 anal ; caudal cut square. Scales ctenoid, present on the head, 

 but without spines or raised points. Lateral line smooth. Colour 

 brownish, with numerous brown spots ; three vertical bands on 

 body, one broad one through anterior half of first dorsal to abdomen, 

 a second through middle of second dorsal, and a third over free 

 portion of tail j opercle dark ; posterior half of first dorsal black ; 



