241 



second dorsal spotted ; pectoral with several lines of spots and a 

 dark mark near its base j caudal dark, with one or two ill-defined 

 vertical bands. 



Hab. Western coast o India, Madras, and the Malay Archipelago. 

 Cantor observes that this fish occurs, although not numerously, at 

 all seasons at Pinang, and is eaten by the natives ; his largest speci- 

 mens were 6| inches in length. 



2. Genus TRIGLA, Artedi. 

 Syn. Ifoplonotits, Guichenot. 



Branchiostegals seven ; pseudobranchiae present. Head paral- 

 lelepiped, with its superior and lateral surfaces bony, infraorbital 

 bone enlarged, covering the cheeks. Villiform teeth in both jaws, 

 and usually on the vomer, but none on the palatines. Two dorsal 

 fins, the first being of less extent than the second ; three free fila- 

 ments at the base of the pectoral fin. Air-bladder well developed, 

 generally provided with lateral muscles, and sometimes partially 

 divided internally by partitions. Pyloric appendages few or in 

 moderate numbers. 



Geographical Distribution. Tropical and temperate seas. This 

 genus contains the gurnards. 



1015. (1.) Trigla hemisticta. 



Trigla hemisticta, Temm. # Schl. Faun. Japon., Poiss. p. 36, pi. xiv, 

 figs. 3, 4, pi. xiv, B ; Day, Fish. India, Suppl. p. 791 (see synon.). 



D. 7/11-12. P. 11+iii. V. 1/5. A. 11-12. C. 16. 



Length of head about 3, of caudal fin 5|, height of body 5| in 

 the total length. Eyes 1| diameters from end of snout and 1| 

 apart. Profile from upper edge of orbit to the snout scarcely con- 

 cave. Preorbital produced anteriorly into a flattened spine ; two 

 spines on the preopercle, the upper the larger. Opercle ending 

 behind in a strong spine as long as the orbit ; shoulder-bone with 

 two spines. Teeth villiform. Fins dorsal spines strong, third 

 and fourth longest ; a bony plate along the base of the dorsal fin, 

 wider in small than in large examples. Pectoral reaches to above 

 third anal ray. Scales small. Colour upper part of body rosy, 

 with numerous small rounded or oblong black spots ; lower half of 

 body white. First dorsal with a large black oblong blotch and a 

 row of small round black dots along the middle of the second 

 dorsal ; inter-radial membrane of pectoral bluish black. 



Hab. An example 9 inches long has been obtained from Muscat ; 

 the species has likewise been brought from Japan. 



3. Genus PERISTETHUS, Kaup. 

 Branchiostegals seven ; pseudobranchiae present. Head paral- 



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