GOBIIDJE. 279 



5. Genus APOCRYPTICHTHYS, Day. 



Branchiostegals five. Gill-openings rather small. Bodyelongate. 

 Teeth in a single fixed row in either jaw, those in the premaxillaries 

 curved, pointed, elongate, and with a long canine on either side of 

 the symphysis; those_ in the lower jaw subhorizontal, rather 

 swollen at their free extremities, and without posterior canines. 

 Two separate dorsal fins, the first with six flexible spines, the 

 second elongate. Ventrals united, forming a disk, and only con- 

 nected to the body by their bases. Caudal lanceolate. Scales 

 cycloid, absent from the head, becoming larger posteriorly. 



1072. (1.) Apocryptichthys cantoris. (Fig. 94.) 

 Apocryptes cantoris, Day, P. Z. S. 1870, p. 693. 

 Apocryptichthys cantoris, Day, Fish. India, p. 302, pi. xlii, fig. 7. 



D. 6 | 27. P. 19. V. 1/5. A. 26, C. 17. L. 1. ca. 90. L.tr.17. 

 Length of head 4, of caudal fin 5, height of body 9 in the total 

 length. Eyes not prominent, diameter 6 in length of head, 1 

 diam. from end of snout, and f apart. Head rather depressed, 

 its lower surface flat ; greatest width equals its height or f of its 



Fig. 94. Apocryptichthys cantoris. 



length. An angular pendulous flap of skin from the preorbital on 

 side of upper jaw. Fins the membrane of the first dorsal con- 

 tinued almost to the base of the second. Base of pectoral not 

 muscular. Colour greyish olive ; first dorsal dark, longitudinally 

 banded ; caudal dark with some spots in its upper half. 

 Hob. Madras and Andamans. 



6. Genus PERIOPHTHALMUS, Bl. Schn. 



Mud-skippers. 



Branchiostegals five ; pseudobranchiae rudimentary. Gill-open- 

 ings rather narrow. Body elongate, subcylindrical anteriorly. 

 Profile from eyes to snout very steep. Eyes placed close together, 

 very prominent, and the eyelids well developed. Teeth in both 

 jaws, erect, conical, fixed, and in one or two rows. Two dorsal 

 fins, the first with a varying number of flexible spines ; base of pec- 

 toral muscular ; ventrals more or less united in their lower two 

 thirds ; caudal with its inferior edge obliquely truncated. Air- 

 bladder absent. Scales small or of moderate size, cycloid or feebly 

 ctenoid, covering the body and the base of the pectoral fins. 



Geographical Distribution. Coasts and estuaries round Indo- 

 Pacific Ocean, also West Africa. 



