282 TELEOSTEI. ACANTHOPTEBYGII. 



nent during life, this peculiarity is not so well seen after death. 

 These fishes are essentially dwellers in the mud, and if placed in 

 an aquarium in deep water appear to be rapidly drowned. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



A. Height of body contained about 10 times 



in total length. 



Second dorsal not united to caudal fin . . I. B. tenuis, p. 2bJ. 

 Second dorsal connected by membrane 



with caudal 5. B. mndis, p. 285. 



B. Height of body 7 to 9 times in total 



length. 



. Two dorsals not connected together by 

 membrane. 



First dorsal not higher than body 2. B. dmsmmen, p. 283. 



First dorsal much higher than body 4. B. ylaucus, p. 284. 



6. Two dorsals connected by membrane . . 3. B. dentatus, p. 283. 



C. Height of body 5 to 6 in total length. 



Body and dorsals spotted with blue, ver- % 



tical bands on sides 6. B. boddacrti, p. 285. 



No spots on body or fins, vertical bands 

 on sides 7. B. sculptus, p. 286. 



No vertical bands, body with greenish, 



dorsal with blue spots 8. B. pectinirostris, p. 286. 



1075. (1.) Boleophthalmus tennis. 

 Boleophthalmus tenuis, Day, Fish. India, p. 305, pi. Ixv, fig. 1. 



D. 5 | 28-29. P. 13. V. 1/5. A. 26. C. 13. 

 Length of head o to 6|, of caudal fin 4i to 4f , height of body 10 

 in the total length. Eyes situated close together, diameter 6 in 

 length of head, 1 diameter from end of snout. Upper jaw the 

 longer, snout rounded in both directions, skin loose but without 

 any augular flap. Eight or ten short barbels along lower edge of 

 each ramus of lower jaw, but no central barbels under symphysis. 

 Teeth from 7 to 9 large, pointed canines on each side of the mid- 

 dle of the upper jaw, outside them are about 10 more one third of 

 their size, and also pointed ; those in the lower jaw are compressed, 

 subhorizontal, pointed, and about 17 on each side, two moderately 

 sized posterior canines above symphysis. Fins first dorsal about 

 g higher than second, and about as high as the body, the interspace 

 between the two fins in a large specimen equals height of first 

 dorsal ; second dorsal readies nearly to base of caudal, which is 

 lanceolate. Anal not so high as second dorsal. Scales absent. 

 Colour Greyish above, white below ; numerous black spots on 

 upper surface of head and commencement of body, which latter 

 has cloudy marks and bands from the second dorsal fin. First 

 dorsal black above and with some dark bauds below ; second dorsal 

 with about nine or ten oblique black bauds in its lower two thirds 

 continued on to the body, posteriorly its upper edge white with a 

 black margin, as is also upper edge of caudal. Pectoral and yen- 



