BLENNITDJ. 325 



D. 3 I 13-14 I 10. P. 16. V. 2. A. 18-20. C. 21. 



Length of head 3| to 4, of caudal 6 to 6^, height of body 6 in 

 the total length. Eyes high up, profile in front of eyes oblique, 

 upper jaw the longer. A fringed tentacle over orbit and another 

 at nostrils. Fins caudal rounded. Colour light brown, with 

 vertical bars on body, and fine black spots. In males upper 

 surface of head orange, lower half Prussian blue. A dark blue 

 ocellus, with an orange margin, on the base of the pectoral fin 

 First dorsal orange. In females lower surface of head light blue, 

 and ocellus on pectoral less distinctly marked. 



Hob. Waltair, Vizagapatam. 



5. Genus ACANTHOCLINUS, Jenyns. 



Six branchiostegals ; pseudobranchia?. Body elongate. Cleft of 

 mouth of moderate width ; gills united beneath the throat. Teeth 

 in jaws, vomer, and palate. Dorsal fin single, occupying most of 

 the length of the back, chiefly composed of spines ; anal long, and 

 having more spines than rays. Ventral jugular, consisting of 

 one spine and three rays ; caudal distinct. Scales cycloid. Latera 

 line present or absent. No air-bladder. 



Geographical Distribution. Coasts of India and New Zealand. 



1149. (1.) Acanthoclinns indicns. (Fig. 105.) 

 Acanthcclinus indicus, Lay, Fish. India, Su}tpl. 1888, p. 798. 

 D. 21 | 4. P. 16. V. 1/3. A. 10/4. C. 17. L. 1. 40. L. tr. 14. 

 Length of head 4, height of body 3 in the total length. Eyes 

 diameter 5 in length of head, 1 diam. from end of snout, and | 

 apart. Two strong opercular spines. Fins dorsal spines strong ; 

 pectorals rounded ; ventrals long ; caudal rounded. Lateral line 



Fig. IQo.Acanthoclinus indicus. 



absent. Colour brownish black, with a milk-white band com- 

 mencing on the front end of the dorsal fin, and extending to the 

 snout ; a white band round the free portion of the tail ; a white 

 spot at the base of the pectoral fin ; one on either side of the base 

 of the mandibles, one on the isthmus. The posterior half of the 

 ventral fin, also a ring round the vent white, as well as the tip of 

 the caudal fin. 



Hal). Madras, where one example an inch long was captured. 



