LABYBINTHICI. 369 



removed from tidal influence, but I have likewise taken it in the 

 Bhavani at Mettupalaiyam and along the base of the Ghats in 

 Canara. It lurks under stones or amongst weeds, and grows to 

 about 3 inches in length. 



1210. (2.) Polyacanthus signatus. 



Polyacanthus signatus, Giinther, Catal. iii, p. 379 ; Day, Fish. India, 



p. 371. 

 Porlotta, Singhalese (Boake). 



D.16-1 7/8-10. A.14-16/10-12. L.I. 29-32. L.tr.4/9. Vert. 10/1 6. 



Length of head 3| to 4, height of body 3^ to 3| in the total 

 length. Eyes diameter 4^ to 5 in length of head, 1 diam. from 

 end of snout, and 1 apart. Lower edge of preorbital very finely 

 serrated ; angle of preopercle finely serrated, other opercles entire. 

 Teeth villiform, outer row in jaws rather enlarged, some speci- 

 mens have a caniniform tooth on either side of middle of lower 

 }aw. Fins dorsal spines stout, rather short, increasing in length 

 to the last ; soft portions of dorsal and anal elongate and pointed 

 from the prolongation of their central rays; outer ventral ray 

 prolonged into two filaments. Caudal with its central rays 

 longest. Lateral line sub-interrupted. Colour reddish olive in 

 spirit ; probably greenish during life ; a round blackish spot on 

 middle of base of soft dorsal. 



Hob. Ceylon and Java ; attaining at least 5 inches in length. 



3. Genus OSPHROMENUS * (Commersou), Lacepede. 



Syn. TrwkoptU) Lacep. ; Ctenops, McClelland j Trichopsis, Kner. 



Branchiostegals six. Body moderately elevated, compressed. 

 Opercle without a spine; opercular pieces serrated in the im- 

 mature. Mouth small, oblique, protractile. Small and fixed teeth 

 in tfee jaws, none on the palate. One dorsal fin, its spinous 

 portion sometimes in excess, but generally less in extent than its 

 soft part. Anal spines in varying numbers. Outer ventral ray 



* OSPIIROMENUS OLFAX, Commerson. 

 Osphromenus olfax, Hardwicke, Zool. Journ. iv, p. 313 ; Day, Fish. India, 



p. 372, pi. Ixxix, fig. 6 (see synon.). 



Osphromenus gourami, Cuv. $ VaL H. N. Poiss. vii, p. 377, pi. 198 (im- 

 mature). 



D. 11-14/11-12. A. 9-12/19-21. L.I. 30-38. L. tr. 5-8/13. Vert. 12/18-19. 

 The abdominal profile more convex than the dorsal. Fins dorsal com- 

 mencing above origin of anal, in anterior half of body ; spines increasing in 

 length to last, sixth and seventh rays longest ; first ventral ray reaches base of 

 caudal. Colours greenish brown, lighter below ; four or five vertical bands 

 in the immature. 



Hah. China, and fresh waters of the Malay Archipelago. Naturalized in 

 Mauritius, Cayenne, Australia, and introduced into some parts of India, viz. 

 near Calcutta, Madras, and the Neilgherries. Attains 20 Ibs. or more in weight, 

 and is excellent eating when kept in clean water. 



TOL. II. 2 B 



