1889.] 



Species of FMes from tJie Bay of Bengal. 



299 



inter-maxillary notcli, into wliicli tlio knobbed symphysis of the lower 

 jaw fits. A pair of upstanding nasal spines, and a pair of short nasal 

 filaments. The pre-orbital margin has four spiny points ; the preoper- 

 oiilar mai-gin four sharp spines and a shoi't filament ; and the operculum 

 two diverging bony stays ending in flat spines. The interorbital space 

 narrows in the middle, where its width is only half an eye-length ; along 

 its floor is a median groove with serrated edges. The supra-orbital 

 ridge is sharp and salient, with four large reverted spines, and with a 

 short supra-ocular filament below. Two sharp reverted spines, one 

 behind the other, in the occipital region ; and a row of three in the tem- 

 poral region. A strong ridge, with six similar spines, extends across 

 the cheek. Cleft of mouth oblique ; the maxilla, which is naked, 

 reaches the vertical from the hinder margin of the orbit, Villiform 

 teeth in both jaws and on the very strongly projecting head of the 

 vomer : none on the palate. Tongue free. A large muciferous canal, 

 with several distant large circular openings, extends along the free 

 margin of the preoperculum and the limb of the lower jaw up to the 

 symphysis. Gill-opening wide. One strong humeral spine. 



Scales ctenoid ; small, and becoming very minute on the head and 

 abdomen. The lateral line shows as 22 double keel-like spines. Isfc 

 dorsal spine very short ; the 4th and 5th are the longest and strongest — 

 equal to ^ the body height in length : the middle rays of the soft dorsal 

 are equal to half the body height. 1st anal spine very short, the 2nd 

 stout, the Srd the longest, but slender. The length of the caudal is 

 about 4jj in the total : that of the pectoral is a little greater than the 

 body height. The ventral spine is very strong. Colours : body and fins 

 bright red : a series of four transverse broad dark bands across the back 

 and sides, and irregular rows of dark-red and bi-own spots on the fins : a 

 black blotch in the posterior part of the siiinous dorsal. Total length, 

 3J inches. 



Cai:)tured 26 miles N". by E. of Gopaljjur in 45 fathoms : bottom 

 mud. 



One specimen. 



MiNOUS INEEMIS, sp. n., PI. XXII, Fig. 4. 

 B. 7. D. IS. A. -f^ . P. 11/1. V. 1/5 C. 13. 

 Distinguished by feeble armature of head, and flexible spines. 

 Head and body much compressed. Height of body about one-fourth, 

 length of head about one-third of the total. Edge of pre-orbital with 

 two short flat diverging spines. Preoperculum with a spine at its angle, 

 and dentations along its lower edge. Operculum with two weak diverg- 



