102 
SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 
THE OCCURRENCE OF SOLENOSTOIVSA OFF THE 
COAST OF CEYLON. 
By A. Willey. 
(With on© Plate.) 
T HE single specimen upon which this record is based was 
obtained during the cruise of the steam trawler, ss. “ Violet,” 
belonging to the Ceylon Company of Pearl Fishers, accompanied by 
their inspection barque, to the paars south of Hutch Bay, in March, 
1909. Arrangements were made for me to take part in this cruise, the 
narrative of which has been written by Mr. T. Southwell, Scientific 
Adviser to the Company and Inspector of Pearl Banks, and Captain 
J. C. Kerkham, Tt.N.R., Superintendent of Fisheries.* 
On March 10, whilst dredging over the Nagal Paar, about five 
miles north by west of Chilaw, in 9J fathoms, the dredge brought up 
a quantity of brown rockweed, and in turning this over on deck, 
the specimen in question was found. It is equally remarkable for 
its colour, bright orange, crimson, and white, and for its form. The 
markings, difficult to describe when fresh, and impossible to depict 
after preservation, consisted of an orange-coloured zigzag pattern 
on the head, body, and fins (except the pectorals, second dorsal, and 
anal, which are colourless), bordered by crimson on a white ground. 
The gill-covers were quite hyaline and the pulsating gills showed 
clearly through them, the gill-arches being marked by paired white 
tufts. The ventral fins were juxtaposed so as to form a brood- 
pouch, which contained eggs and fry at all stages of development. 
SOLENOSTOMA LACINIATUM.f 
The head, body, and fins of the specimen are beset with simple 
or branched, cylindrical or subulate papillae. These are especially 
numerous over the crown of the head from before the eyes to the 
base of the first dorsal fin ; they also occur, singly and in pairs, along 
the crest of the snout and along the ventral side of the snout and 
fore body, continuing along the edge and on the surface of the ventral 
fins. They are present about the extreme end of the snout, but not 
on the sides of the snout. Four pairs of long (up to 3• 5 mm.), subu¬ 
late papillae are found along the hinder border of the first dorsal; 
* T. Southwell and J. C. Kerkham. Report on an inspection of those Ceylon 
Pearl Banks under Government control, situated between Dutch Bay Point 
and Negombo : conducted by the Ceylon Company of Pearl Fishers, Limited, 
from March 4 to 17, 1909. Ceylon Marine Biological Reports, Part III., June, 
1909. Colombo, 1909. 
| It may be a phase or form of a previously described species. 
