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Show 1867.] SURGEON F. DAY ON NEW FISHES OF MADRAS. 941 APOCRYPTES PUNCTATUS, sp. nov. B. iv. D. 5/25. P. 15. V. 6. A. 24. C. 15. Length of specimens up to 6 inches. Length of head |-, of pectoral i, of base of first dorsal -r\, of base of second dorsal -f, of base of anal 4;, oi caudal ^ of the total length. Height of head i, of body A, of first dorsal -f, of second dorsal ^-, ot ventral ^, of anal Jy of the total length. Eyes elevated, interorbital space concave ; 1 ^ diameter from end of snout, nearly 1 diameter apart. Gape of mouth wide, cleft deep ; the posterior margin of the maxilla extending to beneath the posterior margin of the orbit. Lower jaw broad, elevated at the symphysis. No crest on the head. Opercles unarmed. On either side of the snout the skin is extended into a slight lobe. Teeth in a single row in the lower jaw, directed outwards and curved upwards at their extremities. A single row also in the upper jaw, with four to six canines in the centre, the external of which on either side is the largest. Fins. Ventrals united, unattached to abdomen, except at their base ; they arise under the middle of the operculum. Pectoral with a broad fleshy base ; it commences posterior to the opercles ; its outer rays are shorter than its central ones, which are the longest. The first dorsal consists of elongated, filiform spines, with a deeply emarginate interspinous membrane. The distance between the posterior end of the first dorsal and the commencement of the second dorsal equals the length of its base. The first five rays of the second dorsal shorter than the remainder; its last ray extends as far as the base of the caudal fin. Anal rays all branched and short. Caudal with very short external rays, its central ones being the longest. Scales minute over head, and rather smaller in the anterior than in the posterior half of the body. Colours. Greenish, with seven or eight black vertical bands descending from the back as low as the abdomen, which is of a reddish-brown colour. The whole of the body covered with opaque but bright blue spots, which are smaller and rounder on the head and at the base of the pectoral fins. Dorsal fins spotted in the same manner, those on the second dorsal being larger than those on the first. Pectoral orange, with a black edge. Caudal and anal blackish. Ventrals with a purplish tinge. This fish climbs up rocks, and even on to pieces of wood; living in shallow estuaries, it is drowned in deep water. On land it progresses rapidly by means of its pectoral fins and tail, and snaps at anything which is placed near it. It is not uncommon. PLATACANTHUS MACULATUS, sp. nov. B.iii. D. 3/27. P,-J. V. 8. A. 3/6. C. 21. Length of specimen 2 inches. Length of head T T, of pectoral T 3 r, of base of dorsal \, of base of |