OCR Text |
Show 154 MR. F. DAY ON NEW INDIAN FISHES. [Feb. 13, recurved as seen in the G. venenatus, G. viridipunctatus, and other allied species; but in the G. criniger " ses dents sont petites, m e me les exterieures " (Cuv. & Val). "The teeth are minute, velvety, of nearly equal length " (Cantor). " Teeth small " (Giinther). GOBIUS BIOCELLATUS, C. & V. Gobius sublitus, Cantor. D. 6/4. P. 19. V . f A. 4. C. 15. L. 1. 35-38. L. tr. 13. Length of specimens from 1 to 4 inches. Length of head -\, of pectoral 4> of caudal £, of base of first dorsal ^, of base of second dorsal }, of base of anal £ of the total length. Height of head %, of body \t of first dorsal \, of second dorsal \, of anal \, of ventral \ of the total length. Eyes directed upwards and slightly outwards ; horizontal diameter 1 of length of head, f of a diameter apart, 1 diameter from end of snout. Teeth villiform in both jaws, except an external slightly enlarged row in the lower jaw, those in which are considerably recurved inwards. A few of those in the outer row in the upper jaw are slightly enlarged. Fins. First dorsal generally highest anteriorly ; but in some specimens the fifth spine is somewhat the longest. Colours. These vary, generally greyish brown, with some large irregular blotches along the side, and a slight brownish line along the centre of each row of scales. Under surface of cheeks and jaws lineated with circuitous brownish lines. Cheeks dark brownish. Fins. Dorsal generally yellowish, with a greyish tinge, and having several irregular whitish lines along its lower half, also a deep-black blotch with a white margin usually between its fifth and sixth spines. Second dorsal of the same colour, with several rows of irregular white spots. Pectoral, ventral, and anal greyish, the last with some white dots. Caudal dark grey, with some lines of dark spots. Cantor observes that G. sublitus chiefly differs from G. biocellatus, C. & V., in its dentition; but I have fortunately obtained a large number of specimens at Madras, and find that the dentition of the two is identical. His other diagnostic sign, namely the filamentous fifth spine of the first dorsal, is accidental in the specimen and by no means uncommon. One very curious diseased specimen of this species was captured Novembor 15, 1867; it is covered with large, hard tubercles over its body and the base of its fins, also over its tongue. PHARYNGOGNATHI ACANTHOPTERYGII. PSEUDOSCARUS RUSSELLII, CUV. & Val. D. 9/10. P. 15. V. 1/5. A. 2/9. C. 13. L. 1. 24. L. tr. 2-f. Length of specimen 18 inches. |