OCR Text |
Show 108 SURGEON F. DAY ON SOME N E W [Jan. 21, slightly broader than high, its greatest width being equal to the postorbital portion of the head, the summit of which is somewhat flat and snake-shaped. No occipital crest, barbels, nor warts on the head. Cleft of the mouth somewhat oblique, the lower jaw slightly the longer ; the posterior extremity of the maxilla extends to beneath the anterior margin of the orbit. Teeth, an enlarged outer row in tbe lower jaw, the external of which, on either side, is a moderately or small recurved canine. Fins : the distance of the first dorsal from the orbit equals the distance from the snout to the base of the pectoral fin, its second spine is elongated in some specimens, being nearly as long as the head; second dorsal and anal of about equal development and highest posteriorly : caudal wedge-shaped ; ventral reaches halfway to the vent. Scales, ctenoid on the body, cycloid on the head; they are much smaller anterior to the dorsal fin than posterior to it; they cover the cheeks and opercles, and on the top of the head, as far as the snout, are in rather irregular rows, eight being between the origin of the second dorsal and the anal fin. Colours : olive, a dark green spot above the margin of the opercle; about six indistinct blotches along the sides; dorsal and caudal fins stained with dark, and having some indistinct spots or bars ; a yellow ocellus at the top of the caudal fin, in its last half; anal whitish, its basal half covered with fine black dots. Hab. Bombay, where it is not uncommon, attaining 5^ inches in length. GOBIUS BREVIROSTRIS, Gunther. I obtained at Kurrachee three specimens of this fish, up to 3 T ^ inches in length. A few rows of scales exist on the head in the larger, but none on the smaller specimens. GOBIUS PLANIFRONS, sp. nov. D. 6[jg. P. 19. V. -5. A. 10. L.l. ca. 46. L. tr. 15. Length of head f, of caudal T 2 T, height of body T 2 T of the total length. Eyes superior; diameter £ of length of head, 1 diameter from end of snout, and lk apart. Head as broad at the opercles as its length excluding the snout; its height equals half its length ; its upper surface flat. Mouth anterior, cleft horizontal, lower jaw the longer ; width of gape equals half the length of the head ; and the posterior extremity of the maxilla reaches to half a diameter behind the orbit. Fine tentacles near the nostrils, and rows of small warty glands on the scaleless head. Teeth, canines absent. Fins : first dorsal low, being about half as high as the body below it, the second fin higher than the first; silky pectoral rays; caudal rounded. Scales finely ctenoid, disposed in very irregular rows, none on the head ; they merely reach on the nape halfway between the base of the first dorsal and the posterior edge of the orbit. Fifteen rows exist between the base of the second dorsal and the anal fin. Colours : dark olive, fins very dark grey ; second dorsal spotted ; a black blotch at the upper part of the base of the pectoral fin. Hab. Bombay, where one specimen, 4 inches long, was obtained. |