BY W. MACLEAY, F.L.S. 263 



Family XII. CHIROCENTRIDJE. 



Body covered with thin deciduous scales ; barbels none. 

 Margin of the upper jaw formed by the intermaxillaries mesially 

 and by the maxillaries laterally, both bones being firmly united 

 by juxta-position. Opercular apparatus complete. Adipose fin 

 none ; the dorsal fin belongs to the caudal portion of the vertebral 

 column. Stomach with a blind sac ; intestine short, the mucous 

 membrane forming a spiral fold ; pyloric appendages none. 

 Pseuclobranchioe none; air-bladder incompletely divided into 

 cells ; gill-opening wide. 



Genus Cihrocentrtjs, Cuv. 



Body elongate, compressed, with the abdomen trenchant ; cleft 

 of the mouth wide, oblique, with the lower jaw prominent. 

 Lower jaw with a series of large canine teeth; intermaxillary 

 with a pair of horizontal canines. Narrow bands of minute teeth 

 on the palatine and pterygoid bones and on the tongue. Dorsal 

 fin short, opposite to the anal, which is long. A long pointed 

 osseous appendage at the base of the pectoral ; ventral fins very 

 small. Gill-membranes united for a short distance, with eight 

 branchiostegals. 



From Africa to China. 



905. Chirocentrus dorab, Forsk. 



Gunth., Cat. Fishes VIL, p. 475.— Bleek., Atl. Ichth. Chip., tab. 



11, fig. 3. 



B. 8. D. 16-17. A. 33-34. V. 7. Vert. 29/46. 



The height of the body is less than the length of the head, 

 which is about two-elevenths of the total length exclusive of the 

 caudal fin. Coloration uniform. 



Port Jackson. Cape York. Length three feet. 



