80 THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



Fam. CABANGIDJi. 

 Genus CAEANX, Cuv. & Vol, 



Olistus, scyeis, blephaeis, gallichthys, et hynnis, Cuv. & Vol. 



Megalaspis, decapteeus, selae, caeangoides, lieglossus, ueaspis, selaeoides et 



gnathanodon, Bleeker. 

 Cabangus, Gimrd. 



Branchiostegals, seven : pseudobranehiae. Body oblong or elevated, and more or less compressed. 

 Eyes lateral. Cleft of mouth moderate. Infraorbital bones do not articulate with the preopercle. Two 

 dorsals, the first having in front of it a recumbent immoveable spine directed forwards, the spinous less 

 developed than the soft dorsal or anal, which are of nearly equal extent : whilst several of the posterior 

 rays of both these last fins may be detached from the rest (Megalaspis, Bleeker), or only one (Decapterus, 

 Bleeker). Two spines separated by an interspace from but in front of anal fin. Ventrals thoracic. Teeth 

 disposed in various manners, and in some species the dentition changing with age. Scales small. 

 Lateral line continuous, and curved anteriorly, with its posterior portion straight, and mailed with scaly 

 plates, each of which is keeled and has a spinate termination. Air bladder bifurcated posteriorly. Pyloric 

 appendages numerous. 



a. With eight or nine detached rays, behind dorsal and anal fins. 

 Caeanx Eottleei. 



Scombee Eottleei, Block, x. p. 40, t. 346. 

 Woeagoo, Russell, pi. 143. 



Caeanx Eottleei, Cuv. & Vol. ix. p. 29; Cantor, Catal. p. 124; Guntlier, Catal. ii. 

 p. 424. 



B. vii. D. 8 | T J TT viii.-ix. P. 21. Y.\. A. 2 | s ' 5 vii.-viii. C. 18. Keel 55. Vert, jf 



Length of head §, of pectoral \, of caudal \, of base of first dorsal \, of base of second dorsal 

 (excluding free rays) y, of base of anal (excluding free rays) -j^r of total length. Height of head ^, 

 of body § , of first dorsal T J T , of second dorsal ^, of anal | 7 , of ventral ^ of total length. 



Eyes — Rather close to profile, diameter ^ of length of bead, 1 diameter from end of snout, 

 1 diameter apart. 



Body compressed, with a raised keel along the vertical portion of the lateral line. A gradual 

 rise from the snout to the first dorsal. 



Lower jaw the longest : the maxilla extends to beneath the centre of the orbit. 



Teeth — Villiform in a single series except at tbe centre of the jaw. 



Fins — Pectoral and ventral in a line. First dorsal arises over the anterior fourth of pectoral, 

 second dorsal over posterior fourth of pectoral : anal opposite ninth ray of dorsal. First dorsal 

 triangular, with a procumbent spine in front, the interspinous membrane scarcely notched ; both it 

 and the anal spines can be received into grooves. Second dorsal highest in front, with from eight 

 to nine free rays extending posteriorly as far as the root of the caudal. Pectoral falciform extend- 

 ing to the twenty-fifth plate of lateral line. The second of the two spines before the anal the 

 longest : the anterior rays of the anal higher than the posterior : eight or nine free rays behind the 

 anal fin. Caudal deeply lobed. 



Scales — Small on the body, but not so over the head or before the ventral fin. 



