184 ACANTHOPTERTGII. 



side. Colours —gray, becoming silvery-white on tlie abdomen : a steel-blue opercular spot : upper two-thirds 

 of first dorsal nearly black : other fins yellow. 



Habitat. — Seas of luilia to the Malay Archipelago, attaining at least 10 inches in length. 



Genus, 2 — SciiENA, (Artedi) Cuv. 



JohniuK, Bloch: Corvina and Stellifer, Cuv.: Bola, sp. Ham. Buch. : Leiostomus, Cuv. and Yal. : 

 Coracinas, Pall. : Homoprion, Holb. : AmMyodun, (Raf.) Gir. : Gheilutrema, v. Tsch. : Genyonemus, Plagioscivn. 

 Scimwps, BairdieUa, Haploinodotus, BMnoscion and Ophioscion, GiU : Biplolepis, Steind. : Pseudoscicena, Bleeker. 



BrancMostegals seven : pseudohranclucB. Body ollong, rather elongated, and compressed. Eyes of moderate 

 she. Bderorbital space rather broad and slightly convex. Snout rounded, sometimes overhanging the upper jaw, 

 vjhich last is longer than the lower, or both are of equal length.* No central barbel below the sympihysis of the lower 

 jaiv. Teeth villiform, ivith an outer enlarged roiv in tlie pjremaxillaries, and sometimes the inner row in the ma7ulibles 

 enlarged. No distinct canines. Two dorsal fins, the first with 9-10 spines, and connected at its base to the secmid 

 which is of moderate length (23-32 rays). Anal with one or two spines. Scales ctenoid or cycloid, extending over the 

 head and snout, and generally more or less present on the vertical fins and on that of the tail. Air-vessel present.f 

 Pyloric appendages in moderate numbers orfeiv. 



Pores or the orifices of muciferous canals are found in most of the species of this genus, identically as 

 described in Vmbrina. But a few, evidently approaching towards OtoUthus, have some or all absent from 

 both jaws. 



In one species, Sciwna alhida, a small, though distinct barbel, is present at the anterior of the lateral open 

 pores on the lower jaw. Whether very great stress ought to be laid upon whether the scales are ctenoid or 

 cycloid appears ojDen to doubt. (See 6'. cartitta, S. glaucus.) 



This genus has been subdivided by Bleeker into the following : 1. Pseudoscicena, in which the inner 

 row of teeth in the lower jaw is distinctly larger than those external to it : 2. Johnius, destitute of any enlarged 

 row of teeth in the lower jaw. 



SYNOPSIS OF SPECIES. 

 A. An enlarged inner row of teeth in the lower jaw. {Pseudoscicena.') 



1. Scicffna Bleeheri, D. 10 | -jV, A. f, L. 1. 60, L. tr. 11/18. Eyes, diameter 1/5 of length of head. 

 vSecond anal spine weak, 1^- diameters of the orbit in length. Gray, with a dark axUlary spot. First dorsal 

 gi'ay, fins edged with gi'ay. Bombay. 



2. Scicena miles, D. 9-10 | ■^\-^, A. -f, L. 1. 50, L. tr. 8/16. Eyes, diameter 2/9 to 1/5 of length of head. 

 Second anal spine very strong and half the length of the head. Silvery, outer edges of vertical fins sometimes 

 gray. Seas of India. 



3. Sciana Vogleri, D. 10 | -rglo-g-' A. f, L. 1. 50, L. tr. 6/14. Eyes diameter 2/9 to 3/14 of length of 

 head. Second anal spine weak, as long as the eye. Silvery, first dorsal dark. Seas of India to the Malay 

 Archipelago. 



4. Scicena sina, D. 10 | s-T^-rffi A. f, L. 1. 62. Eyes, diameter 1/4 of length of head. Second anal spine 

 weak, 2/7 of length of head. Seas of India. 



5. Scimia cuja, D. 10 | ^t-tti A. f , L. 1. 50. Eyes, diameter 1/5 of length of head. Second anal spine 

 very strong, as long as the head behind the middle of the eyes. Oblique dark streaks above the lateral-Line 

 and horizontal ones below it. Estuaries of Ganges and Siam. 



6. Sciajna coitor, D. 10 | -^Zl-^, A. f, L. 1. 55. Eyes, diameter from 1/4 to 2/11 of length of head. 

 Second anal spine strong, and as long as the postorbital portion of the head. Silvery. Large rivers of India 

 and Bunnah. 



7. Scicena axillaris, D. 10 | -^l-^, A. -f-, L. 1. 50, L. tr. 6-7/14. Eyes, diameter 1/4 of length of head. 

 Second anal spine strong, 2^ in the length of the head. Silvery, upper two-thii-ds of first dorsal black, a dark 

 axillary spot. Seas of India. 



8. Sciwna albida, D. 9-10 | ^i^^, A. f , L. 1. 52, L. tr. 7/18. Eyes, diameter 1/4 to 1/7 of length of head. 

 Second anal spine strong, half as long as the head. Silvery, a diffused opercular blotch. Seas of India. 



9. Scicena diacanthus, D. 10 | -^l-^, A. f , L. 1. 52, L. tr. 7/18. Eyes, diameter 2/9 to 1/6 of length of 

 head. Second anal spine 2| in the length of the head. Brownish-gray superiorly, silvery below. Upper half 

 of body, dorsal, and caudal fins spotted in the immatm-e. Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago. 



10. Scicma aneus, D. 10 | -^l-^, A. |-, L. 1. 50, L. tr. 8-9/18. Eyes, diameter 1/4 to 4^ in the length of 

 head. Lower jaw the longer. Second anal spine weak, from 3/4 to 1 diameter of the orbit in length. Silvery, 

 first dorsal gray. Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago. 



11. Scia-na maculata, D. 10 | ^t'yt. A. f, L. 1. 45-48, L. tr. 8/16. Eyes, diameter 41 to 1/5 of length of 

 head. Second anal spine 1/3 the length of head. Silvery, with five broad black bands, sometimes interrupted. 

 Seas of India. 



B. No enlarged inner row of teeth in the lower jaw. (Johnius.) 



12. Sciana Belengeri, D. 9 | ^1^2, A. |, L. 1. 62, L. tr. 6/14. Eyes, diameter 3^- to 3f of length of head. 

 Second anal spine 2j in length of head. Slate-coloured, with the vertical fins nearly black. Seas of India to 

 the Malay Archipelago. 



* Scicma aneus, Bloch, is an exception, forming a transitional state to genus OtoUthus not onlj in this respect, Int in the 

 pores on the snout, and below the symphysis of the mandibles, 

 t Stated to be absent in some American species. 



