^16 ACANTHOPTERYGII. 



Family, XXXIV— MUGILID^. 



Branchiostegals from four to six : pseudobranchiae. Gill-openings wide : gills four. Form of body- 

 oblong, compressed, whilst the head and anterior portion may be depressed. Eyes lateral, with or without 

 adipose lids. Mouth narrow or of moderate width. Opercles usually unarmed. Teeth very fine, sometimes 

 absent. Two dorsal fins, the first consisting of four stiff spines : anal slightly longer than the second dorsal : 

 ventral abdominal and suspended from an elongated shoulder bone, it consists of one spine and five rays. 

 Scales cycloid, rarely ctenoid. Lateral-line absent. Pyloric appendages generally few. Vertebra 24. 



In the marine forms of mullets the scales are usually cycloid or very feebly ctenoid, but in those species, 

 M. corsula, M. cascasia, and M. HamiltotiH, which mostly or entirely reside in fresh water the scales are strongly 

 ctenoid, and the two last have only two ciecal appendages. 



These fishes are extensively distributed throughout the seas of India, some ascending tidal rivers or 

 being found in estuaries. The young, as a rule, appear to enter large rivers and such congenial places. As 

 regards the strictly fresh-water forms they seem to be confined to the larger rivers, as the Ganges, Jumna, and 

 Irrawaddi. 



As a rule these fishes in their fresh state are esteemed as food by both Europeans and natives, they are 

 also extensively salted and sun-dried. In Canara an oljjection was raised to eating them, on the gi-ound tliat 

 their heads much resembled those of snakes. 



As mullets putrefy very rapidly in hot climates, especially if large, tlie wliole of their bodies become 

 distended witli gases.* This appearance may be persistent if the fish is not opened. 



Genus, 1 — MuGiL, Artedi. 



Branchiostefjals from four to six : psmdohrancMcE. Eyes ivith or without an adipose lid. Mouth more or 

 less transverse, icith a slialloio cleft, and the anterior edge of the mandible sharp. Teeth, when present, minute. 

 Pijloric appendages generally few (2-10). Upper portion of the stomach very muscular. 



Fishes of this genus may for convenience be divided into those which possess, or are deficient in, 

 adipose eyelids. In some the second dorsal commences opposite, anterior or posterior to the origin of the anal, 

 wlnlst an elongated axillary scale may be present or absent. Usually fishes in this genus have eight or nine 

 branched rays in the anal tin, counting the last divided to its base as one, but in some species, as J/, parsia, 

 either number may be found. 



SYNOPSIS OF SPECIES. 



A. Vt'ith adipose eyelids well developed. 



1. Mugil speigleri, A. f, L. l.f 40-42, L. tr. 11-12. Broad posterior eyelid. Head 4} to 5, height of body 

 4f to 5 in the total length. Eyes 2/7 of length of head, 3/4 of diameter fi-om end of snout. Extremity 

 of maxilla visible. Anterior fourth of anal before second dorsal. A long axillary scale, 22 rows before dnrsal 

 fin : twelfth and twenty-fifth scales of lateral-line correspond to origins of first and second dorsal fins. Dark 

 axillary spot. 



2. Miigll cunnesius, A. f, L. 1. 35, L. tr. 12. Broad posterior eyelid. Head .5i height of body 4}^ in the 

 total length. Eye 31 to 4 in length of head, 2/3 of a diameter from end of snout. Extremity of maxilla just 

 visible. Anal commences rather anterior to second dorsal. A long axillary scale. Eighteen rows before dorsal 

 fin : tenth and twentieth scales of lateral-line correspond to origins of first and second dorsal fins. 



3. Miigil oarinatus, A. |-, L. 1. 34-36, L. tr. 11. Broad posterior eyelid. Head 4^ to 4^, height of body 

 5 to 51 in the total length. ' Eyes il in length of head, 1 diameter from end of snout. Extremity of maxilla 

 visible'. Anal commences slightly anterior to second dorsal. No long axillary scale: 24 or 25 rows 

 before dorsal fin : ninth and twenty-first scales of lateral-line correspond to origins of first and second dorsal 

 tins. Base of pectoral dark. 



4. Miigil 2daHiceps, A. f, L. 1. 33-35, L. tr. 11. Broad posterior eyelid. Head 4| to 5, height of body 

 5| to 6 in the total length. Ejes 6^ to 7 in length of head, I.l diameters from end of snout. End of maxilla 

 visible. Anal commences slightly anterior to the second dorsal. No long axillary scale : 20 rows before dorsal 

 fin : tenth and twenty-first scales of lateral-line con-espond to origins of first and second dorsal fins. A dark 

 line along each row of scales. 



6. Mucjil parsia, A. -g%, L. 1. 34-35, L. tr. 11-12. Broad posterior eyelid. Head 5 to 5^, height of body 



* A solution of carbolic acid added to the spirit appears very useful in partially or entirely preventing this, 

 t By L. 1. in Mullets is meant the number of rows of scaler from the a.\illa to the base of the caudal fin, as no true 

 lateral-line exists. 



