FAMILY, XXXIV-MUGILID^. 351 



maxilla. Mandibular angle somewhat olstuse, the cleft of the mouth equalling half the width of the gape 

 Uncovered space on chin very narrow, lanceolate. A .shallow groove before the vomer. Teetli — visible in the 

 upper jaw. Fins — the first dorsal commences midway between the snout and the base of the caudal, 

 its first two spines, which are not very strong, are of about the same length, and equal the length of head behind 

 the posterior third of the orbit. Second dorsal 1/3 higher than its base is long, its origin is a little posterior to 

 that of the anal. Pectoral as long as the head excluding the snout, and reaching to the eleventh or twelfth 

 scale of the lateral-line, third anal spine 3/7 of the length of the head. Scales — each with distinct longitudinal 

 lines, rather angular and slightly ctenoid, 21 or 22 rows between the snout and base of first dorsal fin ; the 

 eleventh and twenty-second scales of the lateral-line correspond to the origin of the first and second 

 dorsal fins : no elongated axillary one, some fine ones over the second dorsal and anal fins. Free portion of 

 the tail at its least depth equals the length of the head behind the middle of the eye. Colours— a. golden 

 spot on the upper portion of the opercles, sometimes dark in the axilla, a narrow dark edge to both 

 dorsal fins, most distinct in the second : caudal with a yellowish base and dark extremity. 



Habitat. — Seas and estaaries of India : attaiuing 5 or 6 inches in length. The one figured (life-size) is 

 from the Hooghly at Calcutta. 



6. Mugil belanak, Plate LXXIV, fig. 5. 



Bleeker, Java, iv, p. 337; Giinther, Catal. iii, p. 427. 



B. vi, D. 4 I i, P. 15, V. 1/5, A. f , C. 16, L. 1. 34-35, L. tr. 10. 



Length of head 5|-, of caudal 6, height of body 5^ in the total length. Eije — with a broad posterior 

 eyelid which reaches half way across the iris, diameter of eye 2/9 of length of head, 1 diameter fi-om end of 

 snout, and 2 apart. Interorbital space slightly convex, and equal to 2^ in the length of the head. Width of 

 the head equals its length behind the middle of the eye, its height equals its width. Preorbital deeply notched, 

 serrated both inferiorly and posteriorly, the end of the maxilla is uncovered. The mandibles meet at rather an 

 acute angle, where they are notched : uncovered space at chin rapidly narrows posteriorly, rounded anteriorly. 

 Upper lip of moderate thickness, its upper portion forms part of the end of the snout. A groove before the 

 vomer. Cleft of mouth equals half of its width. Teeth — distinct in the upper jaw. Fins — dorsal spines strong, 

 the fin arises midway between the end of the snout and the base of the caudal, its second spine the longest 

 and equal to half the height of the body, but 1/4 shorter than the height of the second dorsal fin, which latter 

 commences slightly behind the anterior origin of the anal, both densely scaled. Pectoral as long as the head 

 behind the middle of the eye. Third anal spine equals 1/3 of the length of the head. Scales — 18 rows between 

 snout and origin of first dorsal fin : first and second dorsal fins arise respectively above the eleventh and 

 twentieth scales of the lateral-line. No enlarged axillary scale. Free portion of tail equals the length of the 

 head behind the middle of the eye. Colours — silvery, darkest along the back. 



Habitat. — Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago. The specimen figured (life-size) is from Bombay. 



7. Mugil poicilus, Plate LXXV, fig. 4. 



Day, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1865, p. 33, and Fish. Malabar, p. 140, pi. ix. 

 Mugil cunnumboo, Day, Fish. Malabar, p. 141. 



B. vi, D. 4 I i, P. 15, V. 1/5, A. |, C. 14, L. 1. 30-33, L. tr. 10-11, Csec. pyl. v. 



Length of head 4| to 5, of pectoral 7, of caudal 5 to 5|, height of body 5 in the total length. Eye — 

 with a moderately broad posterior adipose lid and a narrow anterior one, diameter 3^ to 3f in length of 

 head, 3/4 of a diameter from end of snout, and 1-^ to If apart. Width of the head equals its height, 

 and its length behind the middle of the eyes. Interorbital space nearly flat. The anterior portion of 

 the snout is formed by the upper lip which is thin. The depth of the cleft of the mouth equals half the 

 extent of the gape. Extremity of the maxilla not concealed by the pireorbital which is scaled, angularly 

 bent and sen-ated. Uncovered space on chin, elongated and tongue-shaped. A transverse groove in front 

 of vomer. Teeth — fine ones in the upper jaw, minute in the lower. Fins — the first doi'sal commences 

 above the tenth scale of the lateral-line, has from 20 to 22 rows between it and the snout, and is somewhat 

 nearer the base of the caudal than the end of the snout, its spines are strong, as long as the head behind the 

 eyes, and 1/8 higher than the rays of the second dorsal. Second dorsal commences slightly behind the origin of 

 the anal, above the twentieth scale of the lateral-line, and is one-third higher than long at its base. Caudal 

 emarginate. Scales — slightly ctenoid, no elongated one in the axilla, or along the base of the first dorsal fin, 

 fine ones over second dorsal, ^nal, and caudal fins. The least depth of the free portion of the tail equals the 

 length of the head behind the eyes. Colours — grayish, shot with purple and silver, becoming lighter on the 

 sides and below, each scale has usually a deep central black spot : fins stained with gray. 



M. cunnumboo is the same fish, but without the black spots, having instead brownish stripes along each 

 row of scales, it is the adult form, but in some of my specimens two-thirds grown, a very few black spots are 

 apparent. 



Habitat. — Bombay and the Western coast of India, more especially in the cold months. The one figured 

 (life-size) is from Bombay. It attains at least 2 feet in leng-th. 



