FAMILY, III— SCOMBRESOCID^. 513 



In counting the scales of species of SemirJiampM and Exocceti, ttose wliich exist in a straight line between 

 the head and base of the caudal fin are enumerated and not those along the lateral-line, consequently the letters 

 L. r. or lateral rows are emplojed. Deformed specimens are frequently met with in which the beak has been 

 injured. Bleeker observes, " the length of the lower jaw in the HemirUamphi often varies considerably in the 

 same species." It has yet to be proved whether the teeth in some species may not vary with age. 



SYNOPSIS OF SPECIES. 



A. — Pectorals long. 



1. Hemirhamphus longirostris, D. 21-22, A. 18-20. A silvery band. Coromandel coast of India. 



B. — Pectorals short. 



2. Hemirhamijlius leucopterus, D. 18 (16), A. 15 (14). Beak 4?, in the total length. Ventral in last 

 third of distance between eye and base of caudal tin. No scales on dorsal or anal tins. Bombay. 



3. Semirliamplms Gantorl, D. 15-16, A. 15, L. r. 62. Beak 3f in the total. Ventral fin inserted in the 

 commencement of the last third of the distance between the front edge of the premasillaries and base of 

 caudal fin. Some scales on anal fin. Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and China. 



4. Hemirlinmplius xanfJiopiterus, D. 14-15, A. 16-17, L. r. 56-58. Beak red tipped and 7 to 7| in the total 

 length. Ventrals inserted midway between hind edge of eye and base of caudal fin. Very few, if any, scales 

 on dorsal or anal fins. Malabar coast of India. 



5. Heniirhampihus unifasciatiis, D. 15-16, A. 15-17, L. r. 52-58. Beak 6 J in the total length. Ventral 

 inserted midway between front edge of eye and base of caudal fin. Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago 

 and bej'ond. 



6. Hemirhamphus Reynaldi, D. 14-15, A. 14-15, L. r. 52-54. Beak 6j in the total length. Eye equal to 

 length of postorbital portion of the head. Ventral inserted rather nearer base of caudal than that of pectoral. 

 East coast of Africa, seas of India to the Malay Archipelago. 



7. Hemirhamphus Oeorgii, D. 14-15, A. 13-14, L. r. 58. Beak 4f to 4| in the total length. Ventral 

 inserted in last third of distance between angle of mouth and base of caudal fin. No scales on dorsal or anal 

 fins. Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago. 



8. Hemirhamphus far, D. 13-14, A. 10-12, L. r. 50-54. Beak 5 to Sf in the total length. Ventral inserted 

 in last third of the distance between the middle of the eye and base of the caudal fin. A few scales on dorsal 

 and anal fins. Four dark vertical blotches along the side. Red Sea, East coast of Africa, seas of India to the 

 Malay Archipelago and beyond. 



9. Hemirhamphus limhatus, D. 13-14, A. 13-15, L. r. 50-52. Beak 6^ to Gl in the total. Ventral inserted 

 midway between eye and base of caudal. Seas of India to Burma. 



10. Hemirhamphus Bufowis, D. 14, A. 10-12, L. r. 42. Beak 3|- to 31 in the total length. Some of the 

 vertical rays modified. Ventral inserted in the last third of the distance between the eye and base of the 

 caudal fin, which is rounded. Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago. 



11. Hemirhamphus ectunctio, D. 13-14, A. 10-12, L. r. 46-4S. Beak 5i in the total length. Ventral 

 inserted in last third of distance between eye and base of the caudal fin, which latter is rounded. End of 

 upper jaw white. From the Hooghly to the Malay Archipelago. 



12. Hemirhamphus dispar, D. 11-12, A. 11-12, L. r. 40. Beak 4J in the total. Ventral inserted in the 

 last third of the distance between the end of the upper jaw and base of caudal fin, which latter is rounded. 

 Some of the anal rays modified. Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago. 



13. Hemirhamphus hrachynopterus, D. 9, A. 15. Beak 4f in the total. Caudal rounded. Hooghly. 



1. Hemirhamphus longirostris. 



Esox, Russell, Fish. Vizag. ii, p. 62, and Kuddera, C, plate 178. 



Hemirhamphus longirostris, Cuv. Reg. Anim. ; Cuv. and Val. xix, p. 52 ; Giinther, Catal. vi, p. 276. 



D. 21-22, P. 8, V. 6, A. 18-20, C. 26. 



Length of head 3, of beak 4i-, of caudal 10^, height of body 18 in the total length. Eyes — diameter 1 j 

 in the postorbital length of the head, and nearly 1 apart. Body narrow and compressed. Preorbital rather 

 longer than high. Upper jaw convex in both directions and 1/4 wider at its base than it is long. 

 Teeth — small, and numerous. Fins* — dorsal, anteriorly much elevated, it commences somewhat anterior to the 

 origin of the anal. Pectoral 3f in the length of the body, its upper ray broad and compressed. Ventrals very 

 small, 1/6 the length of the pectoral. Caudal deeply forked, lower lobe the longer. Colours — a silvery lateral 

 band, the fins with dark outer margins. 



Habitat. — Coromandel coast of India. It attains to at least 10'5 inches in length. 



* In the type ppecimcn at Paris the fins are now mucli Injured, whilst the sciles cannot be connted. In Rnssell's figure the 

 Tentrals are shown as inserted raidwav betn ecn the bases of the pcetoral and caudal tins. 



3 u 



