1. BELONE. 251 



fifths in tlic total (without caudal) ; a scaly groove of moderate 

 width runs along the middle of its upper surface ; superciliary 

 region slightly striated ; base of the intermaxillaries much depressed, 

 maxillaries two-thirds hidden by the prajorbital. Teeth rather 

 feeble, widely sot ; tongue smooth. The diameter of the eye equals 

 the width of the interorbital space, and is one-third of the length of 

 the postorbital portion of the head. Body strongly compressed, its 

 depth being not much less than the length of the pectoral fin, which, 

 again, is somewhat less than the distance of the opercular margin 

 from the orbit. Ventral fin midway between pra;operculum and 

 caudal. Origin of dorsal fiji opposite to that of anal. The middle 

 and hinder dorsal and anal rays subequal in length, short, the last 

 terminating at some distance from the root of the caudal ; anterior 

 anal rays longer than anterior dorsal rays. Caudal fin slightly 

 emarginate. Scales thin and small. Upper parts blackish, sides 

 and belly silvery-white, the two colours being separated by a narrow 

 greenish streak. 

 Australia. 



a. Fourteen inches long. From Mr. G. Krefft's Collection (508). 



37. Belone acus. 



Aguglia, Aguja. 



Acus, Rondel, i. p. 257 ; Gesner, Aquaf. iv. p. 9 ; Salv. p. 68. fig. 8 ; 



Aldrov. de Pise. p. 106. 

 Esox beloue, Bri'mn. IcMhyol. Mass. p. 79 ; Risso, Ichth. Nice, p. 330 ; 



Nacc. Itt. Adr. p. 18 ; Nard. Prodr. Adr. IcMh. no. 143. 

 Belone acus, Risso, Eur. Merid. iii. p. 443 ; Bonap. Faun. Ital. ; Cnv. 



^ Val. xviii. p. 414. 



D. 17. A. 21. P. 12. 



Tail compressed, deeper than broad. The length of the head is 

 two-sevenths of the total (without caudal); its upper surface with- 

 out median groove ; superciliary and parietal regions striated ; base 

 of the intermaxillaries convex, not compressed ; maxiUaiy entii'ely 

 hidden by the prasorbital. Teeth exceedingly small ; vomerine teeth 

 none. Upper jaw a little shorter than lower. The diameter of the 

 eye equals the width of the interorbital space, and is two-fifths of 

 the length of the postorbital portion of the head. Body compressed, 

 its depth being nearly equal to the length of the pectoral fin, the 

 length of which is a little less than the distance of the opercular 

 margin from the orbit. Ventral fbi nearly midway between the 

 root of the caudal and the opercular margin. The middle and hinder 

 dorsal and anal rays subequal in length, short, the last termmating 

 at a considerable distance from the root of the caudal. Caudal fin 

 forked. Scales very thin and deciduous, irregular, and not very 

 small. 



Mediterranean. 



a. Adult. Malta. 



6. Adult. Nice. From the Berlin Museum. 



c. Half-grown. Mediterranean. 



