486 CAHANGID.T5. 



16. PAROPSIS. 



Paropsis, Jenyns, Zool. Beagle, Fishes, p. 65. 



The body is compressed, elevated, covered with very minute teeth ; 

 the lateral line without any armatiu'e ; the cleft of the mouth wide. 

 The spinous dorsal is formed by five short isolated spines ; the soft 

 and the anal are much more developed, without detached finlets ; two 

 anal spines, separated from the remainder of the fin. Ventrals none. 

 Single series of teeth in the jaws ; teeth on the vomer, the palatine 

 bones, and on the tongue. Branchiostegals ten. 



East coast of South America. 



1. Paropsis signata. 

 Jemjm, I. c. p. 66. pi. 13. 



B.IO. D.5|^. A.2|^. 



The maxillaiy reaches to a vertical from the posterior part of the 

 orbit. Uniform silvery ; a black patch on the gill-cover, and another 

 under the pectoral fin. [Jen.) 



Northern coast of Patagonia. 



17. PSETTUS. 



Psettus, (Covimers.) Cuv. 8f Val. vii. p. 240. 



Body much compressed and elevated ; snout rather short. One 

 dorsal, entirely covered with scales, with seven or eight spines ; the 

 anal with three ; ventrals very small, rudimentary, with a very 

 short spine and some rays. Teeth villiform ; no teeth on the palate. 

 Scales small. Six branchiostegals ; air-bladder bifiu'cate posteriorly ; 

 pyloric appendages in increased number. 



West coast of Africa ; aU the Indian Seas from the eastern coasts 

 of Africa to AvistraUa and Poljniesia. 



1. Psettus sebae. 



Seha, iii. 26. 21. 



Chsetodon rhombeus, Bl. Sckn. p. 235. 



Psettus sebiB, Cuv. Sf Val. vii. p. 241. pi. 189. 



Gasterosteus rhombeus, Forst. Descript. Anini. cur. Lichtenst. p. 7. 



D.^'. A.|. L. lat. 55. Vert. 10/14. 



The height of the body is a little more than its length (without 

 fins) ; the diameter of the eye is contained twice and one-third in 

 the length of the head. Uniform silvery. 



Coasts of West Africa. 



a. Fine specimen. River Niger. From Mr. Fraser's Collection. 



h. Fine specimcu. India (?). 



(*. Adult : skeleton. Gold Coast. 



(L Adult: bad state. Coast of Africa. From the Haslar Collection . 



1 



