25. LACTAEIUS. 507 



Gazza tapeinosoma, Blecker, Sumatra, ii. p. 260. 

 B. 5. D.4. A.i-. 



The height of the body is one-third of the total length, the length 

 of the head one-fourth. Canine teeth of moderate size. The second 

 dorsal spine is slender, and one-half the height of the body ; the 

 second of the anal is stronger, and its height is 2^-2| in that of the 

 body. 



Seas of Sumatra and Tanna. 



a. Adnlt. Tanna. Cook's Voyage. — Type of the species; after- 

 wards called Spams scomljroidcs. 



h. Adult, Tanna. Cook's Voyage. — Type of the species ; after- 

 wards called Chromis scomhroides. 



25. LACTAEIUS. 



Lactarius, Cm: ^ Val. ix. p. 237. 



Body oblong, compressed, covered with cycloid scales of moderate 

 size ; cleft of the mouth wide, oblique, with the lower jaw promi- 

 nent. Teeth in the jaws small, luith one or two pairs of strong 

 canines ; teeth on the vomer and the palatine bones. Praeopercular 

 margin entire. The first dorsal with seven or eight feeble spines, 

 continuous ; the second and the anal are more developed, scaly, 

 without detached finlets. Three anal spines, continuous with the 

 fin. Lateral line not armed. Head with muciferous cavities. 

 Branchiostegals seven; air-bladder bifurcate anteriorly and pos- 

 teriorly, the posterior branches being united together behind the 

 haemal spine. Pyloric appendages in small number. 



East Indian Seas. 



This genus approaches the family of Scicenidce, and especially the 

 genus Otolithus, by several characters, namely, by the structure of 

 the mouth and of the air-bladder, by the muciferous cavities of the 

 skull, and by the anal spines, which are continuous with the soft fin. 



We have referred the genus Seombrojys to the family of Percidce 

 (vol. i. p. 249) ; but if its afiinities should be considered to be nearer 

 to the Scombridce, it would be best placed beside Lactarius. 



1. Lactarius delicatulus. 



Scomber lactarius, Bl. Schn. p. 31. 



Russell, pi. 108. 



Seriola lactaria, Cuv. Rhjne Anim. 



Lactarius delicatulus, Citv. 4- Val. ix. p. 238. pi. 261 ; Richards. Ichth. 



China, p. 272 ; Cantor, Catal. p. 138 ; Bleek. Verh. Bat. Genootsch. 



xxiv. 3Iakr. p. 74. 



B. 7. D. 7-8]^-^,. A.^-^^. L.lat. 74. Cajc. pylor. 6. 

 Vert. 10/14. 

 The cleft of the mouth is vciy oblique and the lower jaw veiy 

 prominent. Prtcorbital much narrower than the maxillary. The 



