452 SPAMDiE. 



as in that species. The intcnnaxillarics have their posterior pro- 

 cesses elongate, with their base ^videned ; tlio groove in which they 

 move does not extend to the vertical from the anterior margin 

 of the orbit. There are also no protuberances on the descending 

 branches of the bone, which are uniformly vn.de to their extremity. 

 The maxillary has the lower extremity veiy slightly bent forwards, 

 and is vnthout a foramen. The mandibnlaiy is rather short and 

 elevated, without a free space between the articular and dentary 

 bones ; there are five distinct pores from its muciferous channel. 

 The head of the vomer is broad, flat, triangular. The lower Kmb of 

 the prseoperciilum is one-tliird shorter than the posterior ; both 

 meet at a nearly right angle, which, however, is rounded. The 

 interior ridge descends obUquely forwards, is flat, not prominent, 

 with a nidimentaiy muciferous channel behind. The operculum is 

 irregularly quadrangular, half as wide as high, with the upper side 

 shortest and deeply notched ; the ridge on its inner surface is very 

 feeble. The sxib- and interopcrculum are of nearly equal length 

 and width. The tiu'binal bone is tubiform anteriorly, widened and 

 flat posteriorly. The praeorbital is large, rhombic, the remainder of 

 the infraorbital ring narrow ; there is a bony plate at its inner side 

 to supjjort the eyeball from beneath. The frontal bones, between 

 the orbits, are rather flat, with three low ridges and several pores 

 and gi'ooves. .The occipital crest is high, strong, triangular, with 

 the upper margin very slightly convex, and extends to above the 

 centre of the orbit, terminating posteriorly with the occipital. The 

 inner of the lateral ridges is very feeble, the outer one moderately 

 developed. The basal portion of the brain-capsule is slightly com- 

 pressed. The pubic bones are of moderate length ; each of them is 

 fonned by three lameUoe of nearly eqiial development. 



There are ten abdominal and fourteen caudal vcrtehrce, the length 

 of the former portion of the vertebral column being to that of the 

 caudal as 1 : 1'44. There are three spurious intemem-als, each with 

 a small process above, directed forwards ; the first two dorsal spines 

 have one common intcmcural, with the horizontal spinous process, 

 which is visible externally. The first interhaemal exhibits a pecuHar 

 transformation into a conical cavity, but in a slighter degree than 

 in Gerres yula. 



The incisors are very naiTow, slightly curved, and six or eight in 

 number ; there is a band of small setifoim and minute granular teeth 

 behind them. The molars are small and arranged in two series in 

 both the jaws. 



15. CHARAX. 



Charax, Hisso, Eur. Merid. iii. p. 353 ; Cuv. ^ Val. vi. pp. 9, 71. 



Narrow incisors and a single series of small molar teeth in both the 

 jaivs. Cheeks scaly. The spines of the dorsal (eleven) folding into a 

 groove; thi-ee anal spiues. Opercles not armed. Scales of moderate 

 size. Five branchiostegals. Pyloric appendages in smaU number. 

 Au'-bladder simple. 



Mediterranean ; Canary Islands. 



