I'OW.VN. 21 



upper ray of the caudal fin ; anal fin coninicncing half way 

 between the origin of the ventral fin and the base of the 

 middle caudal ray ; the first ray simple, the rest branched ; 

 the second ratlirr tlu' longest ; the third as long as the base 

 of the fin ; the last ray half the length of the fifth ; ventral 

 fins commencing under the middle of the dorsal ; the third 

 ray the longest, equalling the length of the same ray of the 

 dorsal ; pectorals long and pointed, one-sixth the length of 

 the whole fish, caudal fin included ; the first ray simple ; the 

 second and third the longest, the last short, not one-fourth 

 the length of the first ; tail deeply forked, with the long rays 

 of the upper portion curving slightly downwards, giving the 

 fin a peculiar form. Gill cover produced behind ; the basal 

 line of union between the operculum and suboperculum 

 oblique ; the free margin of the latter slightly rounded ; pre- 

 operculum angular ; snout prominent, somewhat of a conical 

 form, extending beyond the upper lip ; jaws of unequal 

 length, the lower one the shortest. The maxillary bone 

 broad, the free extremity extending back to beneath the an- 

 terior margin of the orbit. Teeth in the upper jaw long and 

 slender, aboiit six in number ; those on the tongue shorter 

 and more numerous. Eyes large, extending below the mid- 

 dle of the cheeks ; lateral line commencing at the upper part 

 of the operculum, and running down the middle of the sides 

 to the base of the middle caudal ray. Scales large and de- 

 ciduous, eighty-four forming the lateral line, eight between 

 the dorsal fin and lateral line, and the same number between 

 the lateral line and the base of the ventrals." The numbers 

 of the fin-rays, including the two short rays at the com- 

 mencement of the dorsal and anal fins, are 



D. 14 : P. 16 : V. 12 : A. 13 : C. 20 : caeca 120. 



" This fish grows occasionally to the length of sixteen 

 inches. In the stomach of one of the specimens examined 



