410 MraiLiDiE. 



very little in the individuals of one and the same species ; tlic most 

 important arc the number of the soft rays of the anal fin and of the 

 scales, the more or less developed eyelids, the position and length 

 of the fins, the form of the lips, of the cleft of the mouth, and of the 

 maxillary bone, and finally the form of the body. 



When we find one or more of these characters omitted in the de- 

 scription of a species, it is nearly impossible to recognize it again and 

 to distinguish it from the other allied forms ; hence the great num- 

 ber of doubtful sjiecies in the foot-note. In speaking of a lateral line 

 in my descriptions of these fishes, I apply this term only for conveni- 

 ence' sake, meaning that series of scales which runs from the ujiper 

 angle of the operculiim, above the pointed axillary scale, to the root 

 of the caudal fin. I have found that the form of the cleft of the 

 mouth oflfers an excellent specific character, measuring its breadth be- 

 tween the two angles of the mouth, and calling its depth the vertical 

 draAvn from the extremity of the symphysis of the mandibles on the 

 transverse line joining the two angles of the mouth. 



The anatomy of Mugil shows several remarkable peculiarities. 

 The following details are taken from M. septenirionalis. 



Pharijru/eal apparatus. — The fishes of this genus feed on organic 

 substances which are mixed up with the sand or mud ; a consider- 

 able indigestible portion of the latter is swallowed ; and in order to 

 prevent larger bodies from passing into the stomach, or substances 



2. Mugil albula, L. Syst. i. p. 520, from Cafcsb. South Carol, ii. pi. 5 ; Mitch. 

 Lit. 4- Phil. Trans. New York, i. p. 447 ; Cuv. cf Val. xi. p. 94 ; Dekay, 

 New York Famia, Fishes, p. 14G. — Atlantic coasts of the United States. — 

 This species, if really cbfferent, has never been completely described. 



3. breviceps, Cuv. ^ Val. xi. p. lOG. — Gorea. 



4. boi'bonicus, Cuv. ^ Val. xi. p. 113. — Bourbon. 



5. cylindricus, Cuv. <f- Val. xi. p. 132; Bleek. Sumatra, ii. p. 2GG. — Sea 



of Batavia and Sumatra. 



G. cascasia, Buch. Ham. Fish. Gang. pp. 217, 380 ; Guv. ij- Val. xi. p. 145. 



Rivers of North Bengal. 



7. carinatus, {Ehretib.) Cuv. ^- Val. xi. p. 148. — Red Sea. Indian 



Ocean. 



8. schcli, Forsk. p. 73 ; Cuv. Sf Val. xi. p. 152.— Red Sea. 



9. tado, Forsk. p. 74 ; Cuv. &( Val. xi. p. 153. — Red Sea. 



10. buclianani, Bleek. Verhand. Batav. Genootsch. xxv., Beng. en Hindost. 



p. 99. — Rivera near Calcutta. 



1 1 . valencien nesii, Bleek. Natuurk. Tydschr. Nederl. bid. 1858, xvi. p. 277 



East Indian ^Vrchipelago. 



12. Bontah, Bui^s. ii. p. G4. pi. 180. 



13. Peddaraki, Uuss. ii. pi. 182.— Mugil pedaraki, Cuv. cj- Val. xi. p. 137. — 



Coast of Coromandel. 



14. Mugil acutus, C\iv. ^ Val. xi. p. 140. — Australia. 



15. melancranua, Richards. Ichth. China, p. 248. — Hah. —— ? 



16. ventricoaus, Richards. Ichth. China, p. 249. — China. 



17. chaptalii, Eijd. 8f Soul. Voy. Bnnite, Zool. i. p. 171. pi. 4. fig. 1 (bad). 



Sandwich Islands. 



18. lauvergnii, Kyd. Sf Soul. I. c. p. 174. pi. 4. fig. 3 (bad).— China. 



19. grandisquamis, Cuv. ^ Val. xi. p. 103. — Gambia. 



20. parniatus, Cant. Catal. p. 94. — Pinang. 



21 berlandieri, Girard in U. S. if Mex. Bound. Surv. Fishes, p. 20. 



pi. 10, figs. 1-4 (bad). 



