446 



MUGILID^. 



a developed adipose eyelid, and from M. borbonmis, Cant., or M. sup- 

 positus, m., in the number of the anal rays ; it appears to be very 

 nearly allied to M. axillaris, Bleek. 



n.4: 



42. Mugil ceylonensis. 



A. ^. L. lat. 32. L. transv. 12. 



Eyes without adipose merTibrane. Upper lip thin, truncated, fonn- 

 ing the front margin of the snout ; the mandibles nearly entirely 

 cover the chin, without leaving a distinct free space between them. 

 Maxillaiy entirely hidden. The pectoral extends beyond the origin 

 of the spinous dorsal fin, and is nearly as long as the head. Vertical 

 fins scaly. 



Ceylon . 



a. Five inches long. Ceylon. From the Collection of Messrs. von 

 Schlagintweit. 



b-d. Young. Ceylon. From the Collection of Messrs. von Schlagint- 

 weit. 



Description. — The height of the body equals the length of the 

 head, and is contained four times and two-thirds in the total length, 

 the length of the caudal fin four times and 

 a fifth ; the least depth of the tail is one- 

 half the length of the head. The upper 

 profile descends in a curve from the dorsal 

 fin to the snout. The interorbital space is 

 slightly convex, and its rndth is a little less 

 than one-half of the length of the head. 

 Snout obtuse, truncated, broad, rather 

 shorter than the eye ; its front margin is 

 formed by the upper lip, which is thin and 

 truncated. The anterior margins of the 

 lower lips form an obtuse angle, and the cleft 

 of the mouth is thrice as broad as it is deep. 

 The mandibles neai'ly entirely cover the 



chin, leaving scarcely any free space between them. The maxillarj' is 

 entirely hidden. The pracorbital has a slight notch anteriorly, and 

 its extremity rounded and toothed. The nostiils are close together, 

 and the posterior is nearly in the middle between anterior and orbit. 

 No adipose eyelid. The pectoral is inserted above the middle of the 

 depth of the body, and has a short pointed scale in its axil ; it is 

 nearly as long as the head, and extends to the ninth scale of the 

 lateral line, or somewhat beyond the vertical from the dorsal fin. The 

 ventral is inserted midway between base of the pectoral and spinous 

 dorsal. The latter commences above the eighth scale, and somewhat 

 nearer to the base of the caudal than to the snout ; the length of 

 its anterior spine is more than half the length of the head. The 

 soft dorsal commences above the nineteenth scale, or above the first 

 sott anal ray ; it is scaly, twice as high as long, much higher than 



v_ / 



M. ceylonensis. 



