6. SCATOPHAGUS. 59 



the lower one being shorter than the posterior ; the interior ridge is 

 scarcely elevated, and there are some irregular openings leading into 

 the muciferous channel. The operculum is irregularly quadrangular, 

 with the two upper sides slightly emarginate ; it is not quite twice 

 as high as wide. The sub- and interoperculum are rather elongate, 

 the former tapering posteriorly, the latter anteriorly. The infra- 

 orbital bones are very solid, although narrow, and the posterior ones 

 are attached to the pra^operculum ; there is a very broad plate on 

 their inner side, to support the eyeball from beneath. The anterior 

 frontals are rather small and not projecting ; the principal frontals 

 and the other bones of the crown form together one solid, smooth, 

 slightly porous mass, the upper side of the skull appearing very broad 

 and convex ; it is continued into the occipital crest, which, however, 

 does not reach to the first dorsal spine. The glossohyal is small, styU- 

 form ; the urohyal triangular, with a wing-hke process on each side. 



The suprascapula is firmly joined to the bones of the skull ; the 

 scapula oblong ; the humeral exceedingly long, rib-like. The ex- 

 terior lamella of the coracoid is well developed, and as broad as the 

 interior ; the radius is slender, and leaves a wide free space on its 

 suture with the coracoid. The pubic bones are in immediate contact 

 with each other ; each is composed of three lamellae, the inferior of 

 which is the most developed. 



There are eleven abdominal and twelve caudal vertehrm*, the length 

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

 caudal as 1'2: 1 : thus, this fish offers the first example where the 

 abdominal portion is the longest. The centre of the first vertebra is 

 not developed. The neural spines of the abdominal vertebrae are 

 broad and compressed, without a transparent lamella ; a great por- 

 tion of the anterior four haemals are anchylosed together. There are 

 no spurious intcrneurals ; the first interneural is the strongest, re- 

 clined backwards, and superiorly armed with a spine pointing for- 

 wards. The first rnterhaemal is exceedingly strong, and provided 

 inferiorly with a triangular process ; the length of this spine equals 

 that of the anterior nine vertebrae together. 



2. Scatophagus bougainvillii. 



Cuv. 8f Val. vii. p. 142 ; P Richards. Ichth. Chin. p. 245. 



The length of the fourth dorsal spine is one-fourth of the height of 

 the body. Back With black dots along the base of the dorsal fin. ( Cuv.) 

 East Indies ? 



3. Scatophagus omatus. 



Cuv. S( Val. vii. p. 143. pi. 180 ; Sleeker, Amboina, v. p. 492, 

 D. 10 I i A. ^. Csee. pylor. 20. 

 The length of the fourth dorsal spine is 3-3^ in the height of the 

 * Cuvier professes to haTe found ten abdominal and fourteen caudal vertebras. 



