1. BELONE, 237 



6. Belone platura. 



PBelone platyura, Bom. Proe. Comm. Zool. Soc. IS-'jO, p. 168. 

 Belone platura, Rlipp. N. W. Fische, p. 73, taf. 20. fig. 1 ; Cuv. Sf Vat. 



xviii. p. 451 ; Bleek, Act. Soc. Sc. Lulo-Nedcrl. ii., Amboina, viii. 



p. 85. 



D. 13-14. A. 17. 



The free portion of the tail is strongly depressed, with a sharp 

 lateral edge. Body rather depressed, subpentagonal. The length of 

 the head is contained twice and thi'ee-fourths in the total (without 

 caudal) ; its upper surface flat, striated, with a broad, very shallow, 

 scaly median groove ; superciliary region striated ; base of the inter- 

 maxillaries much depressed, maxillary entirely hidden by the prae- 

 orbital. Teeth small ; vomerine teeth none ; tongue smooth. The 

 diameter of the eye equals the width of the interorbital space, and is 

 contained once and two-thirds in the length of the postorbital por- 

 tion of the head. Depth of the body considerably less than the length 

 of the pectoral fin, which is more than the distance of the opercular 

 margin from the orbit. Ventral fin midway between eye and caudal. 

 The middle and hinder dorsal and anal rays subequal in length, 

 short, the last terminating at a considerable distance from the root 

 of the caudal. Caudal fin forked. Scales rather small, adherent 



Ilea Sea ; ? Mauritius ; East Indies. 



a. Adult. Red Sea. Presented by Dr. E. Riippell. 



b. Half-grown. Amboyna. From Dr. Blocker's Collection. 



7. Belone microps. 

 D. 13-15. A. 14-15. 



The free portion of the tail is strongly depressed, with a sharpish 

 edge. Body depressed, rather broader than deep. The length of 

 the head is one-third of the total (without caudal) ; its upper surface 

 flat, smooth, with a narrow median groove ; superciliary region quite 

 smooth ; base of the intermaxillaries depressed, maxillary half hidden 

 by the prseorbital. Teeth of moderate size, widely set ; vomerine 

 teeth none. The diameter of the eye is a little more than the width 

 of the interorbital space, and one-fifth of the length of the postorbital 

 portion of the head, which is rather more than half the length of the 

 beak. Depth of the body considerably less than the length of the 

 pectoral fin, which is less than the distance of the opercular margin 

 from the orbit. Ventral fin a little nearer to the head than to the 

 caudal. The middle and hinder dorsal and anal rays subequal in 

 length, short, the last terminating at a considerable distance from 

 the root of the caudal ; origin of the anal somewhat in advance of 

 that of the dorsal. Caudal forked, with the lobes subequal in length. 

 Scales minute, adherent. The termination of the lateral keel on the 

 caudal fin black. 



Guianas. 



a. Thirteen^, inches long. Surinam. 



b. Thirteen inches long. British Guiana. Presented by Sir II. 



Schomburgk. 



c. Eleven inches long. Britisn Guiana. Purchased of Mr. Scrivener. 



