42, AMBASSIS. 223 



2. Ambassis commersonii. 



Sciaena safgha, Forsk. Descr. Anim. p. 53. 



Centropomiis ambassis, Lacep. iv. p. 273. 



Lutjanus gymnocephalus, Laccp. iv. p. 216, iii. pi. 23. f. 3. 



Ambassis commersonii, Cuv. ^ Val. li. p. 176. pi. 25 ; Riipp. N. W. 



Fische, p. 89. 

 Ambassis ualua, Bleek. Perc. p. 30 ; Batav. p. 463. 



B. 6. D. 7 I -^. A. |. L. lat. 30-33. Vert. 9/15. 



The height of the body is 2| in the total length (without caudal 

 fin) ; the second spine of the first dorsal is 3^ in the same length. 

 The second and third spines of the analis are equal in size and length, 

 or the third is rather longer ; lateral line slightly curved. Coloration 

 of body uniform. 



Red Sea ; Isle de I'rance ; East Indian Seas ; Shores of Northern 

 Australia (not yet found in the Chinese Seas). 



Cuvier quotes (p. 176) among the synonyma Chancla nalua, Buch., 

 which is afterwards (p. 182) described as a separate species. 



a. Adult : skeleton. India. From the Haslar CoUection. 



b, c. Half-grown. India. ■ 

 d. Half-grown : not good state. India. 



e,f. Half- grown. India. Presented by W. Masters, Esq. 



g. Fine specimen. Purchased of Mr. Frank. 



h. Half-grown. Amboyna. From Madame Ida Pfeiffer's CoUection. 



i. Half-grown. Philippines. From Mr. Cuming's CoUection. 



k. Adult. Java. From Mr. Frank's Collection. 



I. Adiilt. Java. 



m. Adult. Port Essington. From the Haslar CoUection. 



n. Adult. N. Australian Exped. Presented by Dr. J. R, Elsey. 



0. Adult. Australia. Presented by the Earl of Derby. 



Skeleton. — The skuU, compared ^dth that of species of Apogon, 

 exhibits the capsula cerebri, although roimded, only slightly pro- 

 minent, forming the base of a very high crest, which, triangular and 

 pointed behind, reaches to the middle of the interspace between the 

 orbits ; it is supported by two bony spines, one of which is smaU, 

 arising from the paroccipital and directed horizontally backwards ; 

 the other, much longer and stronger, arises from the middle of the 

 suture between paroccipital and frontals, and passes in an obliqiie 

 direction to the upper posterior angle of the crest. There is a 

 groove and a ridge between the orbital part of the frontals, as in 

 Apogon ; the groove is, again, bifid behind, and there is another 

 small elevated ridge along each posterior branch of the groove. The 

 praeopereulum exhibits also a double edge, an exterior and an in- 

 terior ; the lower branches of both are serrated in this species, and 

 there is a strong spinous tooth at the angle of the interior edge. 

 The praeorbital is strongly serrated. There is no spine, or only a 

 . very feeble one, supporting the operculum. The intermaxiUary and 

 dentary bones are armed with teeth along their entire length ; those 

 of the vomer and of the palatine bones are situated in single series. 



