59. ODONTONECTES. 265 



59. ODONTONECTES. 



Csesio, sp., Cuv. ^ Val. vi. p. 442. 



Six branchiostegals. Villiform teeth in the jaws, on the vomer 

 and the palatine bones ; an outer series of larger teeth in the jaws ; 

 canines very small. One dorsal, with ten spines, and with the basal 

 half scaly; the anal fin with three spines. Opercular points in- 

 distinct; the angle of the preeoperculum very slightly serrated. 

 Scales moderate, without visible serrature. Cleft of the mouth 

 oblique, the lower jaw longest ; eye moderate. Pyloric appendages 

 in small number ; air-bladder with two narrow processes in front to 

 the base of the skull. 



East Indian Seas. 



This fish cannot be referred to C(^sio, having distinct bands of 

 palatine and vomerine teeth ; nor to Cuvier's famUy of Mcenidce, 

 not having the mouth more protractile than the greater part of the 

 Perddce. It is very probable that Ccesio lunaris, and some other 

 similar species which I have had no opportunity of examining, should 

 also be referred to this genus. 



1. Odontonectes erjrthrogaster. 



Renard, i. 32. 174. 



Csesio erjrthrogaster, (KuhlSr van Hass,) Cuv.i^ Val. vi. p. 442. pi. 166 ; 

 Bleek. Verh. Batav. Genootsch, xxiii. Mcenid, p. 9. 



B. 6. D. J^. A. ^. L. lat. 53. L. transv. 7/13. Vert. 10/14. 

 Csec. pylor. 5. 



The height of the body is 3| in the total length, the length of the 

 head four times ; the snout is equal to the diameter of the eye, and 

 about one-fourth of the length of the head. The upper maxillary 

 reaches scarcely beyond the vertical from the anterior margin of the 

 eye ; the angle of the prseoperculum rounded and very finely serrated. 

 The basal haK of the dorsal and anal fins scaly ; all the spines slender 

 and flexible ; the fourth of the dorsal longest^ dorsal continuous ; 

 caudalis deeply forked ; the second and thii-d anal spines nearly equal. 

 Above bluish green ; beUy rose-coloured. 



East Indian Seas. 



a. Adult. Amboyna. Purchased of Mr. Frank. 



h. Adult: skeleton. Amboyna. Purchased of Mr. Frank. 



c. Adult : not good state. Molucca Sea. Purchased of Mr. Frank. 



d. Adult. From the Haslar Collection. 



e. Adult. From the Haslar Collection. 

 /. Adult. 



g. Adult. From Mr. Brandt's Collection. 



Skeleton. — The skull of this species is distinguished by the ex- 

 ceedingly high crest, which extends from the foramen occipitale to 

 the anterior end of the frontal bones ; it is triangular, and sup- 

 ported by a bony ridge arising from the supraoccipital bone and 



