452 spAiiiD^. 



as in that species. The intermaxillaries have their posterior pro- 

 cesses elon{>;ate, with their base widened ; the groove in which they 

 move does not extend to the vertical from the anterior margin 

 of the orbit. There are also no protuberances on the descending 

 branches of the bone, which are uniformly wide to their extremity. 

 The maxillary has the lower extreraity very slightly bent forwards, 

 and is without a foramen. The mandibulary is rather short and 

 elevated, without a free space between the articular and dentary 

 bones; there are five distinct pores from its muciferous channel. 

 The head of the vomer is broad, flat, triangular. The lower limb of 

 the pra)opcrculum is one-third shorter than the posterior ; both 

 meet at a nearly right angle, which, however, is rounded. The 

 interior ridge descends obliquely forwards, is flat, not prominent, 

 witli 9 rudimentary muciferous channel behind. The operculum is 

 irregularlj' quadrangular, half as wide as high, with the upper side 

 shortest and deeply notched ; the ridge on its inner surface is very 

 feeble. The sub- and intcroperculum are of nearly equal length 

 and width. The turbinal bone is tubiform anteriorly, \\'idened and 

 flat pbsteriorly. The praeorbital is large, rhombic, the remainder of 

 the infraorbital ring narrow ; there is a bony plate at its inner side 

 to support the eyeball from beneath. The frontal bones, between 

 the orbits, are rather flat, with three low ridges and several pores 

 and grooves. The . occipital crest is high, strong, triangular, with 

 the upper margin very slightly convex, and extends to above the 

 centre of the orbit, terminating posteriorly with the occipital. The 

 inner of the lateral ridges is very feeble, the outer one moderately 

 developed. The basal portion of the brain-capsule is slightly com- 

 pressed. The pubic bones are of moderate length ; each of them is 

 formed by three lamellaD of nearly equal development. 



There are ten abdominal and fourteen caudal vertehrcc, the length 

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

 caudal as 1 : 1'44. There are three spurious intemeurals, each with 

 a small process above, directed forwards ; the first two dorsal spines 

 have one common interneural, with the horizontal spinous process, 

 which is \-isible externally. The first interhaimal exhibits a peculiar 

 transformation into a conical cavity, but in a slighter degree tiian 

 in Gerres gula. 



The incisors are very narrow, slightly curved, and six or eight in 

 number ; there is a band of small setiform and minute granular teeth 

 behind them. The molars are small and arranged in two series in 

 both the jaws. 



15. CHARAX. 



Charax, Hisso, Eur. M^rid. iii. p. 353 ; Cuv. 8f Vid. vi. pp. 9, 71, 

 Narrow incisors and a single series of small molar teeth in both the 

 jaws. Cheeks scaly. The spines of the dorsal (eleven) folding into a 

 groove; three anal spines. Opercles not armed. Scales of moderate 

 size. Five branchiostegals. Pyloric appendages in small number. 

 Air-bladder simple. 

 Mediterranean ; Canary Islands. 



