402 



FISHES. 



spines. Snout rather short. Pra3opercuhim Avithout spine. 

 Scales very small, 



Four species are known, from the Indian Ocean, of which 

 S. argus is the most generally known, in fact, one of the most 

 common Indian shore-fishes. It freely enters large rivers, 

 and is said not to be particular in the selection of its food. 

 The species figured (S. onuUifasciatas) represents S. argus on 

 the coasts of Australia. 



Ephippus. — Snout short, with the upper profile parabolic. 

 Dorsal fin deeply emarginate between the spinous and soft portions, 

 the former with nine spines, the third 

 of which is rather elongate, and flexible ; 

 spinous portion not scaly ; anal spines 

 three. Pectoral fin . short. Prseoper- 

 culum without spine. Scales of moderate 

 size, or rather small. 



Two or three species are known 

 from the warmer parts of the Atlantic 

 and Indian Oceans. The Atlantic 

 species (K fahcr) shows the remark- 

 able peculiarity that in old specimens 

 (12 and more inches long) the occi- 

 pital crest, and sometimes some of the 

 anterior neural and haemal spines are 

 ./,^°"^'tT,"-'''^°^ enormously enlarged into a globular 



cranial bones of Ephiijpus. ./ o o 



a, Enlargement of the frontal, bouy mass. This cau hardly be 



and b, of the snpraoccipital ^^^^^^^^ j^g ^ pathological change of 

 bones ; c, interorbital sep- ° , . 



turn ; d, basis cranii. J nat. the bone, as it has been found in all 

 ^^®- old specimens, without exception. 



Drcpanc is allied to Uj^hipj^m, but has very long falciform 

 pectoral fins. The single species J), punctata is common in 

 the Indian Ocean and on the coasts of Australia. Hypsinotvs, 

 from Japan, appears to inhabit a greater depth than the 

 other Squamipinnes. 



Scorpis and Atijinchthys are genera distinguished from the 



Fig. 171. 



