78 ATHERINID.E.— MUGILID.E. 



bolow centre of eye. Dorsals IV-V, I 10-1 1. Anal 1 li-l(l. Pectonil 

 I length of head. Ventral inserted below posterior third of pectoral. 

 Caudal truncate. Caudal peduncle 1^ to IJ times as long as deep. 

 32-35 scales in longitudinal series, 8-10 in transverse series. Brownish 

 above, yellowish beneath ; a dark lateral band, terminating in an 

 irregular black spot on the caudal fin, which is orange aljove ami 

 crimson beneath. 



Total length 90 millim. 



Mountain streams of Mananjary, Madagascar. — Types in Taris 

 Museum. 



Fam. 10. MUGILIDJi. 



Mouth protractile, the maxillaries excluded from the oral border ; 

 teeth minute or absent; oesophageal opening much reduced by the 

 complicated structure of the pharyngeal bones. Two nostrils on each 

 side. Two well-separated dorsal fins, the anterior formed of a small 

 number of pungent spines. Pectoral fins inserted high up. Ventral 

 tins more or less behind the pectorals, with one spine and 5 soft rays ; 

 pelvic bones suspended from the post-clavicles. Pnccaudal vertebrae 

 with strong parajxiphyses bearing the ribs; ei)iplcurals inserted on the 

 ribs. Vertebrie 2i to 26. Air-bhuhler present. 



Mostly marine and represented in all ])arts (f the world. Many 

 species enter fresh waters and a few are confined to these. 



1. MUGIL. 

 Artcdi, Gen. Pise. p. 32 (1738) ; Cuv. ct Val. Hist. Poiss. xi. p. 7 (183(;) : 



(ninth. Cat. Fish. iii. p. 409 (18C1) ; Bouleng. Potss. Bass. Congo, p. 352 



(l'.H)l), and Fish. Nile, p. 427 (1907). 

 Liza, Jord. & Swain, Proe. U.S. Nat. Mns. vii. 18.SI, p. I'lU. 



Moutli small, transverse, witii minute setiforin teeth*, at least in the 

 up[)er jaw; a moie or less distinct knob at the symphysis of the lower 

 jaw. P)ody elongate, feebly compressed, covered, like the head, with 

 larye scales, the edge of which may be finely denticulate ; a scaly 

 process on each side of the base of the anterior dorsal fin ; no latcial 

 1 ne, but most of tlie scales bearing in the centre a i)it or sln)rt open 

 canal. Anterior dorsal fin with 3 to 5 spines, the first two or tlireo 



* Tliese teeth are more developed in the young of certain species, wliioli liave for tliis 

 reason, and in ignorance of the changes which liike i)lace with age, heen relerred to a 

 difiereut genus, J/y.rtw, Gthi'. 



