SCOMBEESOCID/E. 421 



surface of the head. Supraorbital margin smooth, fins dorsal 

 commences opposite the anal. Caudal slightly emarginate. The 

 last dorsal and anal rays not elongate. Scales small over the 

 body and in irregular rows, some over front end of groove on 

 head, also on sides of head except on opercles. Free portion of the 

 tail compressed. Colour greenish grey above, becoming whitish 

 along the abdomen : a silvery streak having a dark margin extends 



Pig. 136. Belone cancila. 



along the body from opposite the orbit to the centre of base of 

 caudal fin. The whole upper two thirds of the body closely 

 marked with fine black spots ; along the side between the pectoral 

 and anal fins there are 4 or 5 larger blotches, these are absent in 

 the young. Eyes golden. 



There is a variety at Hardwar and in the Central Provinces, 

 having a hump along the first part of its back, sometimes continued 

 as an elevated ridge as far as the origin of the dorsal fin. 



Hab. Fresh waters of Sind, India, and Ceylon, also throughout 

 Burma ; attaining at least 12 inches in length. 



537. (6.) Belone strongylura. 



Belone strongylura, V. Hasselt, Alg. Konst. en Letterb. 1823, p. 131 ; 

 Day, Fish. India, p. 512, pi. cxviii, fig. 6 (see synon.). 



Cunyur, Sind. ; Ooshee-collarchee and Coco-mecn, " Long-nosed fish," 

 Tarn. ; Wodlah-muku and Kuddera, Tel. ; Thook-o-doo-noo-dah, Andam. ; 

 Coplahj Mai. ; Tol, Marathi ; Nga-toiing-pnie-goung-khyoung, Arracan ; 

 Burra toonchia, Chittagong ; Nga-p'houng-yo, Burmese. 



B. xii. D. 13-15. P. 11. V. 6. A. 16-18. C. 15. 



Length of head 2| to 3, height of body 13 to 14 in the total 

 length. Eyes diameter 3| in postorbital length of head, 1 to 1| 

 apart. A shallow median groove along the head, the superciliary 

 region scarcely striated. Fins first 4 rays of anal in advance of 

 the dorsal, which is highest in front, with the upper margin con- 

 cave, its posterior rays do not extend nearly to the root of the 

 caudal fin; anal of the same shape. Caudal rounded. Scales 

 small, on the opercles and groove on the head ; 11 transverse rows 

 between lateral line and anterior rays of dorsal fin. Lateral line 

 double. The free portion of the tail much compressed. Colour 

 summit of head and back yellowish green, with minute brown dots, 

 fading into silvery on the sides, and white on the abdomen. A 

 deep blue longitudinal band, bordered beneath by another broader 

 one of silver, along the posterior half of the sides. Caudal yel- 



