SCOMBRESOCIDjE. 425 



of head, 1 apart. Greatest width of body one half to two thirds 

 of its height. Triangular portion of upper jaw much wider than 

 long. Fins dorsal commences considerably in advance of anal. 

 Ventral inserted in last third of distance between middle of eye 

 and base of caudal. Anal about one half as long as dorsal. 

 Caudal deeply forked, lower lobe the longer. Scales a few on 

 front portion of dorsal and anal fins. Colour back dark bluish 

 green ; a silvery lateral band, and four dark blotches or spots 

 along the sides. 



Hab. Red Sea and east coast of Africa, through the seas of 

 India to the Malay Archipelago and beyond ; said to attain over 

 18 inches in length. 



543. (6,) Hemirhamphus reynaldi. 



Hemirhamphus reynaldi, Ctiv. fy Val. H. N. Poiss. xix, p. 39 ; Day, 

 Fish, India, p. 515 (see synon.). 



B.xiii-xiv. D. 14-15(16). A. 14-15 (17). C. 15. L. .1. 52-54. 



Length of head 3, of beak 6|, height of body 11 to 13 in the 

 total length. Eyes diameter equals postorbital length of head, 

 and also width of interorbital space. Upper jaw keeled, scaled, 

 rather broader at its base than it is long. No barbels. Body 

 nearly as wide as high. Fins anal commences below the third 

 or fourth dorsal ray. Ventral commences rather nearer to the 

 base of the caudal than to that of the pectoral, or else midway. 

 Caudal deeply forked, lower lobe the longer. Scales none on 

 dorsal or anal fins. Colour a silvery lateral band ; upper edge of 

 dorsal blackish. 



Hab. East coast of Africa, seas of India and of Malay Archi- 

 pelago ; growing to 9 inches or more in length. 



544. (7.) Hemirhamphus xanthopterus. 



Hemirhamphus xanthopterus, Cuv. fy Val. H. N> Poiss. xix, p. 47 

 Day, Fish. India, p. 514, pi. cxix, fig. 2. 



B.xii. D. 14-15. P. 13. V.6. A. 16-17. C. 15. L. r. 56-53. 



Length of head 3^ to 3|, of beak 7 to 7|, height of body 12 in 

 the total length. Eyes diameter lj in postorbital length of 

 head, and f to 1 apart. Upper jaw rather longer than wide at its 

 base. No barbels. Fins anal commences opposite dorsal, the 

 anterior portion of both rather elevated. Ventral inserted midway 

 between hiud edge of the eye and base of caudal. Lower caudal 

 lobe the longer. Scales none on dorsal or anal fins, or a few very 

 fine ones on their anterior portion ; 7 rows between lateral line 

 and base of dorsal fin. Colour a brilliant lateral band two thirds 

 as wide as a scale in its widest part. End of beak coral-red. 



Hab. Malabar coast of India, growing to 6 inches at least in 

 length. 



