PERCIDjE. 483 



longest, the two first serrated anteriorly. Colour rose-coloured 

 above, becoming nearly white on the sides and beneath ; ventral 

 fins spotted with brown ; a dark edge to dorsal and anal fins. 

 JJab. Madras to the Malay Archipelago. 



Fourth group. ArOGONJNA. 

 10. Genus AMBASSIS (Comm.), Cuv. & Val. 



Syn. Cfianda, pt., Ham. Buch. ; ILamiltcnia et Ambassus, Swains. ; 

 lioyoda, Parainlassis, and Pseudambassis, Bleeker. 



Branchiostegals six; pseudobranchiae well developed. Body 

 compressed, more or less diaphanous. Lower limb of preopercle 

 with a double serrated edge ; opercle without prominent spine. 

 Villifoyn teeth on jaws, vomer, and palate, sometimes on the 

 tongue ; canines rarely present. Two dorsal fins, the first with 7 

 spines, the anal with 3 ; a forwardly directed recumbent spine in 

 front of the base of the dorsal. Scales cycloid, of moderate or small 

 size, frequently deciduous. Lateral line complete, interrupted, in- 

 complete or absent. 



Geographical Distribution. Shores of Indian Ocean. Some of 

 the smaller species are exclusively found in fresh water. 



Uses. This genus consists of little bony fishes, which rarely ex- 

 ceed six inches in length, and are generally far less. The poorer 

 classes eat them, and owing to their shape they are easily dried 

 without salt. 



The species are distinguished with difficulty. The relative length 

 of the second or third dorsal spine to that of the body often varies 

 with the size of the specimen. The number of soft rays is not 

 constant. The lateral line is subject to variation. Colours like- 

 wise are not constant. The characters least subject to change 

 appear to be the serrations on the sub- and interopercles, the pre- 

 orbital, and around the orbit ; those on the vertical border of the 

 preopercle are inconstant in some species. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



A. Anal elongate, 3/13-17; interopercle not 



serrated ; scales very small. 

 Large teeth near symphysis of mandible ; a 



shoulder-spot 1. A. nama, p. 484. 



Teeth small ; a dark shoulder-spot 2. A. ranga, p. 485. 



Teeth small ; no shoulder-spot ; a golden 



spot on occiput 3. A . bacidis, p. 485. 



B. Anal shorter, 3/9-12 ; scales moderate; 1.1. 



26-41. 

 a. Interopercle serrated. 



Lateral line 35-41, continuous 4. A. tltomassi, p. 480. 



L. 1. 2C-28, continuous ; height of body I 



total length 5. A. nuhia, p. 480. 



L. 1. interrupted 0. A. intei-ntjtta, p. 487. 



L. 1. 0, continuous ; height ^ total length 7. A. dayi, p. 487. 



