488 TELEO8TEI. ACANTIIOPTEUYGII. 



preoperele minutely serrated, the lower limb serrated along both 

 edges ; interopercle serrated in its posterior half ; subopercle 

 entire. One spine at the posterior-superior angle of the orbit. 

 Fins second dorsal spine longest ; second and third anal spines 

 about equal in length, but the second is the stronger. Lateral line 

 continuous. Colour silvery glossed with purple, a broad lateral 

 burnished band ; interspinous membrane between the second and 

 third dorsal spines dark ; second dorsal, anal, and caudal stained 

 dark at their edges. 

 Hob. Malabar coast of India ; attaining at least 7 inches in length. 



635. (8.) Ambassis commersoni. 



Ambassia commersonii, Cuv. fy Val. H. N. Puiss. ii, p. 170, pi. 25 ; 

 Day, Fish. India, p. 52, pi. xv, fig. 3 (see synon.). 



D. 7(1/9-11. P.13. A.3/9-10. C.15. L.I. 30-33. L.tr.4/9. Vert.9/15. 



Length of head about 4, height of body 3 to 3| in the total 

 length. Eyes diameter 3 to 3^ in length of head, | from end of 

 snout and also apart. Lower jaw the longer. Preorbital rather 

 strongly serrated, the serration being directed downwards and slightly 

 backwards. Vertical margin of preoperele entire, the lower double 

 edge serrated, with two or three coarser teeth at the angle ; lower 

 margin of interopercle entire ; in some rare cases, however, it has 2 

 or 3 badly marked serrations. Teeth tongue usually with a narrow 

 band along its centre. Fins dorsal spines strong, transversely 

 lineated, second the longest ; second anal spine the strongest and 

 nearly as long as the third, which almost equals the third of the 

 dorsal. Lateral line continuous. Colour silvery, with purplish 

 reflexions ; a bright silvery line from the eye to the caudal fin ; 

 interspinous membrane between the second and third dorsal spines 

 dark. 



Hob. This common species extends from the Red Sea through 

 the seas of India to North Australia ; it ascends rivers and estu- 

 aries, attaining to 6 inches in length. 



636. (9.) Ambassis myops. 

 Ambassis miops, Gunther, P. Z. S. 1871, p. 655. 

 Ambassis myops, Day, Fish. India, Suppl. p. 784. 



D. 7 | 1/9. P. 12. A. 3/9. C. 17. L. 1. 29. L. tr. 4/9. 

 Length of head 4, height of body 3| in the total length. Eyes 

 diameter 3 in length of head, from end of snout and the same apart. 

 Lower jaw the longer. Preorbital with seven strong teeth along its 

 lower edge ; a spine at the posterior-superior angle of the orbit. "Ver- 

 tical margin of preopercle entire ; its horizontal double edge ser- 

 rated, the lower most coarsely. Sub- and interopercles entire. Teeth 

 & small central band at the root of the tongue. Fins second dorsal 

 spine longest; third anal spine longer and weaker than second, but 

 half shorter than third dorsal spine. Lateral line uninterrupted. 

 Colour silvery, with a burnished lateral band. Liters piiious 





