PERCID.E. 503 



Fifth group. GKYSTINA. 

 , 13. Genus DULES, Cuv. & Val. 

 Syn. Moronoi&is and Plectruplites, Gill ; Paradtdes, pt., Bleeker. 



Branehiostegals six ; . pseudobranchiae. Preopercle serrated 

 Opercle with spines. Villiform teeth in the jaws, vomer, and 

 palatines ; no canines. A single dorsal fin with ten spines ; anal 

 with three. Scales ctenoid and of moderate size. 



Geographical Distribution. Intertropical seas, some species being 

 said to enter fresh waters. 



Uses. Owing to their small size, these fishes are of but little 

 economic value. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



A dark band across caudal 1. D. Marginatus, p. 503. 



Two oblique bands across each lobe of caudal. . 2. D. aryenteus, p. 504. 



666. (1.) Dnles marginatus. (Fig. 152.) 



Dules marginatus, Cuv. $ Val. H. N. Poiss. iii, p. 116, pi. 52, and 

 vii, p. 474 ; Day, Fish. India, p. 07, pi. xviii, tig. 1 (see syiion.). 



D. 10/11. P. 15. A. 3/10. C. 17. L.I. 42. L. tr. 5/8. 

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

 diameter 3g in length of head, 1 from end of snout and also 

 apart. Fins dorsal spines moderately strong, the fifth the highest, 

 tenth longer than ninth; third anal spine the longest; caudal 

 moderately forked. Colour back greyish, sides and abdomen 

 silvery white ; a dark grey band across the posterior third of the 



Fig. 152. Dules marginatus. 



caudal fin, the border of which is white ; a similar but darker band, 

 with a white upper edge, along the -soft dorsal; the other fins 

 tinged externally with grey and edged with white. 



Hob. Seas of India, the Malay Archipelago and beyond; attaining 

 at least 8 inches in length. 



