520 TELEOSTEI. ACANTirOPTEBYGII. 



Colour brassy brown blotched darker, the extremity of caudal 

 and pectoral dirty yellowish white ; the other fins slate-coloured. 

 This fish varies considerably with age. 



Fig. 157. Lobotes suriiiamensis. 



Hal. East coast of Africa, seas of India, the Malay Arch i pel n go, 

 and beyond ; likewise in the Mediterranean ; attaining at least 

 2- feet in length. Excellent as food. 



19. Genus SCOLOPSIS, Cuv. & Val. 

 Syn. Scolopside?, Cuv. 



Branchiostegals five; pseudobranchirc. Body oblong. Eyes 

 moderate or large. Mouth moderately protractile ; jaws of nearly 

 equal length ; cleft of mouth horizontal. Infraorbital arch with a 

 spine directed backwards ; preopercle as a rule serrated, and often 

 the suborbital ring ; opercle with a weak spine. A single dorsal 

 fin with ten spines ; anal with three ; caudal emarginate or forked. 

 Scales ctenoid. Air-bladder without any constriction, simple. 

 Pyloric appendages few. 



Geographical Distribution. Indo-Pacific Ocean. On the coasts of 

 Sind and Bombay, the Andamans and Nicobars several species 

 occur abundantly. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



One or two black blotches on the lateral line. 1. 8. bimaculatus, p. 521. 

 A bent blue band from the upper jaw through 



the eye to the axilla 2. S. phaops, p. 521. 



A curving wide yellow, black-edged band 



from the mouth to the soft dorsal .... 3. S. bilineahts, p. 522. 

 Four light bands on head and side ; a black 



spot in the axilla ; scales below lateral 



line with black spots 4. S. yhanam, p. 522. 



