PERCID.*;. 535 



D. 12/13-14. A. 3/8-9. L. 1. 48. L. r. 72/60. L. tr. 12/25. C. pyl. 5. 

 Length of head 3 to 3|, height of body 2 to 3 in the total 

 length. Eyes diameter 5 in length of head, 1| from end of snout, 

 and 1 apart. Fins every alternate dorsal spine thickened 011 one 

 side, 5th and 6th the longest ; second anal spine longest, equalling 

 highest in dorsal ; caudal rounded. Colour brownish, glossed 



Fig. 162. Datnioides quadrifasciatus. 



with copper; six or seven narrow vertical brown bands on body 

 and others radiating from orbit. 



Hob. Estuaries of the Ganges, rivers of Burma and the Malay 

 Archipelago; attaining at least 1 foot in length. Though not 

 esteemed as food it is eaten by the poorest classes. 



28. Genus GERRES, Cuvier. 



Syn. Diapterm, Ranz ; Chanda, sp., Ham. Buch. ; Catocheenum, Cantor ; 

 Synistius, Gill ; JSucinostomits, Baird, Gir. 



Branchiostegals six ; pseudobranchiac. Body elevated or oblong 

 and compressed. Mouth very protractile and descending when 

 produced. Preopercle as a rule entire, rarely serrated. Eyes 

 comparatively large. Villiform teeth in the jaws ; no canines. 

 Inferior pharyngeal bones firmly united by a suture in some 

 species but not so in others*. Bases of the spinous and soft 

 portions of the dorsal fin nearly equally long, the whole fin having 

 a scaly sheath into which it can be wholly or partially received ; 

 pectorals long, pointed, generally reaching to above the anal. 

 D. 9-10/10-11. A. 3/7. Caudal forked. Scales of moderate 

 size. Air-bladder simple. Pyloric appendages few. 



* Peters, MB. Ak. Wiss. Berlin, 1868, p. 257. 



