536 TELEOSTEI. ACANTHOPTEEYOII. 



Geographical Distribution. All tropical seas, entering estuaries. 

 Some species apparently are mostly confined to the latter, and 

 ascend into brackish or fresh water as high as tidal influence 

 extends. 



Uses. These fishes are eaten by the indigent classes, being little 

 esteemed whilst fresh. As they salt ami dry well, large numbers 

 are prepared in this manner for use. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



A. Dorsal with 10 spines 1. G. setifer, p. 530. 



B. Dorsal with 9 spines. 



a. Height of body 4 in total length 2. G. oblongus, p. 536. 



b. Height of body 2| to 3 in total length. 

 '. Longest dorsaf spine prolonged, ex- 

 ceeding height of body 3. G.JHumentvsus, p. 537. 



b'. Longest dorsal spine moderate, less 



than height of body, but much 



exceeding longest anal. 

 L. tr. 5/10. Longest dorsal spine as 



long as head without snout 4. G. oyenn, p. 538. 



L. tr. 6/11. Longest dorsal spine 



almost as long as head 5. G. abbreviates, p. 538. 



L. tr. 6/11. Longest dorsal spine as 



long as head without snout 6. G. poeti, p. 538. 



c'. Longest dorsal spine scarcely, or not 



longer than longest anal. 



L. tr. 5/10. Indistinct vertical bands 7. G. lucidus, p. 539. 

 L. tr. 4/10. No bands 8. G. limbatus, p. 539. 



716. (1.) Gerres setifer. 



Chanda (?) setifer, Ham. Such. Fish. Ganges, pp. 105, 370. 

 Gerres setifer, Day, Fish. India, p. 97, pi. xxv. tig. 1, Suppl. p. 786 

 (see synon.) 



D. 10/10. P. 17. A. 3/7. C. 19. L. 1. 38. L. tr. 5/JP . 



Length of head 4 to 4|, height of body 2| to 3 in the total 

 length. Eyes diameter 3 in length of head, nearly 1 from end of 

 snout, and 1 apart. Lower margin of preopercle serrated in its 

 last half. Fins dorsal spines moderate, third and fourth longest 

 and two fifths height of body ; last dorsal spine rather longer than 

 the preceding, and one third shorter than the third or fourth. 

 Anal spines of about equal length, or the second slightly the 

 longer ; caudal deeply forked. Colour silvery, with a narrow 

 dark edge to the dorsal interspinous membrane, and a brown spot 

 on each dorsal ray just above the sheath. 



Hob. River Hooghly at Calcutta, where this fish is common, 

 attaining to 4| inches in length ; also Madras. 



717. (2.) Gerres oblongus. 



Gerres oblongus, Cuv. Sf Vol. H. N. Poiss. vi, p. 479 j Day, Fish. 

 India, p. 98, pi. xxv, fig. 2 (see synon.). 



