Fishes of the Family Sti-omatciJa3. 205 



Stromateoides. 



Stromateoides , Bleeker, Verli. Bat. Gen. xxiv. 1852, p. 19. 

 This genus differs from Stromateus in having the gill- 

 membranes broadly united to the isthmus, in the absence of 

 pseudobranchife, and in having very short gill-rakers. 

 Branchiostegals 6 or 7. Vertebroe 35 or 36. Pectorals 

 elongate, with 25-27 rays. Ventrals absent. 



The subdivision of the genus into two genera — Stromate- 

 oides, with higher body, elevated vertical fins, and prominent 

 trenchant dorsal and anal spines ; and Chondroplites, with 

 more oblong body, little elevated dorsal and anal fins, and 

 concealed subcartilaginous dorsal and anal spines — is un- 

 necessary, and seems due to a lack of acquaintance with the 

 species, since the first two supposed differences are non- 

 existent and the third is unimportant, as in S. cinereus the 

 spines are concealed in the adult, and although stronger 

 than those of S. sinensis, are formed on a similar plan; for in 

 S. siiiensis the spines have the pointed part set at an obtuse 

 angle to the rest, and in S. cinereus the terminal part is 

 similarly set at an angle, but is more expanded. 



Synopsis of the Species. 



Caudal emarginate or moderately forked 1. S. sinensis. 



Caudal widely forked, the lower lobe longer 2, -S'. cinereus. 



Stromateoides sinensis. 

 Stromateus sinensis, Euphras. Vetensk. Ak. Nya Ilandl. Stockholm, ix. 



1788. p. 53. 

 Stromateus ulbus, Cuv. & Val. ix. p. 388 (1833). 

 Stromateus atous, Cuv. & Val. t. c. p. 389. 

 Struniateoides atokoia, Bleeker, Verh. Bat. Gen. xxiv. 1852, p. 70. 



Depth of body 1\ to 1^ times in total length, length of 

 head '6'i to 4 times. Snout as long as the eye, the diameter 

 of whicli is 3| to 4| times in the length of head, interorbital 

 width twice. Maxillary extending to below anterior third of 

 the eye. Caudal peduncle not as long as deep. D. 43-50, 

 the spines feeble, concealed, rays increasing in length to the 

 fifteenth to eighteenth, which is as long as the pectoral and 

 1-^ times the length of head ; thence they become abruptly 

 shorter, the upper edge of the fin being concave, the posterior 

 part rounded. A. 39-42, exactly similar to the dorsal. 

 Caudal emarginate in the young, moderately forked in the 

 adult. Scales small, deciduous. Brownish grey above, silvery 

 below, with numerous small brown dots. Fins silver-grey 

 at the base, blackish in their marginal parts. 



Total length 180 millim. 



Seas of India, Malaysia, and China. 

 Ann. & May. N. Hist. Ser. 7. Vol. x. 15 



