MEKE. FISHES. 470 



each side of the anal and caudal fins ; two spines above each 

 eye, and base of the operculi dentated ; a rounded plate be- 

 fore the ventrals. 



E. insidiaior, Cuv. (Centrogaster equula, Gmel.) Body bright 

 silvery, bluish green above, spotted with black. Of small size. 

 Inhabits rivers of India. Shaw, iv. pi. 41. 

 From the structure of the mouth of this animal it is enabled to contract it into a 



kind of syringe, to propel the water on the insects resting on aquatic plants within 



its reach, and by this means to secure its prey, 



Gen. 122. MENE, Lacep. 



Body compressed, with one dorsal fin ; belly carinated and se- 

 micircular ; back and shoulder raised ; ventral fins narrow 

 and elongated. 



M. maculatus, Schn. (M. Anne Caroline, Lacep.) Body silvery. . 

 Lacep. v. pi. 14. 



Gen. 123. ATROPUS, Cuv. Brama, Schn. 

 Body compressed ; forehead sloping ; snout very short ; lower 

 jaw projecting ; one dorsal fin with two or three spines, and 

 a part of the soft rays prolonged into filaments ; lateral line ca- 

 rinated towards the end ; two free spines before the dorsal fin. 



A. Brama. (B. atropus, Sch.) Body blue above ; sides silvery ; belly 

 black, with yellow spots. Inhabits Indian seas. Schn. pi. 23. 



Gen. J24. TRACHICHTHYS, Shaw. 



Head rounded in front ; mouth wide ; teeth crowded ; one ele- 

 vated and pointed dorsal fin ; sides, upper and under part 

 of the tail with large strongly carinated scales ; and similar 

 scales forming a dentation between the ventral and anal fins ; 

 branchial membrane with four rough rays. 



T. Australis, Shaw. (Amphiprio?i carinatus, Schn.) Body bright 

 pink, ferruginous or reddish brown, the middle of the fins deep- 

 er, and the margins paJer ; tail strongly furcated. 6 inches long. 

 Inhabits seas of New Holland. Shaw, v. pi. 92. 



Gen. 125. CHRYSOTOSUS, Lacep. Zeus, Gmel. 



Body and tail compressed, oval, without perceptible scales; 

 forehead gibbous, rounded ; snout short; mouth without teeth ; 

 six rays in the branchial membrane ; anterior part of the dor- 

 sal fin elevated and pointed, the middle part very small ; sides 

 of the tail carinated ; ventrals more behind than the pectorals. 



C. luna, Lacep. The Opah or Moon-fish. Back bluish, spotted 

 with silvery ; fins and tail bright scarlet. Inhabits European 

 seas. 5 feet long. Shaw, iv. pi. 42. 



This splendid fish, of which the colour varies from silvery green to bright golden, 

 with azure reflections, has always the body variegated on the sides with oval white 

 spots. Specimens are occasionally met with on the British coasts. 



