149 



o 



D. ii; A. 10; V. 8; L.lat.63; L. tr. ^. 



Body subcylindrical. Length of the head contained thrice 

 and two-thirds in the total (without caudal). Snout depressed, 

 pointed, nearly as broad as long, with the upper jaw projecting 

 beyond the lower. Interorbital space slightly concave, narrower 

 than the eye, the diameter of which is two-ninths of the length 

 of the head. Frontal bones without sculpture. There are seven- 

 teen scales between the occiput and the dorsal fin. Dorsal 

 fin as high as long. The pectoral fin extends to the twelfth 

 scale of the lateral line. The series of scales on the tail 

 without keel. Upper parts greenish, lower silvery. A series 

 of blackish spots alternately larger and smaller along the 

 middle of the body. Length about 140 mm. [After Giinther, 

 not seen by us]. 



Habitat: Near Kei islands (236 m.). Hawaian islands 

 (223 m. 325 m.). 



In deep water. 



Note on larval stages of Saurus and Saurida. 



Even the still scaleless young stages of Saurus my ops (Bl. Schn.), 

 Saurus variegatus (Lac.) and Saurida gracilis (Q. G.) can be 

 recognised and distinguished by a series of black patches lying 

 in pairs along the ventral surface. 



1. Saurus my ops has I pair between pectorals and ventrals 

 and 4 pairs between ventrals and anal. 



2. Saurus variegatus has 2 pairs between pectorals and ven- 

 trals and 9 pairs between ventrals and anal. (Fig. 56, p. 149). 





- 2 "^T>C 



Fig. 55. Saurida gracilis (Q. G.) 

 a. Lower view of specimen of 40 mm. \ b. side view of specimem of 13 mm. 



