562 MR. F. DAY ON INDIAN FISHES. [May 9, 



before the superior one, the eighth ray being over the centre of the 

 upper orbit. The anal arises under the posterior extremity of the 

 opercle ; both fins are joined to, but not amalgamated with, a pointed 

 caudal, the points of the rays project slightly beyond the membrane. 



Scales ctenoid, decreasing in size from the centre to the side of 

 the body. Those on the right side of the body larger than those on 

 the left. 



Lateral line commences just above the opening of the mouth, and 

 skirts the snout, becoming divided into three ; the superior is con- 

 tinued along the upper seventh of the body to its termination at the 

 base of the caudal ; the central one, passing above the eyes, goes 

 straight along the centre of the body to the middle of the base of 

 the caudal, whilst the inferior passes to between the orbits. The 

 middle line gives a second branch over the nape to join the superior 

 one, and slightly anterior to it another short descending one. Another 

 line passes along the lower jaw, and ends at the extremity of the 

 operculum, becoming convex en i-oute. The central lateral line is 

 on scales smaller than those around it. 



Colours. Darkish brown on the coloured side, yellowish white on 

 the blind side. Dorsal, anal, and caudal fins with a white edging. 



Hab. Common in Madras. 



Synaptura jerreus, Cuv. 

 Jerre potoo, B. Russell, pi. 71. 



B. vi. D. 65-68. P. 10. V. 6. A. 56. C. 16. L. 1. 96. 

 L. tr. 25/31. 



Length of specimens from 4 to 5^ inches. 



Length of head \ of the total length. Height of head 4, of body 

 1 of the total length. 



Eyes close together, the anterior third of the superior one being 

 in front of the inferior one, whilst the distance from the end of the 

 snout equals its diameter. 



Cleft of mouth narrow, twisted round to the left side. Nostrils 

 on the coloured or right side tubular, but not so on the left. 



Teeth in jaws minute on the blind side. 



Fins. Dorsal commences opposite the anterior extremity of the 

 upper orbit ; it is continuous with the caudal, and also with the anal. 

 Occasionally the first dorsal ray is thickened and prolonged. Pec- 

 toral short, close to the gill-opening, and of equal length on both 

 sides, equal to about the diameter of the orbit. 



Scales strongly ctenoid. 



Lateral line passes direct from the posterior border of the opercle 

 to the centre of the caudal. 



Colours. Of a greyish brown, with rich reddish-brown vertical 

 bands, commencing at the summit of the dorsal and extending to the 

 inferior margin of the anal fin-rays, on which they become nearly 

 black. From ten to eleven exist on the body, and two pass down 

 the head. Pectoral on the coloured side black. Caudal black, with 

 some irregular white markings towards its side and extremity. \\\ 



