518 A COLLECTION OF FISHES FROM SUMATRA. 



ous. Air-vessel bifurcated both anteriorly and posteriorly. Pyloric appendages 

 few. Two dorsal fins. Spinous dorsal with feeble spines. Three feeble anal spines. 

 Soft dorsal and anal with many rays. Caudal forked. 



This family contains the single genus Laclarius, of the Indian and Malayan 

 seas. It approaches the Carangidce, especially "Serwloidei" according to Bleeker, 

 w^hile on the other hand it has affinities with the Scicenidcs according to Dr. 

 Giinther. 



LACTARIUS Valenciennes. 

 Z.ac/ara« Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., IX, 1833, p. 177 (delicatulus = laclarius). 



95. Lactarius LACTARIUS (Schneider). 



Scomber lactarius Schneider, Syst. Ichth., 1801, p. 31. Tranquebariam. 



One example, 4| inches long. The species is carnivorous. Macerated remains 

 of several young fishes were taken from the gullet. 



APOGONIDyE. 



96. Apogon hyalosoma Bleeker. 



Subgenus OSTORHINCHUS Lac^pede. 

 Ostorhinchus Lac^p^de, Hist. Nat. Poiss., IV, 1803, p. 23 [fleurieti). 



97. Apogon evanidus sp. nov. 



Head 21; depth 2|; D. VII— I, 9 ; A. II, 8 ; P. ii, 14 ; V. I, 5 ; scales 24 in 

 lateral line to base of caudal, and 4 more continued out on base of latter ; 2 scales 

 between origin of dorsal and lateral line, and 5 scales in an oblique- series between 

 latter and origin of anal; width of head 2| in its length ; dejith of head l-i-; man- 

 dible lA; third dorsal spine 2f ; second dorsal ray 1|; second anal spine 4; fii-st 

 anal ray 21; pectoral If; ventral 1|-; ventral spine 31; least depth of caudal 

 peduncle 2f ; snout 4i in head, from tip of upper jaw; eye 31; maxillary 2Jg-; 

 interorbital space about h\. 



Body elongate, compressed, and back a little elevated. Caudal peduncle long, 

 and compressed, its least depth nearly one and two-thirds in its length. 



Head large, compressed, and lower profile a little convex, upper much inclined 

 and more or less straight. Snout short, broad, convex, and upper jaw projecting a 

 little. Eye high, large, and its posterior rim about midwaj^ between tip of upper 

 jaw and end of opercular flap. Mouth large, slightly curved, and mandible project- 

 ing well in front. Maxillary large, reaching posteriorly below posterior margin of 

 pupil, and its distal expanded extremity half of eye. Teeth in jaws minute, in nar- 

 row bands. Patch of minute teeth on vomer. Palatines edentulous. Tongue 

 smooth, small, rounded and free in front. Nostrils separated, posterior larger, 

 close to front rim of orbit, and anterior much nearer latter than tip of upper jaw. 

 Top of head a little convex posteriorly, interorbital space flattened. Margin and 

 ridge of preopercle inclined a little posteriorly, former finely denticulated, and latter 

 with one or two short denticulations at its corner. Opercle with a small broad spine, 

 and large flap. Preorbital narrow. 



Gill-opening till about opposite space between nostrils. Gill-rakers about 4+13, 



