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 Lactarius, of the Indian and Malayan 

 seas. It approaches the Carangidce, especially ^'Serioloidet" according to Bleeker, 

 while on the other hand it has affinities with the ScicenidcB according to Dr. 

 Giinther. 



LACTARIUS Valenciennes. 

 Lactarius Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., IX, 1833, p. 177 {delicatulus = lactarins). 



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. 



APOGONIDiE. 



96. Apogon hyalosoma Bleeker. 



Subgenus OSTORHINCHUS Lac^pSde. 

 Ostorhinchics Lac^p^de, Hist. Nat. Poiss., IV, 1803, p. 23 (fleurieu). 



97. Apogon evanidus sp. nov. 



Head 2i; 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 ; depth of head 1-1- ; man- 

 dible 14; third dorsal spine 2|-; second dorsal ray \\; second anal spine 4; first 

 anal ray 2^ ; pectoral 1|- ; ventral 1-| ; ventral spine %\ ; least depth of caudal 

 peduncle 2|-; snout 4|- in he'ad, from tip of upper jaw; eye 3^; maxillary 2^; 

 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 midway between tip of upper 

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

 ing well in front. Maxillary large, reaching posteriori}^ 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, 



