448 



FISHES. 



others from the Indo-Pacific. P. argenteus is a very com- 

 mon fish, attaining to a length of about 10 inches. 



Fig. 199. — Psettus argenteus. 



Platax. — Body much compressed and elevated ; snout very 

 short. One dorsal, with the spinous portion nearly entirely 

 hidden, and formed by from three to seven spines ; anal with 

 three. Ventrals well developed, with one spine and five rays. 

 Teeth setiform, with an outer series of rather larger teeth, 

 notched at the top ; palate toothless. Scales of moderate size or 

 rather small. 



These fishes are called " Sea-bats," from the extraordinary 

 length of some portion of their dorsal and anal fins and of 

 their ventrals. These long lobes are generally of a deep 

 black colour. In mature and old individuals the fin-rays 

 are much shorter than in the young, vrhich have been de- 

 scribed as distinct species. There are probably not more 

 than seven species of " Sea-bats,'' if so many, and they all 

 belong to the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific, where they 

 are very common. 



