TAMILT, XVI-CARANGID^. 211 



The Genus Oomn^ contains so many species and varieties of forms that it is not surprising it has been 

 numerously subdivided. If we examine those living in the Indian seas, we find the dentition modified in various 

 ways, each or whicii has been made to constitute a genus.* 



The forms of the fins have been employed as generic characters, as to whether the soft dorsal and anal 

 have or have not finlets posteriorly, if several Megalaspis, if only one Becaptems. Or the first dorsal, present 

 m the yomig, may disappear with age, as in Blephcms, Scyris, and Qallichthys. Or some of the dorsal and anal 

 rays may be elongated, as Olistus, &c. 



. ,^ ^^^ preopercle may be serrated or entire, but certainly in one species (0. oUongus) that bone is serrated 

 m the young, but not distinctly so in the adult, and consequently Genus OwrangieUhys cannot be valid. 



Ihe scales oi the lateral-Hne also have given generic characters, thus if the teeled scales exist along its 

 whrde extent, the term TracJmrus has been used. In some the body is almost scaleless, 0. cilia/rus and G. gallm: 

 m others though the body IS scaled the chest may be scaled or scaleless. The latter again may be subdivided 

 mto, first those in which this scaleless portion extends as high up the breast as the base of the pectoral fins, and 

 appears to continue so through life as in G. gymnostethoides, G. Malaharims, G. mgrescens, G. atropus, and G. 

 armatm; or, secondly, such species wherein the chest is equally scaleless in the immature, but a portion of this 

 space becomes partially scaled in the adult, as G. ca/rcmgm and G. oUongus. 



The eyes in some have a well developed adipose eyelid on both sides, or only on one : or adipose Kds 

 may be minute or entirely absent. 



,„^ . } propose subdividing the Genus Ga/rcmx into (1) those species which have the palate toothed, and 

 (2) such as have it toothless. 



SYNOPSIS OF SPECIES. 



A. Teeth on the palate. 



a. Several finlets behmd dorsal and anal fins. 



1. GarcmxBoUlen D. 6-8 | ^.Vr+^i-x, A. 2 | ^It +Tii-viii, L. 1, 56.t A dark opercular spot. Red Sea, 

 seas ot India, Malay Archipelago, and beyond. 



h. A single finlet hehind dorsal and anal fins. 



T :■• }\P"\T" '^T*' ^- ^ I ^-TO+i' ^- 2 I 1-5 W + i, L- 1- 33. A dark opercular spot. Red Sea, seas of 

 India to the Malay Archipelago. 



c. NofiMlets, outer row of premaxilla/ry teeth distinctly enla/rged: a single row im, lower jaw, mth often 



two or fowr cam/ines. 



3. Gajranx melampygus, D. 8 | ^i^, A. 2 | Tri-rs, L- 1- 34-36. Height of body 2/7 of total length. Eye 

 with a broad posterior adipose Hd. Second dorsal anteriorly 2/3 the height of the body. Lateral-line arches 

 to below seventh dorsal ray. Chest scaled. A small black opercular spot. Seas of India to the Malay Archi- 

 pelago. r r J 



4. Ga/ranm jarra, D. 8 | Jj-, A. 2 | Jj-, L. 1. 33-36. Height of body 3f in the total length. Eye with a 

 broad posterior adipose lid. Second dorsal anteriorly 3/5 the height of the body. Lateral-line forms an undu- 

 lating curve to below seventh dorsal ray. Scaleless below the ventral fin. No opercular spot. Seas of India 

 to the Malay Archipelago. 



6. OwroMX cwroMgus, D. 8 \ -^l^, A. 2 f -^l^-g, L. 1. 33-37. Height of body 1/3 of the total length. 

 Bye with a narrow posterior adipose lid. Second dorsal anteriorly about 1/2 as high as the body. Lateral-liue 

 curves to below sixth dorsal ray. Scaleless before the ventral fin and sometimes as high laterally as the base of 

 the pectoral. No opercular spot. Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and beyond. 



* The following Genera have been proposed hj Bleeker in his Ich. of Amboina, p. 408, and Fish. Madag. 



A. ^inlets present. 



Megalaspis. Teeth in lower jaw in many rows. Teeth on vomer, palate, and tongue. Dorsal and anal fins with several 

 finlets posteriorly. 



Becapterus. Teeth in upper and lower iaws in a single row. Teeth on vomer, palate, and tongue. Dorsal and anal fins with 

 a single finlet posteriorly. 



B. Finlets absent. 



Selwr. A single row of teeth in both jaws. Teeth on vomer, palate, and tongue. 



Ca/rams). Several rows of teeth in premaxillaries, the outer of which is enlarged. A single row in the lower jaw, with two or 

 four canines anteriorly. Teeth on vomer, palate, and tongue. 



Ca/rangicMJvys. , Preopercle serrated. Several rows of teeth in both jaws, the outer being the larger, several of those 

 ,aiitenorly in the lower jaw canine-like. Teeth on vomer, palate, and tongue. 



Cwramgoides. Several rows of equal sized teeth in both jaws. Teeth on vomer, palate, and tongue. 



Lehglossus. A single row of equal sized teeth in either jaw. Teeth on vomer and palatines, none on tongue. 



Uraspis. Two rows of teeth in either jaw. Vomer, palatines, and tongue edentulous. 



Seh/roides. A single row of teeth on lower jaw and tongue. Premaxillaries, vomer, and palate edentulous. 



Qnaihamodon. Tongue scabrous. Jaws, vomer, and palate edentulous. 



Bemiewramo!. A single row of equal sized teeth in both jaws. Teeth on tongue. Vomer and palate edentulous, 

 t L. 1. or lateral-line in this genus only refers to the number of keeled scales along its course. 



2 E 2 



