233 ACANTHOPTERTGII. 



times in a single row; palate edentulous. A single dorsal fin, hawing less spines (8-10) than rays (15-17) : arud 

 vith three spines contmtums with the soft portion, which has less rays (13-14) than the soft dorsal : nofinlets: venirals 

 thoracic. Scales small, cycloid, and sometimes deciduous. Lateral-line unarmed, usually complete, hut in some 

 species ceasing beneath the middle m ernd of the dorsal fin. Air-vessel terminating anteriorly in two horns. Pyloric 

 appendages few. 



The species included in tMs Genus are very similar one with another, but are chiefly to be dis- 

 tinguished by the following points. The comparative length of the head and height of the body to that of the 

 total length. Likewise the length of the dorsal and anal spines. (The length given of these spines in the 

 following species is comparative, as they are liable to considerable variation.) Whether the supraorbital edge is 

 smooth or serrated. If the breast and chest are scaled or scaleless.* If the teeth are in one or more rows. 

 Whilst some have, others have not, a black blotch on the spinous dorsal fin. 



Geographical distribution.— &&^ Sea, seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and beyond. 



ZJses.— These small fish are extensively sun-dried in India. The salt tax renders refined salt too expensive 

 to be employed in fish-curing by the poorer classes, or the value of the article would be beyond the reach of the 

 consumers. It is also illegal (except along a portion of the Western coast) to collect salt earth for preserving fish. 

 Consequently, as a rule, fish have to be consumed fresh, or if preserved, are mostly only sun-dried. These thin 

 and bony forms are soaked in sea water (which is sometimes partially evaporated previously) and dried in the 

 open air. Of course, being only very slightly cured, they rapidly become putrid, or at any rate greatly 

 deteriorate in moist weather, and if consumed during the monsoon months, are liable to set up visceral irritation 

 as diarrhoea and dysentery. 



SYNOPSIS OF SPECIES. 



1. Eguula edemtula. Length of head 1/4, height of body half to 2^ in the total length. Supraorbital 

 edge serrated. No scales on chest. No black mark on dorsal fin. Red Sea, seas of India to the Malay Archi- 

 pelago and beyond. 



2. Equula Bussumieri. Length of head 4j, height of body 2| in the total length. Supraorbital edge 

 not serrated. No scales on chest. No black mark on dorsal fin. Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago. 



3. Eguula splendens. Length of head one-fourth, height of body 2 J to 2^ in the total length. Supra- 

 orbital edge coarsely serrated. Scales on chest. A deep blaok blotch on spinous dorsal. Red Sea, seas of India 

 to the Malay Archipelago. • 



4. Eguula daura. Length of head 4|, height of body 3f in the total length. Supraorbital edge not 

 serrated. No scales on chest. Upper half of spinous dorsal black. Seas of India to the MsAsiy Archipelago. • 



6. Hquula bind/as. Ventral fin very short. Upper half of spinous dorsal orange, with a narrow black 

 basal edging. Coromandel coast of India. 



6. Mguula Blochii. Length of head 4^, height of body 2f to 3J in the total length. Supraorbital edge 

 serrated. Chest scaled. A brown blotch over the nape. Seas of India. 



7. Hqymla brevirostris. Length of head 4i-, height of body 2f in the total length. Supraorbital edge 

 serrated. Chest scaleless. A brown blotch over the nape. Seas of India. 



8. Equula lineolata. Length of head 4i, height of body 2f in the total length. Supraorbital edge not 

 serrated. Chest scaled. No black blotch on spinous dorsal. 



9. Uquula insidiatrix. Length of head from 4f to one-fifth, height of body from 2a to 2f in the total 

 length. Supraorbital edge finely serrated. Chest scaled. A black blotch on upper portion of spinous dorsal : 

 back with rows of spots. Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago. 



10. Bquula ruconius. Lengtji of head 4i-, height of body one-half of the total length. Supraorbital edge 

 serrated. Scales very deciduous, much larger than in the last species. Vertical blackish streaks on back : 

 a black blotch on spinous dorsal. Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago. 



11. Eqimlafasciata. Length of head 1/4, height of body 2/5 of the total length. Supraorbital edge not 

 serrated. Chest scaleless. No black blotch on spinous dorsal. Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago. 



12. Equula oblonga. Length of head 4 to 4i, height of body 3^ to 4 in the total length. Supraorbital 

 edge not serrated. Chest scaleless. No black blotch on spinous dorsal. Seas of India to the Malay Archi- 

 pelago. 



1. Equula edentula, Plate LII, fig. 1. 

 Scomber edentulus, Bl. t. 428 ; Bl. Schn. p. 36. 



Scomber eqimla, Forsk. p. 68 ; Bl. Schn. p. 36 ; Shaw, Zool. iv, p. 587. 

 Gentrogaster equula, Gmel. Linn. p. 1337. 

 Zeus tottah Itarah, RusseU, Fish. Vizag. i, p. 49, f. 52. 

 Goesio equulus, Lacep. ui, pp. 85, 90. 

 Leiogrmihus argenteus, Lacep. iv, pp. 448, 449. 

 Equula ensifera, Cuv. and Val. x, p. 66 ; Bleeker, Makr. p. 80. 



tt .,. ' 'P'^''^^^ ^™g scaleless may occasionally be dne to the specimen being immatnre. Sometimes the skin is qaite smooth 

 alter the scales haye been mbbed off. It may be that their presence or absence has no specific value. 



