356 ACANTHOPTERTGII. 



being only one ttird of tte extent of its gape : tte mandibular angle very obtuse. Upper lifi placed obliquely 

 so that it does not form a part of the front of the snout. The end of the maxilla is partially concealed by the 

 preorbital, which is large, slightly bent, serrated along its lower margin and with three spinate denticulatioiis at 

 its posterior extremity. Opercle with a strong spine. Uncovered space on chin somewhat lanceolate. Teeth— 

 minute, but present in both jaws, ^ms— the first dorsal commences much nearer to the snout than to the base 

 of the caudal fin, its origin is above the seventh scale of the lateral-line, there are 16 rows between it and the 

 snout, its second spine the longest, equalling the length of the head excluding the snout and 1/3 higher than the 

 second dorsal. The second dorsal arises above the twenty-fourth scale of the lateral-line and opposite the anal, 

 the third anal spine equals 3/7 of the length of the head. Pectoral as long as the head excluding the snout, 

 situated in the middle of the depth of the body, and having a short, angular, somewhat large but not elongated ' 

 axillary scale. Caudal lunated. Scales— very strongly ctenoid, having a slightly raised Una along each : a few 

 over the bases of the vertical fins. The least depth of the free portion of the tail equals half the length of the 

 head. Colours — yellowish olive along the top of the head, grayish on the back and upper third of the side, and 

 with many fine black dots, silvery white in its lower two-thirds. Uncovered space on chin, eyes, base of pectoral, 

 and centre of base of caudal, gamboge yellow : cheeks silvery : fins uncoloured. 



Habitat. — Upper waters of Ganges and Jumna rivers, and certainly as low down as Patna : also in the 

 Brahmapootra. It does not appear to exceed 4 inches in length, and is considered very bad eating. The 

 specimen figured (life-size) is from Delhi. 



18. Mugil coeruleo-maculatus. 



Lacep. V, pp. 385, 389 ; Cuv. and Val. xi, p. 128 ; Bleeker, Riouw. p. 484, and Sumatra, ix, p. 5 ; 

 Giinther, Gatal. iii, p. 445. 



B. vi, D. 4 I I, P. 17, Y. 1/5, A. |, C. 14, L. 1. 88, L. tr. 12. 



Length of head 5 to 6f , of caudal 5, height of body 4 j to 4| in the total length. Eyes — ^without adipose 

 lids, diameter 1/4 of length of head, nearly 1 diameter from end of snout, and 2 apart. Interorbital space 

 slio^htly convex, its width about equalling 1/2 the length of the head. Width of the head equals its length 

 excluding the snout, its height equals its width. Upper lip thick, placed obliquely so that it does not form a 

 part of the front end of the snout. Preorbital not notched, serrated posteriorly, maxilla hidden. Uncovered 

 portion of chin very narrow. Teeth — ^minute. Fins — first dorsal commences midway between the snout and 

 the base of the caudal, its spines are stout, not quite so high as the second dorsal, but equaUing the length of 

 the postorbital portion of the head : second dorsal commences opposite the anal, they are of equal height and 

 scaled. Pectoral as long as the head excluding the snout. Caudal lunated, its central rays more than half the 

 length of the longest outer ones. Scales — cycloid, 21 rows between the snout and base of the first dorsal fin, 

 the twelfth and twenty-fourth of the lateral-line correspond to the origins of the first and second dorsals. An 

 elongated, pointed scale in the axilla. Pree portion of the tail in its lowest part equals the postorbital length 

 of the head. Colowrs — silvery, becoming light on the sides and beneath, a black spot at the upper edge of the 

 base of the pectoral fin. 



Habitat. — ^Mauritius, and from Bombay through the seas of India to the Malay Archipelago. At 

 the Andamans I have taken it up to 13 inches in length, but it is said to grow very much larger. 



19. Mugil amarulus. 

 Cut. and Val. xi, p. 133. 

 B. vi, D. 4 II, P. 16, V. 1/5, A. f, C. 15, L. 1. 36, L. tr. 12. 



Length of head 4f , of caudal 4i, height of body 4^ in the total length. Eyes — ^without adipose lids, 

 diameter 1/4 of length of head, 1 diameter from end of snout, and 1^ apart. The greatest width of the head 

 equals its length behind the middle of the eyes, and its height equals its length excluding the snout. 

 Preorbital strongly bent and serrated, leaving the end of the maxilla visible : the mandibles form rather an 

 obtuse angle, are notched at their point of junction, and have a distinct knob : the extent of the cleft is 2/5 that 

 of the width of the gape. Upper lip moderately thick, placed obliquely so as not to form end of the snout. 

 Uncovered space below the chin narrow, and constricted in its middle. A groove before the vomer. Tedh— 

 minute in the lower jaw.. JVm— dorsal spines weak, the fin commences midway between the front edge of the 

 eye and the base of the caudal fin, the length of the spines equals the extent of the postorbital portion 

 of the head : second dorsal rather higher, whilst the extent of its base equals 2/3 of its height. Pectoral 

 inserted above the middle of the depth of the body, its length equals that of the head excluding the 

 snout. Anal arises slightly in advance of the second dorsal than which it is rather higher, the length of its 

 base equals 3/4 of its height, its third spine is ^ in the length of the head. Caudal lunated, its central rays 

 equal the postorbital length of the head. Scales— & short pointed one in the axilla, 18 rows between the snout 

 and base of first dorsal fin, the eleventh and twenty-fourth of the lateral-line correspond to the origins of the 

 first and second dorsals. Second dorsal and anal thickly scaled. Free portion of the tail in its least depth 

 equals the postorbital length of the head. OoZoMrs— bluish superiorly, becoming light on the sides and beneath, 

 a dark spot at the upper edge of base of pectoral fin: cheeks with a golden tinge: caudal with a dark 

 outer edge. 



