1858.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 287 



Of Esocid^e, Buchanan Hamilton notices only three species, all of 

 which are assigned by him to the old genus Esox. These are — Belone 



CANCILA, (B. H.), HEMIRHAMPHUS ECTUNTIO, (B. H. — ANGULATUS, ibid., 



on unpublished drawing), and Panchax Buchanani, Val. Two species of 

 Belone and three of Hemirhamphus, however, are about equally com- 

 mon in the Calcutta provision-bazars ; and another species of each genus 

 occurs at the Sandheads, at the mouth of the Hughli. A second Pan- 

 chax also is sometimes brought in great numbers to the fish-bazars. 



Belone tenuirostris, nobis, n. s. As compared with B. caudima- 

 cula, Cuv., the general form is more slender, elongated, and compressed; 

 with jaws of equal length (minus the cartilaginous tip of the lower), 

 narrow and considerably more tapering in width to the extremity. Head 

 a third of the entire length. Eyes moderately large, occupying about 

 three-fifths of the vertical diameter of the head. Series of longer teeth 

 slender and uniform in both jaws, becoming gradually smaller towards 

 their tips ; the minute intermediate teeth being so small as to be barely 

 perceptible. Cheeks distinctly scaled. Low hind portion of the dorsal 

 and anal fins much developed : the other fins of the usual proportions. 



D. 19.— A. 24— P. 11.— V. 6.— C. 15 (exclusive of the short exterior 

 rays). 



Colour greenish above, silvery below, with a very brilliant silvery stripe 

 along each side, broadening posteriorly ; the lower portion of the oper- 

 culum also brilliant silvery, and likewise the sides of the lower jaw. Fins 

 yellow more or less, with some black at the tips of the pectorals, and 

 middle of the fork of the caudal — no spot at base of caudal, as in B. 

 caudimacula. — From the Sandheads. 

 Our other species are — 



B. caudimacula, Cuv. ; Eussell, pi. 176. Found also in the China seas. 

 B. cancila; Esox cancila, B. Hamilton. 



The B. annulata, C. V., keeps further out to sea, but is common on 

 the coast of Orissa. 



Of Hemirhamphus, the next three species are brought commonly to 

 the Calcutta bazars. 



H. ectuntio ; Esox ectuntio, B. H. With upper jaw about a third as 

 long as the lower, flat, and tapering from about the middle to an obtuse 

 point. Eyes but half the vertical diameter of the head. Tail rounded, 

 Ventral fins small, placed near the anal, and reaching close to the anus. 

 In a specimen 6f in. long, the lower jaw exceeds the upper by 1 in., and 

 the upper from cleft of mouth measures £ in. According to Buchanan 

 Hamilton, this fish " does not exceed a foot in length." I have not 

 obtained it so large as 7 in. He states, also, that " each side has a broad 



