190 ACANTHOPTERTGII. 



Pseudoscicena macroplithalmus, Bleeker, Mem. Scien. 1874, p. 21. 

 Pennah, Tarn. : Chal-bum-dah, Andam. 



B. vii. D. 10 | jJj^ P. 18, V. 1/5, A. f, C. 17, L. 1. w, L. tr. 8-9/18, Case pyl. 10. 



Length of head 3-f to 1/4, of caudal 1/7 to 1/8, height of body 1/4 to 4?\ in the total length. Eyes — 

 diameter 1/4 to 4J in the length of head, 1 to 1^ diameters from end of snout and also apart. Greatest width 

 of head equals 4/7 of its length, and the height equals its length behind the posterior nostril. Interorbital 

 space nearly fiat, snout not overhanging the mouth, the lower jaw the longer. Cleft of mouth oblique, 

 the maxilla reaches to below the middle of the eye : the distance between the eye and the upper edge of the 

 maxilla equals from 1/2 to 3/4 of the diameter of the orbit. Nostrils large and opposite the upper third of the 

 orbit. Preopercle finely but widely serrated along both limbs, its lower edge very strongly serrated in the 

 young : two opercular spines. Shoulder-flap entire. A small pore on either side of the snout just above the 

 free edge of the skin. A small open pore on either side of the symphysis of the lower jaw on its under 

 surface. Teeth — villiform in the upper jaw, with an outer conical row of distantly placed ones becoming canine- 

 like near the symphysis. In the lower jaw an internal row of distantly placed conical teeth having a 

 few villiform ones between or external to them. Fins — dorsal spines of moderate strength, the second to the 

 fifth the longest, one-third higher than the rays, and equal to from 1/2 to 2-1- in the height of the body. 

 Pectoral equals the length of the head excluding the snout. Ventral scarcely reaches half-way to the vent. 

 Second anal spine weak, and from 3/4 to 1 diameter of the orbit in length, the length of the base of the fin 

 equals from 1/4 to 4^ in that of the soft dorsal. Caudal slightly rounded, cut square, or even a little emarginate. 

 Scales — cycloid except in the posterior portion of the body where they are feebly ctenoid. Lateral-line — tubes 

 become arborescent posteriorly. Air-vessel — oval with about 30 lateral processes on either side and extending the 

 whole length of the abdomen. Dr. Ogg, chemical examiner at Madras (1867), found the isinglass very inferior. 

 Colours — silvery-gray, becoming dull white along the abdomen : first dorsal black tipped or stained with dark gray : 

 second dorsal grayish, lightest along its centre. Pectoral, ventral, and anal yellowish. Caudal tipped with gray. 



In the Museum at Paris there is a specimen labelled as above and brought from Batavia by M. Raynaud. 



Habitat. — Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago, it is very common at Madras up to 8 or 9 inches in 

 length. It is not rare at Bombay or the Andamans : the specimen figured is 5^ inches long and from Madras. 



11. Sciaena maculata. 



Johnius maculatus, Bl. Schn. p. 75 ; Cantor,* Catal. ]3. 68 (not synon.) ; Blyth, J. A. S. of Beng. 1860, 

 p. 141 (not syn.). 



Perca sari-kullah, Russell, Fish. Vizag. ii, p. 17, pi. 123. 



Corvina maculata, Cuv. and Val. v, p. 126 ; Jerdon, M. J. L. and Sc. 1851, p. 132. 

 Scicena maculata, Giinther, Catal. ii, p. 291 ; Day, Fish. Malabar, p. 50. 

 Cooroowa and Vari Icatahelee, Tarn. : Cutlah, Mai. : Taan-tah, Bel. 



B. vii, D. 10 | lT !jj, P. 18, V. 1/5, A. f-, C. 17, L. 1. t§i, L. tr. 8/16, Cebc. pyl. 8. 



Length of head 3-^- to 3f , of caudal from 1/5 to 1/6, height of body 3|- to 1/4 of the total length. Eyes — 

 diameter 4j to 1/5 of length of head, li diameters from end of snout, and 1 apart. Width of head equals 1/2 

 its length, and its height 4/5 of the same extent. Upper jaw overlapping the lower, and being itself overhung by 

 the snout : the maxilla reaches to below the middle or last third of the eye. Preopercle with about six widely 

 separated but rather strong denticulations at its angle, and its lower border crenulated in the young : 

 opercle with two rather obtuse spines. Shoulder-flap serrated. A transverse row of four pores across the 

 snout, the free edge of the skin with five orifices and a lateral lobe. A central pore below the mandibular 

 symphysis, having two more on either side of it. Teeth — villiform in the upper jaw with an outer row of 

 conical curved ones most developed near the median line : in the lower jaw villiform in several rows above the 

 symphysis, whilst laterally the inner row consists of curved, enlarged teeth, and the outer villiform ones soon 

 disappear. Fins — dorsal spines of moderate strength, the third to the seventh being the longest and equal to 

 half the height of the body and one-third higher than the second dorsal fin. The pectoral equals the length of 

 the head excluding the snout. Ventral reaches half way to the vent, its outer ray prolonged. Second anal 

 spine 2/3 as long as first ray, and equals about 1/3 of the height of the body, length of the base of the fin 

 1/4 of that of the soft dorsal. Caudal wedge-shaped in the young, becoming more obtuse in the adult. 

 Scales — ctenoid, except on the cheeks. Lateral-line — curves to below the middle of the soft dorsal when 

 it proceeds straight, the tubes have usually a single branch on either side. Air-vessel — with 14 or 15 lateral 

 processes on either side, each having two or three insertions. Colours — silvery-gray, abdomen whitish, cheeks 

 tinged with golden. Five broad black bands, sometimes interrupted, extend over the back, the first from the 

 nape passes backwards and downwards, and shortly after crossing the lateral-line abruptly terminates. The 

 second commencing opposite from the fifth to the seventh dorsal spines passes backwards and downwards, 



* The species termed Johnius maculatus, var. by Cantor, (Catal. p. 68), is still present in the British Musenm, it has been 

 termed by Bleeker (Mem. Scien. 1874, p. 51) J. Cantori. I would here add to Cantor's description the following remarks from his 

 type. Height of head equals its length excluding the snout : the distance from the eye to the upper jaw equals three-fourths of 

 a diameter of the orbit. Teeth — an enlarged outer row in the upper jaw: solely villiform ones in the lower. Fins — longest spines of 

 first dorsal fin one-third higher than the rays and equal to 3/5 of the height of the body. Second anal spine nearly as long as the first 

 ray and equals the length of the postorbital portion of the head, length of the base of the anal fin equals 4J in that of the soft dorsal. 

 Scales — ctenoid, except on the snout and below the eyes j 48 rows along the lateral line, 50 above it, and 45 below it. 



