FAMILY, XVI— CARANGID.E. 231 



the head well developed. The lower jaw somewhat the longer, the cleft of the mouth commences opposite the 

 middle of the eyes, the maxilla (which is uncovered from beneath the first third of the eyes) reaches to 

 beneath the last third of the orbit.* Greatest depth of preorbital equals 1/3 of the diameter of the orbit. 

 Teeth — in the premaxillaries in a single row, the two anterior ones of which are large and rather canine-like, 

 posteriorly to these are some villiform ones : teeth in the lower jaw in two rows, the outer of which is curved 

 rather outwards and upwards, whilst there are enlarged ones on either side of the symphysis : an elongated ovate 

 patch on the vomer having an anterior-posterior direction : in a long pyriform band on the palate largest 

 anteriorly, also on the tongue. Fins — dorsal spines rounded, not flattened, overlapping and twisting laterally 

 when elevated. Second dorsal commences midway between the anterior edge of the eye and the base of the 

 caudal fin, its first portion is the highest equalling 2§ in that of the body, and 1/3 higher than the first part of 

 the anal. Pectoral as long as the head behind the middle of the eye. Ventral reaches 2/5 of the way 

 to the anal. Caudal deeply forked. Scales — are peculiar, resembling needles sharp at both ends, lying close 

 together and interdigitating, it is only near the free portion of the tail that they become at all scale-like. 

 Lateral-line — rather indistinct and almost straight, making one slight angular elevation above the last third of 

 the pectoral. Colours — silvery along the upper third of the body, becoming white on the sides and below, 

 a series of 6 or 8 blotches along the sides, mostly above the lateral-line. A black blotch at the highest point of 

 the second dorsal and the ends of either lobe of the caudal, the other fins yellow. 



This species in its external form resembles C. Sancti-Petri, C. V., but its scales are entirely different, 

 corresponding apparently to C. Mauritianus, in which they are said to be smooth requiring a magnifying glass 

 to detect, as under the naked eye they merely resemble pores. Likewise it appears to be C. tol, in which the 

 mode of scaling as existing in this species is described, but the mouth is said only to be cleft below 

 the front edge of the eye. Russell observes that Scomber tol parah is without scales. Chorinemus tol of 

 Cantor and Jerdon is identical with the C. moadetta. It is also termed Tool parah or "leather skin" 

 by the natives. 



Habitat. — Red Sea, east coast of Africa, and seas of India, attaining upwards of 15 inches in length. 

 As food its flesh is dry and tasteless. 



fa c^ p $ J$. Chorinemus lysan. 



Scomber lysan, Forsk. No. -^% pT. 54. 



Scomber Forsteri, Bl. Schn. p. 26. 



Scomberoides Commersonianus, Lacep. ii, pi. 20, f. 3. 



Scomber oJeen parah, Russell, Fish. Vizag. ii, p. 31, pi. 141. 



Scomber Madagascariensis, Shaw, Zool. iv, p. 590, pi. 85 ; Bennett, Life of Raffles, p. 689. 



Licliia lysan, Riipp. Atl. Fische, p. 91. 



Chorinemus Commersonianus, Cuv. and Val. viii, p. 370 ; Bleeker, Makr. p. 44 ; Jerdon, M. J. L. and Sc, 

 1851, p. 136. 



Chorinemus lysan, Cuv. and Val. viii, p. 387 ; Riippell, N. W. Fische, p. 44 ; Cantor, Catal. p. 118 ; 

 Giinther, Catal. ii, p. 471 ; Day, Fish. Malabar, p. 92 ; Kner, Novara Fische, p. 163 ; Klunz. Verh. z. b. Ges, 

 Wien, 1871, p. 448. 



? Chorinemus Farhharii, Cuv. and Val. viii, p. 388. 



Chorinemus aculeatus, Cuv. and Val. viii, p. 384. 



Tool parah, Tarn. ; Parah, Hind. 



B. viii, D. 7 | t^, P. 19, V. 1/5, A. 2 | ^^ C. 19, Vert. 10/16. 



Length of head 5| to one-sixth, of caudal two-ninths, height of body 3j to one-fourth in the total 

 length. Eyes — diameter 1/4 of length of head, 1/2 to 2/3 of a diameter from end of snout, and rather above 

 1 apart. Greatest width of head 2^ in its length, whilst its height almost equals its length. Body rather 

 strongly compressed, profile over nape slightly concave. Cleft of mouth deep, the maxilla extending nearly 

 half a diameter behind the orbit, the maxilla is narrow and uncovered by the preorbital from beneath the 

 first third of the eye. The length of the premaxillary is 4/7 of that of the head. Teeth — anteriorly 

 in two rows, posteriorly in one in the premaxillaries : in two rows in the lower jaw, the outer of which is 

 directed outwards and upwards in the young, some of the anterior teeth in both jaws are rather enlarged : in a 

 triangular spot rather prolonged posteriorly in the vomer : in a pyriform band, largest anteriorly, on the pala- 

 tines, also on the tongue. Fins— the anterior portions of the soft dorsal and anal elevated, equalling 4/5 of the 

 length of the head, the last 8 or 10 rays semi-detached, the last rather elongated. Caudal deeply forked. 

 Scales — distinct and lanceolate. Lateral-line — -has a slight angular elevation soon after its commencement. 

 Colours — six to eight large, round, gray spots like finger-marks on the side, the lateral-line sometimes going 

 through the two first, while the others are all above it : summit of soft dorsal black. 



Habitat. — Red Sea, seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and beyond ; it attains a considerable size. 



4. Chorinemus tala. 

 Scomber tala parah, Russell, Fish. Vizag. ii. p. 30, pi. 140. 



* Mouth cleft to below front edge of eye in C. tol, according to Russell, Cuv. and Val., Giinther, &c. 



