234 ACANTHOPTERYGII. 



3. Trachynotus ovatus,* Plate LI, B. fig. 2. 



Gasterosteus ovatus, Lin. Syst. Nat. i, p. 490. 



Cossionorus Blochii, Lacep. iii, p. 95, pi. iii, f. 2. 



Centronotus ovalis, Lacep. iii, pp. 309, 316. 



Scomber falcatus, Forsk. p. 57. 



Scomber moohalee-parah, Russell, Pish. Vizag. ii, p. 39, pi. 154. 



Trachinotus falcatus, Lacep. iii, p. 79; Riipp. Atl. Fische, p. 89; Cuv. and Val. viii, p. 430. 



Trachinotus moohalee, Cuv. and Val. viii, p. 423 ; Cantor, Catal. p. 120 ; Jerdon, M. J. L. and Sc. 1851, 

 p. 136. 



Trachinotus Blochii, Cuv. and Val. viii, p. 425. 



Trachinotus affinis and falcifer, Cuv. and Val. viii, p. 428. 



Trachinotus drepanis, Cuv. and Val. viii, p. 429. 



Trachynotus ovatus, Gunther, Catal. ii, p. 481; Day, Pish. Mai. p. 97; Steind. Ak. Wien, 1869, p. 709; 

 Kner, Novara Fisehe, p. 164 ; Klunz. Verh. z. b. Ges. Wien, 1871, p. 449. 



Kootili, Tamil. 



B. vii, D. 6-7 | t^, P. 17, V. 1/5, A. 2 | ^1^, C. 17, Ccec. pylori 12. 



Length of head 2/9, of pectoral 1/8, of caudal 1/4, height of body 1/2 to 3/7 of the total length. Eyes — 

 in centre of height of head, diameter 1/3 to 2/9 of length of head, 1/2 of a diameter in the young to li in the 

 adult from end of snout, and 1^ apart. Body elliptical and compressed, snout obtuse ; a considerable rise 

 from it to the first dorsal, but superior and inferior profiles of body equally convex. Mouth oblique : maxilla 

 reaching to beneath the centre of the orbit. Teeth — in young specimens a band of card-like ones in both jaws, 

 but as the fish increases in size (as eight inches in length) they disappear, as well as those on the vomer and 

 palatine bones. Fins — second dorsal having its first ray highest, and equalling 1/2 the height of the body, its 

 last portion or two-thirds parallel with the curve of the back. Ventrals in the young as long as the head behind 

 the middle of the eyes. Caudal with deep lobes, its central rays equal 2/5 of its outer ones. Scales — minute. 

 Lateral-line — at first very slightly ascends, and then forms a slight curve to opposite the eleventh dorsal ray, 

 from whence it proceeds straight to the centre of the caudal. Colours — more or less golden colour : the upper 

 half of the first five dorsal rays tipped with black, and the fin generally with minute black points : sometimes 

 the anal and caudal are similarly marked. Pectoral gray in its first three quarters, its last foui'th yellow. 



Amongst Sir Walter Elliot's drawings of Indian Pishes is one of the young of this species (2 inches long) 

 showing the soft dorsal black, and a dark band along the anal. 



Habitat. — Red Sea, East coast of Africa, through the seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and 

 beyond : it attains at least 20 inches in length. This fish salts well, but when fresh is dry and insipid. 



Genus, 8 — PsBTTUSf (Gomm.), Cuv. and Val. 



Monodactylus, Lacep. 



Branchiostegals six : pseudobrancMm. Body much compresssd and elevated. Eyes lateral. Cleft of mouth 

 small, snout short. Teeth villiform on jaws, vomer, palatine bones, and tongue. A single dorsal fin with seven or 

 eight spines : anal with three, continuous with the rest of the fin : ventrals rudimentary. Scales small, covering the 

 vertical fins. Lateral-line unarmed. Air-vessel present, bifurcated posteriorly. Ccecal appendages numerous. 



Geographical distribution. — Red Sea, East coast of Africa, seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and 

 beyond. 



SYNOPSIS OP SPECIES. 



1. Psettus falciformis, D. J-^, A. -Jg-, L. 1. 100. Height of body half to 2£ in the total length. Silvery. 

 Red Sea, seas of India and beyond.. 



2. Psettus argenteus, D. ^-^o, A. -j-s-to! L. 1. 75. Height of body 2/3 of the total length. Silvery. A 

 black ocular band and a second from the dorsal spine to opercle. Red Sea, seas of India and beyond. 



1. Psettus falciformis, Plate LI, A. fig. 6. 



Monodactylus falciformis, Lacep. iii, pp. 131, 132, 133. 



Psettus, Commersonii, Cuv. and Val. vii, p. 250. 



Psettus falciformis, Gunther, Catal. ii, p. 488 ; Day, Fish. Malabar, p. 100. 



Purranclee, Mai. 



B. vi, D. ^5^, P. 16, V. 1/3-5, A. fy, C. 17, L. 1. 100. 



Length of head one-fourth to 4§, of caudal 4^ to one-fifth, height of body half to 2^ in the total length. 

 Eyes — diameter 2| in length of head, 1/2 a diameter from end of snout, and 1 apart. Cleft of mouth oblique, 



* The synonymy of the Atlantic species is not inserted amongst the above, see Cluetodon rhornboides, Bl. t. 209 : Aamthinion 

 rtiomboides, Lacep. : Trachinotus rlwmboides, /uscits and teraia, C. and V. : T. spinosus, Dekay : Lichia spinosa, Baird : Doliodon 

 sx'inosus, Gerard. 

 . -f Family Psettoidet, Bleeker. 



