SQUAMIPINNES. 21 



8. Genus DREPANE, Cuv. & Val. 



Syn. HnrpocMrus, Cantor ; Cryptosm&a, Cope. 



Branchiostegals six ; pseudobranchiae. Body elevated and much 

 compressed. Snout short. Preopercle spineless. Palate edentu- 

 lous. Dorsal having in front a concealed spine directed forwards, 

 and eight or nine spinous rays, which, as well as those of the anal, 

 are receivable into a groove at the base ; interspinous membrane 

 deeply notched ; pectoral long and falciform. Scales of moderate 

 size. Air-bladder posteriorly prolonged into two horns. Pyloric 

 appendages few. 



752. (1.) Drepane punctata. (Fig. 8.) 



Chsetodon punctatus, Gmel. Syst. Nat. p. 1243. 



Drepane punctata, Day, Fish. India, p. 116, pi. xxix, fig. 5 (see 



synon.). 



Syn. Chandava, Marathi ; Punnttr, Sind. ; Shuk, Baluch. ; Piindthee, 

 Mai. ; Pulli torritti, Tarn. ; Thetti, Tel. ; Roopi-chanda, Chittag. ; SJienyna- 

 roet, Arracan. ; Nga-shengna, Burm. 



D. 8-9/21-22. A. 3/18-19. L. 1. 50-55. L. tr. 14/33. CJBC. pyl. 2-3. 

 Length of head from 3| to 4, of pectoral 2, height of body 1^ to 

 1| in the total length. Eyes diameter from 2 3 to 3 in length of 

 head, 1 to 1^ diam. from end of snout, and | to | apart. Fins 

 dorsal spines strong, in a young individual (ly\j inches long) the 



Fig. 8. Drepane punctata. 



last six are of equal height. Should there be nine dorsal spines, 

 the fourth is the longest in adults ; if only eight then the third ; 

 the rays longer than the spines ; pectoral sometimes reaching to 

 the base of the caudal ; second anal spine the strongest and 

 generally the longest ; caudal with its central rays slightly pro- 

 duced. Colour silvery, having a gloss of gold and tinge of purple, 



