CIEEHITIDJE. 49 



length to the 4th and 5fch, which are nearly as high as the middle 

 rays, the highest in the fin, the whole enveloped in scales; pectoral 

 of the same length as the ventral ; anal spines moderate, the third 

 slightly the longest, hut only half or two fifths the height of ante- 

 rior portion of soft anal, which is scaled, as is also the soft dorsal ; 

 caudal emarginate. Colour silvery grey, with a dark band he- 

 tween each row of scales ; a silvery band under the eye ; fins 

 nearly black. 



Hal. Red Sea, east coast of Africa, seas of India to the Malay 

 Archipelago. 



Family V. CIRRHITID^E. 



Percoidei, pt., et Scicenoidei, pt., Cuv. ; Theraponidce, pt., et Polyne- 

 idce, pt., Richardson. 



Branchiostegals three, five, or six ; pseudobranchise. Body ob- 

 long and compressed. Teeth in the jaws villiform or pointed ; 

 sometimes canines as well. A single dorsal fin composed of spines 

 and rays of nearly equal extent ; anal with three spines. Lower 

 pectoral rays simple, and generally thickened ; ventrals 1/5. Scales 

 cycloid ; lateral line continuous. Air-bladder absent, or with 

 many appendages. Pyloric appendages few. 



Geographical Distribution. Tropical seas, temperate parts of South 

 Pacific. 



Synopsis of Indian Genera. 



Opercle unarmed. No teeth on palatines 1. CTRRHITES. 



Opercle with spines. Teeth on palatines 2. CIRKHITICHTHYS. 



1. Genus CIRRHITES (Cornm.), Cuv. 

 Syn. Amblyciirhitus, Gill ; Paracirrhites, Bleeker. 



Branchiostegals six. Preopercle denticulated; opercle unarmed. 

 Villiform teeth in both jaws ; canines generally present ; teeth on 

 the vomer, none on the palatines. A single dorsal fin with ten 

 spines ; the lower five to seven pectoral rays are unbranched. 

 Scales of moderate size. Air-bladder absent. Pyloric appendages 

 few. 



Geographical Distribution. Indian Ocean and tropical Pacific. 



790. (1.) Cirrhites forsteri. (Fig. 19.) 



Grammistes forsteri, Bl. Schn. Syst. Ich. p. 191. 

 Cirrhites forsteri, Day, Fish. India, p. 144, pi. xxxv, fig. 4 (see 

 synon.). 



D.10/11. P.7 + vii. A.3/6. L.1.50. L.tr.5/13. C.pyl.4. Vert.10/16. 

 Length of head 3| to 4, height of body 3| to 3| in total length 



VOL. II. E 



