POLYNEMID^E 101 



Eyes diameter about 2 in length of head, f diam. apart. Pre- 

 operele entire, but having three denticulations along its intra- 

 marginal border. Fins dorsal spines weak, increasing in length 

 to the last, which is scarcely so high as the first rays, the soft 

 portion decreases posteriorly in height. Pectoral as long as head. 

 Ventral short ; anal highest in front ; caudal forked. Scales the 

 rows along the lateral line larger than the others. Colour 

 silvery grey, upper third of dorsal rays black ; pectorals orange, 

 and usually having a dark base ; anal rather dark anteriorly and 

 inferiorly ; caudal with its posterior margin stained grey. 



Hcib. Coast of Sind and of Indian Peninsula. 



This species is identical with Eussell's fish, but not with 

 P. mangula, C. Y., a form figured in Griinther's ' Eische d. Siidsee,' 

 t. lix. f. B. Klunzinger's P. manyula, again, differs from both the 

 others. 



Family XII. POLYNEMID^E. 



Branchiostegals seven ; pseudobranchiae. Body oblong, some- 

 what compressed. Eyes large, lateral, more or less covered by an 

 adipose membrane ; mouth on the lower side of a prominent snout, 

 and having a lateral cleft. Muciferous system on the head well 

 developed. Villiform teeth on the jaws and palatines ; present or 

 absent on the vomer. Two dorsal fins ; several free articulated 

 appendages below the pectoral fin ; ventrals thoracic. Lateral line 

 continuous, continued on to the caudal fin. Air-bladder, when 

 present, varying in form and structure. Pyloric appendages of 

 varying numbers. 



Geographical Distribution. Tropical seas (not found iu the Eed 

 Sea). 



Uses. These fish are all excellent as food, and rough isinglass 

 (fish-sounds) is obtained from some, and exported in large quantities. 



1. Genus POLYNEMUS, Linn. 



Syn. Trichidion, Klein ; Polistonemus, Gill ; Eleuthei'onema, Bleeker. 



Kala, Taru. ; Nut-tiah, Mugh. 



Preopercle serrated. First dorsal fin with seven or eight weak 

 spines ; soft dorsal and anal of nearly equal extent ; pectoral rajs 

 simple or branched, and having a varying number of free rays (3-7) 

 at the base of the fin. Scales ctenoid, rather small, extended on 

 to the vertical fins. Air-bladder, when present, varying in form, 

 size, and structure. Pyloric appendages varying in numbsr. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



A. Seven free pectoral rays. 



D. 7 I 1/15-16. Upper free pectoral rays 



twice the length of fob / 1. * pa.-adiseus, p. 102. 



