Ill 



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

 length. Eyes diameter 3| to 4 in length of head, f to 1 diam. 

 from end of snout, and 1 apart. Distance between the eye and 

 the upper jaw equals | of a diameter of the orbit. Preopercle 

 distinctly serrated ; two opercular spines. Barbel equals from 

 f of the diameter of the eye to nearly as long as it. Fins 

 dorsal spines moderately strong, the fourth longest and one 

 third longer than the rays. Second anal spine strong, four fifths 

 as long as the first ray. Caudal wedge-shaped. Scales ctenoid. 

 Colour grey, becoming silvery white on the abdomen ; a steel- 

 blue opercular spot ; upper two thirds of first dorsal nearly black; 

 other fins yellow. 



Hob. Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago; attaining at 

 least 10 inches in length. 



2. Genus SCLffiJNA (Artedi), Cuv. 



Svn. Johnius, Bloch ; Cowina and Stellifej; Cuv. ; Bola, sp., Hani. 

 Buck ; Leiostomus, Cuv. & Val. ; Coracinas, Pall. ; Homoprion, Holb. ; 

 Amblyodon (Raf.), Gir. ; Cheilotrema, v. Tsch.; Qenyonemus. Plagioscion, 

 Sci&nopg, BairdieUa, Haploinodotus, Rhinoscion, and Ophwscion, Gill ; 

 Diplolejns, Steind. ; Pseudoscicena, Bleeker. 



Dhoma, Marathi. 



Pseudobranchice present. Body oblong. Eyes of moderate 

 size. Interorbital space rather broad and slightly convex. Snout 

 rounded, sometimes overhanging the upper jaw. Teeth villiforni, 

 with an outer enlarged row in the preraaxiUaries, and sometimes 

 the inner row in the mandibles enlarged. No distinct canines. 

 Two dorsal fins, the first with 9 or 10 spines, and connected at its 

 base to the second, which is of moderate length (23-32 rays). Anal 

 with one or two spines. Scales ctenoid or cycloid, extending over 

 head and snout, and generally more or less present on the vertical 

 fins including the tail. Air-bladder present *. Pyloric appendages 

 in moderate numbers or few. 



Pores or the orifices of muciferous canals are found in most of the 

 species of this genus, as described in Umbrina. But a few, evi- 

 dently approaching towards Otolithus, have some or all absent from 

 both jaws. In one species, Scicena albida, a small, though distinct 

 barbel is present in front of the lateral open pores on the lower jaw. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



A. An inner row of enlarged teeth in lower 



jaw. (Pseudoscifena.) 

 a. Second anal spine weak, length of rays 



or less. 

 Jaws about equally long ; 4th, 5th, and 



Gth anal spines longest. L. tr. 9-10/18. 1. S. bieekeri, p. 112. 

 Upper jaw longer; 2nd to 5th dorsal spines 



longest. L. tr. G/14 3. S. vugleri, p. 113. 



* Stated to be absent in some American species. 



