119 



872. (10.) Scisena aneus. 



Johnius aneus, Block, Ich. t. 357. 



Scisena aneus, Day, Fish. India, p. 189, pi. xlv, fig. 5 (see synon.). 

 Pennah, Tam. ; C'hal-bttrn-dah, Andam. 



D.10 | 1/23-24. P.18r A.2/7. L.r. 56/50/50. L.tr.8-9/18. C.p.10. 

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

 Eyes diamei er 4 to 4^ in length of head, 1 to li diam. from end 

 of snout and also apart. Greatest width of head equals \ of its 

 length. Interorbital space nearly flat, snout not overhanging the 

 mouth, the lower jaw the longer. Cleft of mouth oblique ; distance 

 between eye and upper edge of maxilla \ to | diameter of orbit. 

 Nostrils large and opposite upper third of orbit. Preopercle 

 finely but widely serrated along both limbs, its lower edge 

 very strongly serrated in the young ; two opercular spines. 

 Shoulder-flap entire. A small pore on either side of snout just 

 above free edge of skin. A small open pore on either side of 

 symphysis of lo\ver jaw on its under surface. Teeth in the lower 

 jaw an internal row, distantly placed and conical. Fins dorsal 

 spines of moderate strength, the second to the fifth the longest, one 

 third higher than the rays, and from | to ^ the height of the body. 

 Second anal spine weak, from |to 1 diameter of the orbit in length, 

 length of base of fin from | to T 4 f of that of soft dorsal. Caudal 

 slightly rounded, cut square, or even a little emarginate. Scales 

 cycloid except in posterior portion of body, where they are feebly 

 ctenoid. Lateral line tubes become arborescent posteriorly. Air- 

 bladder oval, with about 30 lateral processes on either side, and 

 extending the whole length of the abdomen. Colour silvery grey, 

 becoming dull white along the abdomen ; first dorsal black-tipped or 

 stained with dark grey ; second dorsal greyish, lightest along its 

 centre. Pectoral, ventral, and anal yellowish. Caudal tipped with 

 grey. 



Hob. Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago ; very common at 

 Madras up to 8 or 9 inches in length ; not rare at Bombay and at 

 the Andainans. 



873. (11.) Sciaena maculata. 



Johnius inaculatus, Bl. Schn. Syst. Ich. p. 75. 



Scigena maculata, Gunther, Cutal. ii, p. 291; Day, Fish. India, 



p. 190 (see synon.). 



Cooroowa and Van katchelee, Tam. ; Cutlali, Mai. ; Taun-tah, Baluchi. 

 D. 10 | 1/23-24. A. 2/7. L.r. 65/45-48/58. L. tr. 8/16. Caoc. pyl. 8. 

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

 length. Eyes diameter 4'^ to 5 in length of head, 1^ diam. from 

 end of snout, and 1 apart. Width of head equals % its length. 

 Upper jaw overlapping the lower, and being itself overhung by the 

 snout. Preopercle with rather strong denticulations at its angle, 

 and its lower border crenulated in the young ; opercle with two 

 rather obtuse spines. Shoulder- flap serrated. A transverse row 



