8C1NIDJE. 123 



rays and | the height of body ; outer ventral ray elongate. 

 Second anal spine weak, nearly f as high as first ray, and f to f 

 lengfch of head. Caudal rhoinboidal. Scales mostly cycloid, a few 

 between pectoral fin and ^lateral line ctenoid at the middle of their 

 free edge. Lateral line tubes with short branches. Air-bladder 

 with several lateral branching attachments. Colour purplish 

 brown from the presence of numerous fine dots, but becoming 

 golden in lower fourth of body ; lateral line generally lighter than 

 contiguous parts. Head glossed with purple. First dorsal fin 

 dark, the others with grey edges. 



Hub. Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago ; attaining nearly a 

 foot in length. 



878. (16.) Scisena ossea. 



Sciaena osseus, Day, Fish. India,. p. 193, pi. xlvi, fig. 3. 

 D. 10 | 1/25. P. 18. A. 2/7. C. 17. L. r. 55/50/45. L. tr. 6/15. 

 Length of head 4, height of body 4| in the total length. 

 Eyes diameter 5 in the length of head, 1| diam. from end of 

 snout, and 1^ apart. The greatest width of the head equals its 

 postorbital length. Snout obtuse, not inflated, the dorsal profile 

 above the eyes a little concave ; cleft of mouth oblique, anterior 

 extremity of lower jaw on a level with lower edge of eye ; the 

 upper jaw scarcely overlaps the lower. Distance from eye to upper 

 jaw nearly equals 1 diameter of orbit. Preopercle rather strongly 

 denticulated in its whole extent. Two opercular spines. Shoulder- 

 flap serrated. Three small pores across snout, and five along free 

 edge of skin, but no lateral lobe. Two small central pores below 

 symphysis of lower jaw, and two more large ones laterally and 

 posteriorly. Fins first dorsal spine very short, second and third 

 equal, fourth longest, but only slightly higher than the posterior 

 rays and | the height of the body. Second anal spine weak, about 

 half as long as first ray and equal to | length of head. Caudal 

 wedge-shaped. Scales cycloid on head and chest, ctenoid on the 

 body. Lateral line forms a well-marked curve to above the front 

 edge of the anal fin ; tubes very distinct, and giving off one short 

 branch on either side. Colour brownish grey or stone-coloured 

 along the back, becoming dull white on the sides and below. Opercle 

 bluish black. First dorsal black in its upper half; outer edges of 

 pectoral, ventral, anal, and caudal grey. 



Hub. Malabar coast of India, whence a specimen 7 inches long 

 was procured. 



3. Genus SCLENOIDES, Blyth. 



Syn. Sola, pt., Ham. Bach.; Scicena, sp., Cuv. & Val.; Collichthys, 

 Giinther; Jlemisciaina, Bleeker ; Playiuscion, Gill. 



Pseudobranchia} present. Eves small. Head broad, with its 

 upper surface very convex. Cleft of mouth oblique and deep. 



