161 



edge or first third of the eye. Preorbital in its deepest part rather 

 more than | diameter of orbit. Teeth in both jaws in villi- 

 form bands, which become a single row laterally in the lower ; the 

 outer row in the upper jaw a little enlarged ; a semilunar spot 

 anteriorly on the vomer, posteriorly a long narrow band along the 

 median line ; a band on the palatines and also along the middle 

 of the tongue. Fins spines of first dorsal weak, the third slightly 

 the longest and about g height of body. Second dorsal highest 

 anteriorly, where its rays equal from | to f the height of the 

 body. Pectoral reaches to above commencement of anal, which is 

 similar to soft dorsal. Caudal deeply forked, upper lobe usually the 

 longer. Scales cover the body except just in front of the ventral 

 fins ; superiorly they extend forwards on the head to above the 

 eyes, cheeks, and upper portion of the opercle, but there are none 

 on the snout, preorbital, or occipital crest ; the soft dorsal and 

 anal fins have a high scaly sheath. Lateral line about 102 scales, 

 at first it is moderately curved, becoming straight below the eighth 

 dorsal ray ; the keeled scales do not commence until underneath 

 the fifteenth ray, they are well developed but not very strong, the 

 highest about yL- the height of the body. Colour grey along 

 the back, becoming lighter on the abdomen, the whole glossed with 

 purple and gold. Head and chest occasionally brownish black. 

 No opercular spot. Fins yellow, with black points ; anterior 

 portion of second dorsal black with a white tip, rest of fin and of 

 anal more or less dark. Caudal sometimes with black tips and a 

 white edge. 



Hob. Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago. Grows to up- 

 wards of a foot in length. In Malabar this species is mostly 

 captured during the cold months. 



923. (16.) Caranx compressus. 



Caranx compressus, Day, P. Z. S. 1870, p. 689 ; Fish. India, 

 p. 221, pi. 1, fig. 1 (see synon.). 



D. 8 | 1/22-24. P. 21. A 2 | 1/19-20. C. 21. Sc. 1. 13. 



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

 length. Eyes without adipose lids, situated 1 vertical diameter 

 from the upper profile, diameter 3| to 4 in length of head, lj to If 

 diam. from end of snout, and 1 apart. Body rather strongly com- 

 pressed, dorsal and abdominal profiles equally convex ; occipital crest 

 well developed. Greatest width of head the entire length of the 

 head. Lower jaw the longer ; maxilla reaches to below front edge 

 or first third of orbit. Greatest depth of preorbital equals f to 

 | of the diameter of the eye. Teeth villiforin in both jaws, a 

 single narrow band laterally in the lower ; also present on the 

 vomer, palate, and tongue. Fins third dorsal spine longest, $ 

 to f height of body, and only f as high as anterior portion of 

 second dorsal. Pectoral falciform, and J longer than the head. 



VOL. II. M 



