CAEANGID.E. 165 



falciform, a little longer than head and reaching to below middle of 

 soft dorsal. Anal similar in form to second dorsal, but a little 

 lower. Caudal deeply forked. Scales on cheeks round eyes, 

 upper portion of opercle and body, none on chest as high as base 

 of pectoral fin. Lateral line 140 scales; at first it forms a very 

 low long curve to below the thirteenth dorsal ray, afterwards it 

 gradually becomes straight ; length of base of arch equalling that of 

 straight portion of line. Keeled scales but slightly developed, only 

 the last 8 being distinct ; the largest equals ^\j- of height of body. 

 Colour dusky greyish, having innumerable fine black points, and 

 generally glossed with purple. A well-marked black opercular 

 spot. Fins nearly black, especially the dorsal. 



Hob. Madras, waere the type (a male, 24 inches long) was 

 captured in March, 1867. The fishermen asserted that this 

 species annually arrived from the deep sea about March. 



928. (21.) Caranx armatus. 



Sciaena armata, Forsk. Descr. Anim. p. 53, no. 68. 



Caranx armatus, Day, Fish. India, p. 223, pi. li, fig. 2 (see synon.). 



Katati kdvali, Marathi ; Tanga parah, Tarn. ; Tchawil parah, Tel. 

 D. 6-8 | 1/20-21. P. 21. A. 2 | 1/16-17. C. 19. Sc. 1. 20. 

 Length of head 4| to 5, of pectoral 3|, height of body 2| to 2| 

 in total length. Eyes with very narrow posterior adipose lids ; 

 diameter 3| to 3| in length of head, | to 1 diam. from end of snout 

 and also apart. Body oval, dorsal and abdominal profiles about 

 equally convex. Lower jaw the longer ; maxilla reaches to below 

 anterior 3 or centre of eye. Greatest depth of preorbital equals f 

 diameter of orbit. Teeth villiform in both jaws, with an outer 

 somewhat enlarged row in the premaxillaries, a triangular spot on 

 vomer, and an elongate band along palatines and middle of tongue. 

 Fins second to fourth dorsal spines subequal and about f height 

 of body ; second dorsal much elongate anteriorly, the first few 

 rays occasionally reaching the caudal ; in some specimens all the 

 rays have prolongations, usually only the first few. Pectoral falci- 

 form, extending to at least below middle of soft dorsal. Caudal 

 deeply forked. Scales a few on hind portion of head, round the 

 eyes and on the cheeks, also over body except chest anterior to 

 bases of pectoral and ventral fins. They also form a groove for 

 the soft dorsal and anal fins. Lateral line 104 scales ; it makes a 

 long low curve, becoming straight beneath middle of second dorsal ; 

 keeled plates are developed in last half of horizontal portion of 

 lateral line but are not large. Colour upper surface of head and 

 back bluish green, sides of the head and body golden, with purple 

 reflexions. Opercular spot moderately distinct. .First dorsal 

 blackish, second and anal yellowish, with darker edges. Pectoral 

 dark behind its base. The young vertically banded. 



Hob. Eed Sea, east coast of Africa, seas of India to the Malay 

 Archipelago and beyond ; attaining at least 20 inches in length. 



