CARAXGID.E. 187 



portions. Ventral nearly, or in the young quite, reaches to the 

 anal. Second anal spine as long as head behind middle of eyes or 

 a little more ; third spine rather strongly serrated anteriorly in its 

 lower half. Scales small, but distinct, except on chest or' breast, 

 to a little above base of pectoral, where they are absent or indistinct ; 

 a large scale at base of ventral. Lateral line with about 60 tubes ; 

 it first curves upwards, its highest point being below the third 



Fig. 65. Equula edentula. 



dorsal spine, then it arches to below end of dorsal fin. Colow 

 silvery, greyish along the lateral line; fine vertical lines from the 

 back down the sides ; the soft dorsal stained with grey on its 

 upper edge ; base of pectoral stained grey. 



Hab. lied Sea, seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and 

 beyond ; attaining 10 inches and more in length. Ascending rivers 

 far above tidal reach, but only apparently whilst young. 



953. (2.) Equula dussumieri. 



Equula dussumieri, Cuv. fy Vol. H. N. Poiss. x, p. 77, pi. 283; Day, 



Fish. India, p. 239, pi. lii, tig. 2 (see synon.). 

 Vert kare, Tarn. 

 B. v. D. 8/16. P. 21. V. 1/5. A. 3/14-15. C. 17. L. 1. 65. 



Length of head 4|, of caudal fin 4|, height of body 2.A in the 

 total length. Eyes diameter i of length of head, f of a diameter 

 from end of snout, and 1 apart. Dorsal and abdominal profiles 

 equally convex. Interorbital cavity anteriorly rather broad, and 

 not twice as long as wide. A pair of small spines at the anterior 

 upper angle of the orbit. Orbital margin not serrated. Mandibles 

 slightly concave below. Lower margin of preopercle rather strongly 

 serrated. Teeth fine, and in several rows in both jaws. Fins 

 second dorsal spine almost straight and as long as head excluding 

 snout, third nearly as long ; front edge of both third and fourth 



