CABANGIDJE.. 191 



equally convex, a slight concavity over occiput. Interorbital cavity 

 at least twice as long as wide. A pair of minute spines over an- 

 terior third of orbit; supraorbital edge serrated or only a little 

 rough to the feel. Inferior edge of mandible very slightly concave. 

 Lower edge of preopercle minutely serrated. Teeth fine and in a 

 single row. Fins dorsal spines weak, the second arched, and | 

 to y height of body, the third and fourth anteriorly serrated in 

 their lower halves. Ventral does not quite reach anal. Second 

 anal spine arched, 3 to |- height of body, the third spine anteriorly 

 serrated. Caudal forked. Scales small but distinct, present on 

 breast and chest. Lateral line disappears nearly at end of free 

 portion of tail ; it consists of above 60 tubes placed on a row of 

 plate-like, rounded scales. Colour silvery, with vertical zigzag 

 lines passing down the back ; base of pectoral black behind ; upper 

 edge of dorsal darkish. 



Hah. Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago. 



960. (9.) Equula insidiatrix. 



Zeus insidiator, Bloch, Ich. t. 192, figs. 2, 3. 



Equula insidiatrix, Day, Fish. India, p. 242, pi. li C, fig. 5 (see 



synon.). 

 Paarl coorchee, Mai. 



B. v. D. 8-9/16-17. P. 18. V. 1/5. A. 3/14. C. 17. 

 Length of head from 4% to 5, of caudal fin 5, height of body 2 3 

 to 2| in the total length ; (the young are much more elongate). 

 Eyes diameter 2 5 in length of head, f diam. from end of snout, 

 and | to 1 apart. Abdominal profile more convex than dorsal. 

 Premaxillaries very protractile. When fully protracted the mouth 

 remains directed somewhat upwards, when closed the mandible is 

 almost vertical and not concave. Interorbital cavity triangular. 

 Middle third of supraorbital edge finely serrated. One or two 

 minute supraorbital spines directed backwards at the anterior 

 upper edge of the orbit ; the external, when two are present, the 

 stronger. Lower edge of preopercle minutely serrated, occasion- 

 ally almost smooth. Teeth minute, in 1 or 2 ro\vs. Fins dorsal 

 spines weak, smooth ; the first minute, the second, third, and fourth 

 subequal in length and 3 height of body. Second anal spine equal 

 to diameter of orbit. Ventral minute, reaching halfway to anal. 

 Caudal forked. Scales minute over the body, breast, and chest, 

 but not at base of pectoral fin. Lateral line nearly parallel with 

 back and generally lost near the tail, but sometimes as far forward 

 as below middle or last third of dorsal. Colour back bluish silver, 

 abdomen whitish silver, the whole glossed over with a slightly 

 golden tint. Upper surface of head, cheeks, and lower jaw 

 burnished silver, olteu a black streak from eye to throat, joining 

 that of opposite side ; a dark mark in axilla. Three or four hori- 

 zontal lines of black spots, with bron/e reflexions, form from 

 eight to ten vertical bauds descending along upper half of body. 



