COETPHJENIDJ:. 201 



deeply pointed lobes. Lateral line curved to opposite the end of 

 the pectoral, thence it goes straight to middle of tail. Colour 

 back greyish, shot with gold; abdomen golden, covered with 



Fig. 69. Corypheena hippurus. 



blue spots, which become black after death ; dorsal fin light blue 

 at the base, becoming black towards the summit. 



Hob. All tropical and subtropical seas. Attaining 5 feet or more 

 in length. This fish, the dolphin of sailors, is not uncommon in 

 Madras, and is eaten by the natives. 



2. Genus MENE, Lacep. 



Branchiostegals seven. Body oval, strongly compressed, with a 

 prominent and sharp-edged abdomen. Mouth very protractile. 

 Villiform teeth in the jaws, palate edentulous. A single long 

 dorsal fin, commencing on the back and extending nearly to the 

 caudal ; anal spineless, having many rays which are enveloped in 

 skin and have very broad free extremities ; ventrals thoracic, 1/5, 

 the first ray very elongate. Scales absent. Air-bladder large and 

 bifurcated posteriorly. Pyloric appendages numerous. 



972. (1.) Mene macnlata. (Fig. 70.) 



Zeus maculatus, 111. Schn. Syst. Ich. p. 95, pi. 22. 



Mene maculate, Day, Fish. India, p. 249, pi. liii, fig. 5 (see synon.). 



Ambutan parah and Amatti kattt, Tana., i. e. " rasor" Jerdon. 

 D. 3-4/40-43. P. 15. V. 1/5. A. 30-33. C. 18. Csec. pyl. 25-30. 



Length of head 4, of caudal fin 4, height of body If to 2 in the 

 total length. Eyes diameter 3 to 3^ in length of head, i diam. 

 apart, and 1 to lg from end of snout. Mouth oblique, the lower 

 jaw projecting, cleft twice as long as the gape ; anterior portion of 

 upper jaw formed by premaxillaries, the maxilla smooth and 

 S-shaped. Opercles entire. Occipital crest high. Fins first 

 few dorsal rays undivided and more elevated than remainder. 

 Pectoral rays flat ; ventral spine short, the first ray compressed 

 and very long. Anal rudimentary, its rays forming short, wide, 

 and flat processes ; caudal deeply lobed. Lateral line sometimes 

 ceasing below end of dorsal fin, or dividing into two branches, the 

 lower of which descends on reaching the upper caudal lobe. Colour 



