TRACIIINJD.T. 219 



Family XXII. TRACHINID^. 



Body more or less elongate, posteriorly compressed ; head often 

 large. Some bones of the head usually armed ; the suborbital ring 

 of bones does not articulate with the preopercle. Teeth in the 

 jaws, present or absent on the vomer and palatines. Dorsal fins 

 sometimes in two distinct portions but more or less connected ; 

 anal generally similar to the soft dorsal; ventrals thoracic; 

 pectorals with or without appendages. Air-bladder present or 

 absent. Pyloric appendages few. 



Geographical Distribution. Almost world-wide. 



Synopsis of Indian Genera. 



First dorsal with 4 or 5 spines. Ventrals a little anterior 



to pectorals 1. PERCIS. 



First dorsal with 9 to 1 2 spines. Ventrals not anterior to 



pectorals 2. SILLAGO. 



1. Genus PERCIS, Bl. Schn. 

 Syn. Pdrajtercis, Bleeker. 



Branchiostegals six ; pseudobranchiae. Body subcylindrical ; 

 head a little depressed. Eyes lateral, directed somewhat upwards. 

 Cleft of mouth slightly oblique ; lower jaw the longer. Opercle 

 with one or two spines ; pre- and subopercles sometimes slightly 

 serrated. Villiform teeth in the jaws, with an outer enlarged row 

 some of which are canine-like ; teeth also on the vomer, but not 

 on the palatines. The first dorsal fin with four or five spines, 

 more or less continuous with the second dorsal, which has a 

 moderate number of rays and is similar to the anal ; ventrals 

 slightly anterior to the pectorals, the rays of which are branched. 

 Scales ctenoid, rather small. Air-bladder absent. Pyloric 

 appendages, when present, few. 



Geographical Distribution. Red Sea, Indian and tropical Pacific 

 Oceans, seas of India to the Malay Archipelago and beyond. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



L. tr. 5/1 G. Caudal slightly rounded 1. P. punctata, p. 219. 



L. tr. 5/18. Caudal cut square, with its 



upper ray a little prolonged 2. P. pulchella, p. 220. 



L. tr. 7/21 3. P. hexophthahna, p. 221. 



L. tr. m& 4. P. cylindrica, p. 221. 



992. (1.) Percis punctata. (Fig. 79.) 



Percis punctata, Cuv. $ Vol. H. N. Poi**. iii, p. 264 j Day, Fish. 



India, p. 262, p. Iviii, fig. 1 (see aynon.). 

 Kul ooloova, Tarn. 



