338 TELEOSTEl. ACANTHOPTEETGII. 



medium size, cycloid. Lateral line indistinct. Pyloric appendages, 

 if present, few. Air-bladder present. Vertebrae numerous. 



Geographical Distribution. Nearly all seas of temperate and 

 tropical regions, also estuaries and tidal rivers not far from the 



Uses. Although so small, being rarely 3 inches in length, these 

 fishes are dried in the sun and exported to distant markets. 



1. Genus ATHERINA, Linn. 



Body slightly compressed. Snout obtuse : cleft of the mouth 

 oblique, extending at least to below the anterior edge of the orbit. 

 Teeth very minute, but usually present on jaws, palate, and tongue. 

 Ventrals some distance posterior to the pectorals. Scales of 

 moderate size. Air-bladder present. Pyloric appendages, when 

 present, few. Ova comparatively very large. A silvery lateral 

 band. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



A. Teeth on palate. 



A. 1/14-15. L. 1. 42-45 . 1. A. ninauis, p. 338. 



A. 1/13-14. L. 1. 40 2. A. forskalii, p. 338. 



A. Vll. L. 1. 35 3. A. duodecimalis, p. 339. 



B. No palatine teeth. 



D. 5 j 1/10. A. 1/13. L. 1. 37 4. A. melanostiyma, p. 339. 



1165. (1.) Atherina pinguis. 



Atheriua pinguis, Lactp. H. N. Poiss. v, p. 373, pi. xi, fig. 1 ; Day, 

 Fish. India, p. 344 (see synon.). 



L\5-6 | 1/10. P.16. A.l/14-15. L.l.42-45. L.tr.7. Vert.20/23. 



Length of head 4^ to 4f , height of body 5| in the total length. 

 byes diameter 2| in length of head, | diam. from end of snout, 

 and 1 apart. Upper jaw overlapping lower. Posterior end 

 ot opercle midway between snout and base of first dorsal. 

 Loiour the silvery lateral band includes the whole third and upper 

 quarter ot fourth row of scales ; a blackish mark on upper edge of 

 eye also on posterior end of pectoral and caudal fins. 



tiab. East coast of Africa, seas of India, Malay Archipelago, 

 and Australia ; attaining at least 5 inches in length. 



1166. (2.) Atherina forskalii. (Fig. 113.) 

 Atheriua forskalii, Riipp. N. W., Fische, p. 132, t. 33, fig. 1 ; Day, 



Fish. India, p. 345, pi. Ixxi, fig. 4 (see synon.). 

 Mottechi, Motti kola kende, Tamil ; Ko-re-dah, Andam. 

 D. 5-6 | 1/9-10. P. 17. A. 1/13-14. C. 15. L. 1. 40. L.tr.6-7. 

 Length of head ^ height of body 6 to 6^ in the total length. 



