CYPRINOIDEjE. 121 



into nine rectangular pieces. Eyes large and lateral : the orbits are two lengths of their axis 

 from the end of the snout, and three lengths from the tip of the gill-cover ; the space between 

 them is flat. Nostrils close to the orbits. Mouth small, toothless : its upper margin, formed 

 by the intermaxillaries, has a slight motion, shutting within the labials. The labials form, 

 as it were, an outer lip, which is continuous with the rounded extremity of the snout that pro- 

 jects about a line beyond the orifice of the mouth. Palate and vomer smooth. 



Gill-covers. — Preoperculum a narrow crescent, exhibiting in the dried specimen five or 

 six pores on its surface, connected with an internal tube which pervades the whole bone. 

 Operculum four-sided, larger than all the other bones of the gill-plates taken together : its 

 anterior and under sides are the longest, and the latter overlaps the margin of the strap- 

 shaped suboperculum its whole length. A membranous border edges the gill-plate and forms 

 a flap at its apex. 



Scales large, thin, and, when dry, semitransparent. They vary little in size, and their 

 length, which scarcely exceeds their breadth, is about eight lines. Their exterior edges are 

 semicircular and uneven, but not regularly crenated, and their bases are cut almost trans- 

 versely, but with a slight point in the middle. The surface of their uncovered segment, is 

 marked with ten or twelve fine streaks radiating from the centre. The lateral line is straight 

 and contains fifty-five scales : there are seventeen scales in a vertical row under the doi*sal, of 

 which seven are above the lateral line. In the dried specimen there is a clear longitudinal 

 streak along the centre of each row of scales, occasioned by the narrow space which intervenes 

 between the adjoining rows becoming apparent from the transparency of the covering scale. 



Colour pale oil-green on the back, fading to white on the belly. Sides of the head nacry. 



Fins — Br. 3 ; D. 9 ; P. 17 ; V. 8 ; A. 10 ; C. 19^. 



The dorsal commences opposite to the attachment of the ventrals, and consists of nine rays, 

 the first short and concealed by the skin ; the second almost spinous, its articulations being 

 only faintly visible at the tip ; it is about half the length of the third, and is closely applied to 

 it without the intervention of membrane. The articulations of the other rays are also obsolete 

 towards their bases, but their summits are more or less branched. The pectorals have seven- 

 teen rays, the first one being much stronger than the others, and its articulations visible only 

 at its summit. The ventrals are attached exactly midway between the gills and the anal fin : 

 their rays have strong bony bases, with their upper halves distinctly articulated. The anal 

 has ten rays, the two first being very short ; they are all articulated, and the posterior ones 

 are much branched. The caudal fin is forked and has nineteen rays, with four short basal 

 ones above and five below. The depth of the fork equals the length of the central rays. 



Length from tip of snout to the tips of the 

 caudal ..... 

 „ „ base of central caudal rays 

 „ „ anus 

 „ „ dorsal or ventrals 

 ,, „ tip of gill-cover . 



„ „ centre of orbit 

 „ of attachment of dorsal 

 „ third or longest ray of ditto . 



„ last ray of ditto 





Dim 



SNSIONS. 









Inches. 



Lines. 







nches. 



Lines 



ie 





Length of pectorals .... 



1 



7 



. 12 



2 



;> 



ventrals .... 



1 



6 



10 



4 



)» 



attachment of anal . . . 







H 



. 7 







)» 



longest rays of ditto 



1 



7 



4 



10 



» 



lobes of caudal .... 



2 



4 



. 2 



3 



SI 



central rays of ditto 







11 







11 



)> 



extent of scales on the tail beyond 







1 



2 





the bases of the caudal . 







6 



1 



10 











. 



7 





R 







