MONODACTYLE TRICHOPUS. 393 



in having two short spines only, by way of ventral 

 fins : is a small fish ; measuring only about twenty- 

 six centimetres in length : body much compressed, 

 and covered with small, rounded, smooth scales ; 

 as are also the bases of the dorsal and anal fin : 

 colour silvery, tinged with brown on the upper 

 parts : eyes large : mouth semicircular : teeth short, 

 sharp, and close-set : dorsal and anal fin of nearly 

 equal size and of a somewhat falciform shape, ex^ 

 tending nearly to the tail, which is crescent-shaped ; 

 lateral line curved in the direction of the back, and 

 placed pretty near to it : vent almost immediately 

 behind the pectoral fins, which are of a pointed 

 shape : gill-covers composed of two laminae, of 

 which the hindmost is irregularly scolloped on the 

 edges : native of the Indian seas : described from 

 the manuscripts of Commerson. 



