OCR Text |
Show 562 MR. F. DAY ON INDIAN FISHES. [May 9, before the superior one, the eighth ray being over the centre of the upper orbit. The anal arises under the posterior extremity of the opercle ; both fins are joined to, but not amalgamated with, a pointed caudal, the points of the rays project slightly beyond the membrane. Scales ctenoid, decreasing in size from the centre to the side of the body. Those on the right side of the body larger than those on the left. Lateral line commences just above the opening of the mouth, and skirts the snout, becoming divided into three; the superior is continued along the upper seventh of the body to its termination at the base of the caudal; the central one, passing above the eyes, goes straight along the centre of the body to the middle of the base of the caudal, whilst the inferior passes to between the orbits. The middle line gives a second branch over the nape to join the superior one, and slightly anterior to it another short descending one. Another line passes along the lower jaw, and ends at the extremity of the operculum, becoming convex en route. The central lateral line is on scales smaller than those around it. Colours. Darkish brown on the coloured side, yellowish white on the blind side. Dorsal, anal, and caudal fins with a white edging. Hab. Common in Madras. SYNAPTURA JERREUS, CUV. Jerre potoo, B. Russell, pl. 71. B. vi. D. 65-68. P. 10. V. 6. A. 56. C. 16. L. 1. 96. L.tr. 25/31. Length of specimens from 4 to Sy6^ inches. Length of head \ of the total length. Height of head \), of body 1 of the total lengtb. Eyes close together, the anterior third of the superior one being in front of the inferior one, whilst the distance from the end of the snout equals its diameter. Cleft of mouth narrow, twisted round to the left side. Nostrils on the coloured or right side tubular, but not so on the left. Teeth in jaws minute on the blind side. Fins. Dorsal commences opposite the anterior extremity of the upper orbit; it is continuous with the caudal, and also with the anal. Occasionally the first dorsal ray is thickened and prolonged. Pectoral short, close to the gill-opening, and of equal length on both sides, equal to about the diameter of the orbit. Scales strongly ctenoid. Lateral line passes direct from the posterior border of tbe opercle to the centre of the caudal. Colours. Of a greyish brown, with rich reddish-brown vertical bands, commencing at the summit of the dorsal and extending to the inferior margin of the anal fin-rays, on which they become nearly black. From ten to eleven exist on the body, and two pass down the head. Pectoral on the coloured side black. Caudal black, with some irregular white markings towards its side and extremity'. In |