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Show 514 SURGEON F. Dl** ON INDIAN FISHES. [Nov. 11, its external conformation in every respect shows it to be the mature S. lanceolatus, Bloch. Whilst mentioning this question of caecal appendages, I may observe that the following are the numbers which I have found existing in specimens in Madras during the last two years :- S. serillus, C. & V., and S. bontor, C. & V., from 50 to 60 ; 8. hexagonatus, 32; S. sonnerati, C. & V., 12 to 13; S. cyanostigmu-toides, Bleeker, 12. MESOPRION THERAPON, sp. nov. B. viii. D. 10/14. P.15. V. 1/5. A. 3/8. C. 18. L. 1.54. L. tr. 6/17. Length of head T 4 ;j-, of pectoral fin |, of caudal | of the total length. Height of head \, of body \ of the total length. Eyes. Diameter | of the length of head, 11 diameter from end of snout, 1 diameter apart. The posterior extremity of the maxilla extends to beneath the anterior margin of the orbit. Preopercle with a wide open notch, its vertical margin finely serrated. Teeth villiform, with a pair of canines on either side of the middle of the upper jaw, the external being very large ; an outer enlarged row in the lower jaw, the largest being posterior ; a triangular villiform patch on the vomer; and a band on the palate. Fins. Third dorsal spine the longest. Pectoral pointed. Third anal spine slightly the longest and strongest. Caudal lobed. Colours. In spirit, whitish, with six black horizontal bands from the head along the body, and six short, badly marked, vertical ones from the dorsal fin, the crossing of the two sets forming large white spots on the upper third of the body. A deep-black mark at the base of the caudal fin. A white band across the occiput, which is continued over the preopercle. Fins stained grey. One specimen, 6 inches long, from Ceylon, and a second, 9 inches long, from the Andamans. DIAGRAMM-A ALTA, sp. nov. B.vi. D. 14/16. V. 1/5. A. 3/7. C. 15. L.L 59. L. tr. 10/24. Length of head \, of pectoral -A-, of caudal \ of the total length. Height of head •§-, of body nearly k, of dorsal spines \, of dorsal rays above \, of anal spines \ of the total length. Eyes. Diameter \ of length of head, 1 diameter from end of snout, | of a diameter apart. Body elevated and strongly compressed. Preopercle serrated, most coarsely towards its angle. The posterior extremity of the maxilla extends to below the anterior third of the orbit. A few small pores exist under the mandible. Teeth villiform, withont canines. Fins. Dorsal spines strong, the third and fourth the longest, interspinous membrane rather deeply notched. Second anal spine much the longest and strongest. Caudal truncated. |
