82 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN VOL. XV, 



Origin oj the dorsal fins. — The first dorsal fin very consistently 

 originates above 13th scale of the lateral line, only one exception 

 was found in which there was a variation, and here the fin origi- 

 nated above the 14th scale. The origin of the second dorsal fin 

 is variable, viz., from the 25th to the 27th scale. 



In this particular, I find the Tuticorin specimens in close agree- 

 ment with Day's description, but Giinther's figures are distinctly 

 short, being 10 — II and 22—23 for the origins of the two fins 

 respectively. 



Position of the anal fin. — The anal fin is only very slightly in 

 advance of the second dorsal. 



Proportions. — The total length of the body is 4^- to 5 times 

 '"he length of the head. 



The length of the head is 4% to 5 times the diameter of the 

 eye. 



The snout is a little shorter than the diameter of the eye. 

 The height of the body is somewhat less than the length of 

 the head. 



The least depth of the tail is less than % the length of the 

 head, and about % the length of the postorbital part of the head. 



The length of the pectoral fin is a little short of the length of 

 the head, not including the snout. 



The first spine of the first dorsal fin is about % the length of 

 the head, or a little short of the length of the postorbital part of the 

 head. 



The third anal spine is less than Ys the length of the head. 

 Colour. — There are no striking peculiarities in colour beyond 

 the very prominent dark blue splash across the base of the 

 pectoral fin. 



MUGIL PLANICEPS Chv. & Val. and Giinther. 



M. dussumieri, Day. 

 D. 4 J 1/8, A. 3/9. L. 1. 31. L. tr. IO-II. 

 This species must be jegarded as one of the commonest of the 

 mullets in Tuticorin, and one of importance as a food fish, since it 

 is commonly 16 cm. to 20 cm. in length. The features which 

 characterize this species as compared with others in Tuticorin 

 waters are few; indeed it would perhaps be safer to say that it 

 is the absence of very definite general characters which makes the 

 species readily distinguishable. There is very little by which to 

 distinguish M. planiceps from M. jerdbni \ in fact from superficial 



