88 MADRAS FISHERIES BLlLETlh VOL. XV, 



was 1 10 to 112 degrees. Giinther describes this angle as being a 

 right one, but I have not met with any where the rami were so 

 closely approximated. 



Preorbital bone. — Smooth and not scaled; serrated posteriorly, 

 and ventrally, and slightly bent. 



Maxilla. — The end of the maxilla is usually completely hidden 

 though in some cases it is just visible. Giinther states that this 

 bone is entirely hidden, while Day describes it as having " the 

 extremity visible." 



Pectoral fin : Rays. — 16 was the commonest number seen, but 15 

 rays were also quite common ; iy was reached in three cases, and 

 in one case 16 were present on one side, and 17 on the other. Day 

 gives 15 rays. 



Extent. — The extremity of the fin reaches as far as, 

 or slightly beyond, the anterior border of the first dorsal fin ; i.e., as 

 far as the nth to 13th scale of the lateral line; most commonly 

 it is the nth and rarely the 13th. This agrees with Giinther's 

 remarks. 



Axillary scale.- An elongated scale is present in 

 the axil of the fin ; it is always prominent. 



Lateral line series. — The usual number of scales in the lateral 

 line is 33 ; 34, and occasionally even 35, were also met with. 



Lateral transverse series. — There are II rows of scales on each 

 side ; but in two cases 12 were found on the right side and II on the 

 left; one specimen shewed 12 rows on each side. Giinther gives 

 12 as the number of rows, while Day records 10; Tuticorin speci- 

 mens therefore tend to agree more closely with Giinther's 

 description. 



Origin of the dorsal fins. — Most commonly, the first dorsal fin 

 begins above the nth scale in the lateral line series, and the 

 second above the 2 1st. Sometimes, when examined with particular 

 accuracy, the first dorsal may be said to originate in the vertical 

 between the 10th and nth or between the II th and I2th scales. 

 The origin of the second dorsal may vary a little and lie above 

 the 2lst to the 23rd scale. Giinther's description gives the Ilth 

 and 22nd and Day's the 10th and 20th as the scales of origin of 

 the two dorsal fins. 



Position of the anal fin. — One-third of the length of the base 

 of the anal fin is in advance of the origin of the second dorsal fin ; 

 in some cases, it may be very slightly more or less. 



