96 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN VOL. XV, 



A detailed examination reveals the following features : — 

 Adipose lids.— Absent. 



Interorbital space. — Distinctly flattened ; its width is 2 to 2^ 

 times the diameter of the eye. 



Uncovered chin space. — This is rather variable in form, always 

 rounded anteriorly, but posteriorly may be comparatively wide or 

 of medium width, and sometimes even narrow. 



Mandibular angle. — The angle between the two rami of the 

 lower jaw is comparatively acute, measuring 103 to 105 degrees. 



Preorbital bone. — Scaled; serrated posteriorly and ventrally ; 

 not strongly bent. 



Maxilla. — The end of the maxilla is exposed. 



Pectoral fin : Rays. — The number of rays in the pectoral fin is 

 16 or 17, more frequently the latter. 



Extent. — It reaches as far as the 7th or 8th scale of 

 the lateral line, i.e., as far as, or only a little short of, the origin 

 of the first dorsal fin. 



Axillary scale. — -No elongated scale is present in 

 the axil of the pectoral fin. 



Lateral line series. — The scales in the lateral line series 

 almost invariably number 26. 



Lateral transverse series. — No exception has been found to 

 nine complete rows of scales on each side of the body. Between 

 the two dorsal fins is an additional short series. 



Origin of the dorsal fins. —The first dorsal fin originates above 

 the 8th scale, and the second dorsal above the 17th scale of the 

 lateral line ; for the latter, the 18th has been occasionally noted. 



Position of the anal fin. — One-half or slightly more of the base 

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

 Day describes the advance of the anal as only y$. 



Proportions. — The total length of the body is 4% to 4% times 

 the length of the head. 



The length of the head is 3% to 4 times the diameter of the 

 eye. Day places the proportion at over 4 times. 



The length of the snout is % to once the diameter of the eye. 



The length of the head, the height of the body and the length 

 of the caudal fin are about the same, but the first is usually a 

 trifle greater than the others. 



