NO. 3 (1922) GREY MULLETS OF TUTICORIN 97 



The least depth of the tail is equal to the length of the post- 

 orbital part of the head, i.e., rather more than V 2 the total length of 

 the head. 



The length of the pectoral fin is nearly equal to the length of 

 the head, viz., from the posterior border of the head to halfway 

 along the snout. 



The first spine of the first dorsal fin is the same length as the 

 postorbital part of the head. 



The third spine of the anal fin is about ^3, or somewhat more, 

 of the length of the head. 



Colour. — The living fish shews the following colour charac- 

 ters : The upper half of the pectoral fin is black, and the lower 

 half grey to pale ; the first dorsal fin is mostly black, with a paler 

 base ; the second dorsal fin has a yellow coloured base, the rest 

 being black'; the caudal fin is yellow with a dark edge; the anal 

 fin and the pelvic fin are orange coloured with black tips. The 

 dark lines along the scales are prominent in the adult, but less 

 marked in the young. Preserved specimens lose most of their 

 colour except the black. 



