No. 5 (1921) 



MADRAS AQUARIUM 



73 



Liitiaiius scbae (Tarn. Koudankaraikiu). It is common in the vicinity 

 of Madras, but is never seen at Tuticorin. When first brought in 

 from the sea its colour is magnificent — broad crimson bands 

 crossing the body upon a snowy white ground. After a time the 

 crimson fades to a deep rose, still most lovely in its contrast with 

 the white. When excited and also during feeding time, the white 

 ground colour assumes a rosy tinge. Young specimens are 

 generally attacked by the larger ones when put together in the 

 same tank. Another species, Lutiauus aiuiularis (Tam- Kattupirioii), 





Vie. 10. — I!an(lcd Schnapp'jr { f.iilia it iis setae). X 



is usually to be seen in this tank, its forehead marked by a 

 longitudinal dark band with other bands on the body. Ai 

 Tuticorin these body bands do not appear. Other species of this 

 genus are often present in tanks Nos. 6 and Q. 



Other noteworthy fishes here are the Spinctails, usually so 

 much flattened in form and expressionless in features as to give 

 an impression of artificiality — cardboard fishes ready to paste upon 

 a screen as a decoration. They are easily recognized by the 

 presence of a remarkable and powerful spine on each side of the 

 fleshy part of the tail. Each spine has a sharp cutting edge and 

 when erected — it lies when quiescent in a groove — serves as an 

 efficient weapon of defence. Several species are shown. Acan 

 thunis liiieatus (Tam. Varikkoahimin) is pale blue with yellow lines 

 3 



