8 THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



decrease. Ventral spine moderately strong. First anal spine rather strong, half as long as second, 

 which is very strong and slightly longer than the third, which is also weaker. Pectoral triangidar, 

 pointed. Caudal slightly emarginate. Soft portions of dorsal and anal rounded. Ventral pointed, 

 first soft ray prolonged. 



Scales — Above lateral line pass backwards and upwards, below it in horizontal parallel rows. 



Lateral line — In upper quarter of body. 



Colours — Back above the lateral line olive, with a bluish slate coloured spot in the centre of 

 each scale, thus forming lines passing backwards and upwards. Abdomen greyish slate colour, 

 with horizontal golden lines along the centre of each scale, and vertical dark ones passing along 

 their bases, several beautiful blue lines pass downwards and backwards over the preopercle and 

 are continued on to the opercle : two larger ones run horizontally along the preorbital and 

 suborbital bones. A large white finger mark on the lateral line opposite the third, fourth, and 

 fifth soft dorsal rays having a wide anterior black margin, and also a posterior superior one of the 

 same colour. The white mark covers four scales transversely, and is one scale below and three above 

 the lateral line ; the anterior black margin is from three to four scales transversely, but posteriorly 

 it only covers two. Dorsal fin slate coloured with the superior margin of the interspinous membrane 

 orange red, membrane between the rays reddish, its external border pink with a narrow white 

 margin. Pectoral with a reddish tinge. Ventral slate coloured with darkish margin. Caudal 

 slate coloured tipped with red. Anal with some white spots, and the first portion of the soft rays 

 edged with white. Eye golden, with a brownish red margin to the pupil. After death the colours 

 fade, and it appears olivaceous with a large white finger mark edged with black on the side. 



Grows to at least two feet in length. 



Habitat — Seas of India and Malaysia. 



Genyoroge notata. 

 Antika doondiawah, Russell, pi. 98. 

 Diacope notata, Guv. & Vol. ii. p. 422. 



Genyoroge notata, Cantor, Catal. p. 12 ; Giinther, Catal. i. p. 181. 

 Vella chembolay, Mai. 



B. vii. D. W. P. 15-16. V. I. A. ft. C. 19. L. 1. 52. L. fcr. 



s 



j 4 . A . J.U-.LU. » . g. .□.. g. \J. -LC. ±J. 1. UU, iJ. VL. J 4 . 



Length of head \, of pectoral \, of caudal f^, of base of dorsal |, of base of anal \ of total 

 length. Height of head \, of body \, of hard dorsal ^, of soft dorsal \, of ventral J, of anal ^ of 

 total length. 



Eyes — Transversely oval, horizontal diameter A, and vertical diameter \ of length of head, \ a 

 transverse diameter apart, slightly more than 1 diameter from end of snout. 



Maxilla extends backwards as far as anterior margin of the orbit : openings of nostrils in front 

 of upper third of orbit. Preorbital with an irregular lower margin. Preopercle, vertical limb 

 finely serrated, even in its deep notch for the reception of the tuberosity of the interopercle, and 

 which is situated close to where it makes its inferior curve ; angle rounded, inferior limb horizontal, 

 convex, serrated but not so finely as its vertical Hmb. Sub- and interopercles entire, the latter 

 with a large triangular tuberosity directed upwards and outwards, and received into the 

 preopercular notch. Opercle with a small point, nearly concealed. 



Teeth — A single external row of teeth in both jaws about three times the size of the three or 

 four internal ones, which are villiform : two large canines hi each intermaxillary. Teeth vilhform 

 on vomer and palate. 



