THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 13 



Fins — Dorsal spines not very strong, they occupy above half the length of the base of the 

 fin, interspinous membrane rather deeply notched. Third and fourth spines the longest, from these 

 they decrease to the ninth, whilst the last is slightly produced. Ventral spine weak. First anal 

 spine not quite half the height of second which is slightly the strongest, whilst the third is the 

 longest. 



Scales — None between or before the orbits, an arched very conspicuous double row over 

 the nape. Those on the body both above and below the lateral line pass horizontally, but opposite 

 the termination of the soft dorsal the rows become undulating in their course. 



Lateral line — Situated in upper fourth of body, parallel to the back. 



Colours — Back brownish red, with the base of each scale greyish brown or ash coloured. 

 Below the lateral line bright deep lake. Each scale rather darker at its base than at its margin. 

 Cheeks orange scarlet. Under surface of throat and chest scarlet, with a shade of orange. A 

 bright blue zig-zag line passes along either side of the snout over preorbital and suborbital ring of 

 bones. Dorsal, hard portion brownish grey : the soft orange scarlet. Anal, hard portion greyish : 

 the soft scarlet. Pectoral scarlet, deepest at its margin. Eye, bluish grey with a golden red 

 centre. In the young fish the colours are rather brighter, but they soon fade after death. 



Common, grows to a large size, and is excellent eating. 



Habitat — Seas of India. 



Mesoppjon fulviflamma. 



Sci^NA FULVIFLAMMA. Forskal, p. 45. 



Mesopeion fulviflamma, Cuv. & Vol. ii. p. 423 ; Giinther, Catal. i. p. 201. 



B. vii. D. t^j. P. 16. V. \. A. §. C. 17. L. 1. 43-50. L tr. T V Ca3c. pylor. 5. 



Length of head J, of pectoral \, of caudal £, of base of dorsal \, of base of anal \ of total 

 length. Height of head \, of body \, of hard dorsal \, of soft dorsal }, of ventrals j^-, of anal ] 

 of total length. 



Eyes— Horizontal diameter ^, and vertical diameter f of length of head, 1 diameter from end 

 of snout, J a diameter apart. 



Maxilla extends to beneath the centre of the orbit. Preorbital entire. Preopercle, vertical 

 limb indistinctly emarginate and finely serrated, angle rounded where the serratures are stronger, 

 lower Umb oblique and rather coarsely serrated. Sub- and interopercles entire ; no knob on the 

 latter. Two rather strong but blunt spines to opercle. 



Teeth — In jaws villiforrn, with an external larger row, and canines in each intermaxillary. 

 Villiform teeth on vomer and palate. 



Fins — First dorsal spine half the height of second, which is two-thirds that of the third which 

 is nearly equal with fourth and fifth, from thence they gradually decrease : they are moderately 

 strong, and the interspinous membrane is deeply notched. Second anal spine slightly longest and 

 strongest. Ventral pointed. Caudal truncated. 



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



Colours — Back yellowish olive and in some specimens rose colour, abdomen yellow with 

 oblique olivaceous lines passing upwards and backwards above the lateral line and longitudinal ones 

 below it. A black spot on lateral line from twenty-third to twenty-sixth transverse scales. Fins 

 yellowish. Dorsal tipped with black, pectoral ohve, last half of caudal stained blackish grey. 

 Eye golden. 



Habitat — Eed Sea, and Seas of India, Malaysia, China, and Seychelles. 



