1G THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



B.vi. D. 7lT-oJ.Tr. P. 15. V.J. A. ^. L. L SO. L. tr. fV 



Length of head J, of pectoral § , of caudal \, of base of dorsals \, of base of anal Jj of total 

 length. Height of head §, of body f , of first dorsal §, of second dorsal \, of ventral \, of anal \ 

 of total length. 



Eyes — Diameter \ length of head, f of a diameter from end of snout, rather more than \ a 



diameter apart. 



Maxilla extends to beneath the anterior third of orbit. Nostrils comparatively large. 

 Preorbital with strong denticulations passing downwards and slightly backwards, and being 

 largest posteriorly. Preopercle, vertical limb finely denticulated, inferior limb with its double 

 edge denticulated, the posterior teething the coarsest, with the exception of one large tooth 

 at the anterior angle. Inferior margin of interopercle strongly denticulated} thus with the 

 double denticulated edge of the preopercle there are three parallel lines of teeth in this species. 

 Subopercle entire. One sharp spine directed backwards at posterior superior angle of orbit, and 

 two or three more along its posterior edge, separated from the first by a notch. 



Teeth — Villiform, small, equal, on jaws, vomer, and palatines. 



Fins — Dorsal spines moderately strong, curved slightly upwards in their external third ; the 

 second anal spine is also curved slightly forwards. Second spine of first dorsal very slightly the 

 longest, its last spine half the length of that of the second dorsal. Ventral spine comparatively 

 long, and reaches close to the first anal spine, whilst its soft rays extend as far as the third anal 

 spine. First anal spine one-third the length of the second and third, which are equal, the second 

 being slightly the strongest. First dorsal triangular. Pectoral rather pointed, and reaching as far 

 as third or fourth anal ray. Ventral triangular. Caudal deeply forked. 



Scales — Hardly deciduous. Lateral line convex to opposite termination of second dorsal, 

 where it becomes horizontal. 



Colours — Back greyish green with minute brown points, abdomen silvery, with a silver lon- 

 gitudinal band, and having pinkish reflections ; opercles silvery, fins greyish, first and second spine 

 of first dorsal with a blackish anterior margin : fine grey points on fin membrane more especially 

 between second and third spines. Caudal minutely spotted. Eye silvery. 



Does not appear to exceed five inches in length. 



Habitat — Eivers and estuaries of Malabar, Bengal and Malaysia. 



Ambassis Dussumieei. 

 Ambassis Dussumieei, Guv. & Veil ii. p. 181, vi. p. 503, ix. p. 431 ; Giinther, i. p. 225. 

 Chanda Dussumieei, Cantor, Catal. p. 6. 



B. vi. D. 7 | g.Vo- p - 15 - v - i- A - 9-to- c - 17 - L - L 27 - L - tr - 1- 



Length of head \, of pectoral J, of caudal \, of base of dorsals, f , of base of anal \ of total 

 .length. Height of head \, of body \, of first dorsal J, of second dorsal J, of ventral \, of anal \ of 

 total length. 



Eyes — Diameter not quite \ of length of head, J a diameter from end of snout, and the same 

 distance apart. 



Maxilla extends to beneath the anterior margin of orbit, its extremity being pointed. 

 Nostrils rather large. Preorbital with six strong denticulations directed downwards and 

 a little backwards on its anterior margin, whilst its posterior edge next to the orbit is also 

 serrated. Preopercle, vertical lirnb entire, inferior limb with a double denticulated edge, the 

 anterior having the largest teeth, the posterior one of which is large and triangular. Sub- 



