THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 17 



and intcroperclos ontire. Two strong spines directed backwards at posterior superior angle of 

 orbit. 



Teeth — Villiforni, small, and equal. 



Fins — Dorsal spines strong, the second slightly the longest, and very minutely serrated on its 

 posterior margin, as is also that of the second dorsal : all the spines are transversely striated. Third 

 anal spine slightly longer, but not quite so strong as second, which is about five times as long as 

 the first. Ventral spine moderately strong and reaches only half way to base of anal. Fins shaped 

 as in the last species A. nalua. 



Scales — Scales not very deciduous. A row at the base of dorsal and anal rays. 



Lateral fine — Passes straight for eleven scales along the third row, is then interrupted and 

 continued along fifth row to the tail. No ccecal appendages. 



Colours — Back and summit of head greenish, minutely dotted with fine black points, fading to 

 silvery along the sides and abdomen, with a bright silvery line passing from opercle to centre of 

 tail. Cheeks silvery. Fins transparent with a yellowish tinge, blackish between second and third 

 dorsal spines, due to numerous fine dots. Caudal with a blackish margin. Iris silvery, upper half 

 blackish. 



Eaten by the Natives. Grows to four inches in length. Not uncommon. 



Habitat — Seas and estuaries of Malabar, Malaysia, China, the Celebes, Mauritius, and 

 Seychelles. 



Genus THERAPON,. Cuvier. 

 Pelates, Cuvier. 

 Datnia, Guv. & Val. 



Branchiostegals, sis : pseudobranekife. Eyes of moderate size. One dorsal with twelve, rarely thir- 

 teen, spines ; interspinous membrane more or less emarginate. Preopercle serrated. Opercle spiniferous. 

 Teeth villiform in both jaws, sometimes with an external conical series ; deciduous on vomer and palate. 

 Scales moderate. Air bladder divided by a contraction. Ccecal pylorica in moderate numbers. 



Therapon trivittatus. 



Keelputa, Bussell, pi. 126. 



Coius trivittatus, Ham. Buch. pp. 92, 370. 



Therapon puta, Cuv. & Val. iii. p. 131. 



Therapon trivittatus, Cantor, Catal. p. 19 ; Giinther, Catal. i. p. 280. 



Keetcha, Mai. 



B. vi. D. n iP- P- 13-15. \.\. A. g.V C. 17. L. 1. 95-100. L. tr. Jf . Ccec. pylor. 7. 



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

 length. Height of head ^, of body \, of dorsal spines J, of dorsal rays \, of ventral £, of anal ^ 



of total length. 



Ey es — Transversely oval, horizontal diameter J, vertical diameter \ of length of head, \ a 

 diameter apart, f of a diameter from end of snout. 



Maxilla extends to beneath the anterior margin of the orbit. Preorbital strongly denti- 

 culated, more especially at its posterior portion. Preopercle, with five strong spines on its 

 vertical limb, the middle of which is generally the largest, and the two inferior larger than the two 

 superior ones : lower limb with about ten comparatively fine denticulations. Sub- and inter- 



D 



