18 THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



opercles entire. Opercle with two spines, the inferior the longest and strongest, and about equal 

 to the largest of those of the preopercle. 



Teeth Villiform in the jaws, with an external slightly larger row. Vomer without teeth, 



except in the very young. 



Fins Dorsal spines rather slender, the fourth and fifth equal and the longest, from whence 



they decrease to the last but one, the last being a little higher. Ventral spine slender, first soft ray 

 elongated. Second anal spine twice the length of the first, and the strongest, but a little shorter 

 than the third : spinous portion, exclusive of the last spine, forming a long triangle. Pectoral 

 rounded. Ventral pointed. Caudal emarginate. 



S ca l es — None on summit of head, opercle scaled. 



Lateral fine — Follows the curve of the back in its upper fourth in rather an irregular course. 



Colours — Back dark grey with a greenish tinge, becoming much lighter towards the abdomen, 

 which is dirty white. Three longitudinal brownish black bands, the inferior passing direct from 

 the eye, between the two spines of opercle to the centre of caudal : the superior from the back of 

 the head to the. commencement of soft dorsal, and continued along the last spine and the summit 

 of the first five rays ; the middle band begins at the posterior superior angle of the orbit, and passes 

 direct to the soft dorsal, where it is continued on to its seventh and eighth rays. A black mark 

 extends on the margin of the dorsal interspinous membrane from the third to seventh spines. 

 Two oblique bands pass across the upper half of caudal, and one — sometimes two — across its lower 

 lobe. Posterior half of anal, and anterior half of ventral, dull yellow. Iris golden. Pupil broad, 

 lanceolate, apex in front. 



None of the Therapons are esteemed as food. This species is common, and grows to eight 

 inches in length. 



Habitat — Seas and estuaries of India, Ceylon and Malaysia. 



Theeapon seevus. 



Therapon seevus, Cuv. & Vol. iii. p, 125, vii. p. 479 ; Giinther, Catal. i. p. 278. 



B. vi. D. 10-11 | jL. P. 13. V. 1 A. f. C. 17. L. 1. 82. L. tr. if. Vert. f°. 



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

 length. Height of head \, of body f , of first dorsal T 2 g, of second dorsal -J-, of ventral J , of anal 

 jJj- of total length. 



Eyes — Transversely oval, horizontal diameter f , vertical § of length of head, ^ a diameter 

 apart, 1 diameter from end of snout. 



Maxilla extends backwards to opposite anterior third of orbit. Preorbital moderately serrated 

 in the posterior half of its lower margin. Preopercle, vertical linib with about fourteen denticu- 

 lations, the two at its rounded angle being very much the strongest, in the lower limb they are less 

 strong and number about eight. In young specimens there are sometimes three conspicuously larger 

 teeth at the angle, and the comparative size of the denticulations on the lower limb is greater. 

 Sub- and interopercles entire. Opercle with two spines, the superior small, the inferior large, long 

 and strong. Suprascapular and coracoid bones toothed. 



Teeth — Several rows of villiform in both jaws, with an external conical band. A transverse 

 narrow band of fine teeth on vomer. 



Fins — Dorsal spines moderately strong, third and fourth equal and the longest. Ventral spine 

 weak. Second anal spine the strongest, nearly twice as long as the first, and slightly shorter than 

 the third. Fins as in the last species. 



