THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 19 



Scales — Smaller above than below the lateral line, which follows the curve of back in its 

 upper fourth. 



Colours — Back bluish grey, becoming silvery white on the abdomen ; a tinge of gold along 

 cheeks and snout. On the body three longitudinal dark reddish brown lines, which have a slight 

 convexity downwards. In a fresh state a fourth lino is occasionally perceived along the abdomen. 

 The superior commences a little in front of first dorsal, curving downwards it passes in a concave 

 direction to between the eighth and ninth dorsal spines. The second passes from the occiput, first 

 downwards as low as the lateral line, subsequently curving upwards it reaches the back at the end 

 of the soft dorsal. The third commencing at the back of the head, passes as low as the inferior 

 spine of opercle, and is continued in a curved direction to the centre of caudal. Pectoral trans- 

 parent. Ventral and anal with a yellow tinge along their centres. Dorsal, hard portion milk- 

 white, with a very black mark in the upper two-thirds of the interspinous membrane between its 

 third and sixth spines. A second black mai'k commences at the eighth spine, and is continued 

 along the whole length of the base of the soft dorsal. Upper margin of first three rays tipped with 

 black. Caudal with two oblique bands across both lobes. Eye yellowish red. 



Common, not esteemed, grows to twelve or thirteen inches in length. 



Habitat — Seas and estuaries of India and Ceylon, Red Sea, East Coast of Africa, and North 

 Coast of Australia. 



Theeapon theraps. 



Theeapon theraps, Cuv. & Val. iii. p. 129, pi. 53; Giinther, Catal. i. p. 274. 



B. vi. D. l§. P. 15. V. l. A. f. C. 17. L. 1. 50-55. L. tr. \%. Vert. \%. 



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 hard dorsal \, of soft dorsal ^ 0> of ventral ^, of anal ^ of 

 total length. 



Eyes — Diameter ^ length of head, f of a diameter apart, the same distance from end of snout. 



Maxilla extends to beneath the anterior margin of the orbit. Preorbital very finely serrated, 

 and lineated. Preopercle, vertical limb finely and evenly serrated, its angle rounded where the 

 serratures are larger, along the lower linib they decrease in. size. Sub- and interopercles entire. 

 Opercle with two spines, the lowest much the largest, but not nearly so great as in the T. servus. 

 Suprascapular serrated, also the lower portion of the coracoid bone. 



Teeth— Several rows of villiform, and an external series of fine even conical ones. Bands 

 of deciduous villiform teeth on vomer and palate. 



Fins — Dorsal spines moderately strong, the fourth slightly the longest. Ventral spine pretty 

 stout, first ray prolonged. Second anal spine the strongest, nearly twice as long as the first, but 

 rather shorter than the third. Pectoral and ventral rather pointed ; caudal emarginate. 



Scales — None between or before the orbits, cheeks scaled, those above lateral line smaller than 

 those below it. 



Lateral line — In upper fourth of body. 



Colours — Silvery, with a deep purple gloss along the back, and golden along the abdomen. 

 Three horizontal dark brown lines pass along the sides, the first from the second to the last dorsal 

 spine, the second from the nape to the second and third soft dorsal rays, on to which fin it is con- 

 tinued ; the third line from opposite the eye to the upper third of the tail. Nape of an intense 

 purple. Dorsal with a jet black mark on the upper two-thirds of the fin membrane between the 

 third and sixth spines. Soft dorsal, upper portion barred with brown, and a brown bar between 



D 2 



