THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 25 



Lateral line — First slightly descends, then ascends and follows the curve of the back. 



"Air vessel very large, about one-third of the total length, silvery white, and of a lanceol 

 shape. It is excessively thin and so firmly adherent to tho back, that but a small portion can 

 be removed." (Cantor.) The quality of the isinglass made from it is good, but the quantity small. 



Colours — The young are more or less of a brassy brown colour, blotched with darker markings, 

 and having the extremity of the caudal dirty white. The adult is of a slate colour, blotched with 

 a darker tinge. Pectorals yellowish white. The other fins slate colour, darkest at their margins 

 except the caudal, the extremity of which, in specimens up to thirteen inches, is of a dirty white. 

 Iris bluish silvery. 



Very good eating, are dried in some places, and good isinglass is obtained from them in small 

 quantities. They grow to two and a half feet in length. Small ones are common. 



Habitat — Seas of India, Malaysia, and China, also the Atlantic Coasts of America from New 

 York to Surinam. 



Genus SCOLOPSIS, Owner. 



Brauchiostegals five : pseudobranchias. Form of body oblong. Eyes large. Snout moderate, jaws 

 equal, cleft of mouth horizontal. One dorsal with ten, anal with three spines : caudal more or less forked. 

 Infraorbital arch with a spine directed backwards. Preopercle mostly denticulated. Opercle with an 

 indistinct spine. Scales moderately ctenoid. Air bladder simple. Pyloric appendages few. 



SCOLOPSIS JAPONICUS. 



Anthias japonicus, Block, t. 325, f. 2. 

 KuRiTE, Russell, pi. 106. 

 Scolopsis kate, Cuv. & Vol. v. p. 329. 

 Scolopsis Euppelii, Cuv. & Vol. v. p. 332. 

 Scolopsis kueite, Cuv. & Vol. v. p. 331. 

 Scolopsis japonicus, Giinther, Catal. i. p. 354. 



B. vi. D. L°. P. 15. V. l A. f . C. 17. L. 1. 44. L. tr. fV 



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

 length. Height of head f , of body J, of hard dorsal ^, of soft dorsal \, of ventral |, of anal \ of 

 total length. 



Eyes — Transversely oval, horizontal diameter ^, vertical diameter \ of length of head, J a 

 diameter from end of snout, and the same distance apart. 



Maxilla extends to beneath the anterior fourth of orbit. Infraorbital ring with two prominent 

 spines, the posterior largest and directed backwards, the anterior elevated and directed forwards, 

 the plate serrated below. Preopercle sbghtly emarginate, denticulated, with the strongest teeth at 

 its angle ; lower bmb, horizontal, entire. Sub- and interopercles entire. Opercle with a blunt 

 point. Shoulder bones entire. 



Teeth — In jaws in villiform bands. 



Fins — Dorsal spines moderately strong, the spinous portion upwards of half the length of the 

 fin, interspinous membrane moderately notched. Fourth and fifth spines sbghtly the longest. 



E 



