26 THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



Ventral spine rather weak, first ray prolonged. Second anal spine much the longest, and slightly 

 stronger than the third. Caudal moderately forked. 



Scales — In parallel rows above the lateral line, but passing upwards and backwards below it. 

 None on snout, pre- or infraorbital bones, but present on cheeks and between orbits. 



Lateral line — In upper fourth of body. 



Colours — Back of a dull reddish yellow, shot with greenish, the rest of the body orange, 

 brightest on the abdomen. A bght buff band passes over the back of the head and extends itself 

 over the opercle. The base of each scale on the body rather darker than its margin. Fins dusky 

 yellow. Iris yellow. 



Grows to eight inches in length. 



Habitat — Bed Sea, Seas of India aud China. 



Genus DENTEX, Owner. 



Branchiostegals, six : pseudobranckia?. Body compressed, oblong, rather elevated. Eyes moderate. 

 Cleft of mouth more or less horizontal, jaws nearly equal, usually with strong canines in each. One 

 dorsal from ten to thirteen spines, anal with three, caudal more or less forked. Preorbital and preopercle 

 entire, opercle without prominent spine. Scales moderate, ctenoid, more than three rows on preopercle. 

 Air bladder notched posteriorly. Pyloric appendages few. 



* Dentex HASTA. 

 Dentex hasta, Cuv. & Vol. vi. p. 255 ; Giintlier, Catal. i. p. 373. 



B. vi. D. J}. P. 15. V. i A|. C. 17. 



Height of body J of total length. Eyes large, central. Mouth slightly protractile. 



Teeth — Six strong canines in each jaw, those below weaker than those above, an external 

 series of large triangular and compressed teeth, with villiforni ones behind. 



Colours — Greenish brown on the back, becoming silvery on the abdomen. Ten to twelve 

 violet lines along the sides. Fins, blue, shot with violet. 



Grows to eight inches in length. 



Habitat — Malabar. 



Genus SYNAGEIS, Gunther. 



Dentex, sp. Cuvier. 



Branchiostegals, sis : pseudobranchise. Porm of body elongate : eyes moderate. Jaws nearly equal. 

 Mouth more or less horizontal. One continuous dorsal with teu feeble spines, anal with three. Caudal 

 deeply forked. Infraorbital arch entire : preopercle entire, or finely serrated. Opercle without prominent 

 spine. Canine teeth in upper jaw. Scales of moderate size, ctenoid, with three rows on preopercle. 

 Swimming bladder notched posteriorly. Pyloric appendages few. 



Synageis grammicus. Plate IV. 

 Synagris grammicus, Day, Proceed. Zool. Soc. 1865, p. 14. 

 B. vi. D. fg. P. 17. V. \. A. f . C. 17. L. 1. 48. L. tr. T %. 



