30 THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



Eyes — Situated close to profile, diameter f of length of head, f of a diameter apart, rather 

 more than 1 diameter from end of snout. 



Maxilla extends to beneath the anterior third of orbit. Preopercle furrowed but entire. Sub- 

 and interopercles entire. Opercle ending in a spine. Suprascapular furrowed. Preorbital entire, 

 more than twice as long as high, with its lower margin nearly horizontal, and in large specimens 

 considerably notched to receive the superior extremity of the maxilla. There is a slight protu- 

 berance above the anterior superior angle of the orbit. Five facets exist on the inferior surface of 

 the lower jaw. 



Teeth — Six sharp curved teeth in the front of both jaws, with numerous molars posterior to 

 them, above in four or five series, below in three or four rows. 



Fins — Dorsal spines moderately strong, compressed, broader on one side, fourth spine the 

 longest ; interspinous membrane deeply notched. Ventral spine weak, equal to fourth dorsal, first ray 

 prolonged, an elongated scale at the base of the fin. Second anal spine much the strongest, and 

 above three times the length of the first, and one-seventh longer than the third. Pectoral pointed, 

 extending on the body to opposite second anal spine, but if the fin is deflected it only reaches to 

 commencement of anal. The distances between the terminations of the dorsal and anal fins to the 

 commencement of the caudal are the same, and equal to the length of the base of the anal. 



Scales — Moderate extending as far as the orbits, and over the cheeks : on the body they 

 pass in horizontal rows, and some cover the base of the caudal. 



Lateral line — In upper third of body, very slightly curved, and in single tubes. 



Colours — Silvery, with a greenish shade along the back. Each scale with its base darker 

 than its margin. Abdomen, silvery with indistinct horizontal golden lines. Dorsal, caudal and 

 anal, greyish tipped with black. 



Not common in Malabar ; good eating, grows to ten inches in length. 



Habitat — Seas and estuaries of India, China and Japan. 



Chrysophrys calamara. 



Calamara, Russell, pi. 92. 



Chrysophrys calamara, Guv. & Val. vi. p. 117; Cantor, Catal. p. 48; Giinther, 



Catal. i. p. 493. 

 Aree, Mai. 



B. vi. D. lj. P. 15. V. l. C. 17. L. 1. 45. L. tr. fV 



Length of head \, of pectoral ■£%, of caudal -^w, of base of dorsal \, of base of anal T 2 g of total 

 length. Height of head \, of body ^, of hard dorsal y 2 3 , of soft dorsal \, of ventral \, of anal T 2 3 

 of total length. 



Eyes — Close to profile, diameter \ of length of head, \\ diameter from end of snout, 1 diameter 

 apart. 



The profile rises very considerably from snout to base of dorsal, the mouth being opposite 

 the central ray of pectoral, and in the lower fourth of the body. Upper jaw protrusible. The 

 maxilla extends to beneath the anterior third of orbit. There is no enlargement, or else a 

 very slight one, of the anterior margin of the orbit. Pre- sub- and interopercles entire : coracoid 

 furrowed. Opercle with a small, but rather sharp spine. Preorbital entire, about twice as broad 

 as high, its lower margin horizontal. 



Teeth — Six conical ones in the anterior portion of each jaw, with four rows of molars in 

 the posterior portion of the lower, and five in the same part of the upper jaw. 



