THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 35 



dorsal yellowish with slight brown markings lief ween the rays, the soft portion of the anal being 

 similarly coloured. Pectorals and veutrals yellowish. Eyes golden. 



The colours depend on the season of the year in which captured, and whether taken in 

 fresh or salt water. In the monsoon time the back becomes greenish, and the purple colour is 

 deeper. 



Common, grows to one foot in length. Owing to its being reputed to be a very foul feeder, 

 only the lowest classes will eat it. Bennett states that in Ceylon it is caught on hooks baited 

 with seaweed " Pendah," of which it is particularly fond. 



Habitat — East Indian and Chinese seas, entering the mouths of rivers and backwaters. 



Genus EPHIPPUS, Cuvier. 

 Ilarches, Cantor. 



Branchiostegals, six : pseudobrancliite. Body much compressed and elevated. Dorsal with eight or 

 nine spines, receivable into a groove at its base, the third aud sometimes more, are elongated and flexible ; 

 interspinous membrane deeply notched. Three anal spines. Pectoral short. Snout short, upper profile 

 parabolic. Preopercle without a spine. No teeth on palate. Scales moderate or small. Air bladder 

 bifurcated in front, with two horns posteriorly. 



Ephippus orbis. 



Ch^etodon orbis, Block, t. 202, f. 2. 



Ephippus orbis, Cuv. & Vol. vii. p. 127 ; Giintlier, Catal. ii. p. 62. 



Ilarches orbis, Cantor, Catal. p. 160. 



B. vi. D. 8 | T V P. 19. V. \. A. T %. C. 19. L. r. 35. L. tr. X 7 S . 



Length of head \, of pectoral \, of base of dorsals nearly -|-, of base of anal \, of caudal \ of 

 total length. Height of head f , of body nearly \, of first dorsal \, of second dorsal \, of ventral 

 \, of anal \ of total length. 



Eyes — Diameter -|- length of head, 1 diameter from end of snout, nearly 1 diameter apart. 



The upper profile is much elevated, rising abruptly from the snout to the first dorsal fin : the 

 abdominal contour is much less convex. The maxilla extends to opposite anterior margin of orbit. 

 Preopercle narrow, finely denticulated on its vertical linib and at its angle. Sub- and interopercles 

 entire. Opercle half as wide as long, ending in two obtuse points, connected by a shallow emnr- 

 gination. 



Teeth — Vilhform in jaws, none on palate. 



Fins — Dorsal spines moderately strong at their bases; interspinous membrane of first fin deeply 

 emarginated, but not that between spine of second fin and soft rays. The spines of the first dorsal 

 can be received into a groove at their base, which is slightly more than two-thirds of the extent 

 of that of the second dorsal. The third, fourth and fifth spines are elongated and filiform at their 

 extremities, especially the third spine. The anterior rays of the second dorsal are the longest. 

 Ventral spine weak but rather long, first ray elongated. Anal opposite soft dorsal, second spine 

 the longest and strongest, equal to the seventh dorsal in length, the spines can be received into 

 a groove at their base anterior rays the longest. Pectoral short rounded. Ventral pointed. 



f 2 



