36 THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



Second dorsal* rounded. Anal longest in front. Caudal slightly produced in the centre, and 

 somewhat emarginate above and below. 



Scales Moderate in size, some over base of caudal and anal rays. 



Lateral line First ascends backwards to opposite eighth dorsal spine, from thence it curves 



downwards. 



C l ours Back and head greyish green, sides and abdomen silvery shot with pink. Fin 



membranes diaphanous, finely dotted with black, more especially in their marginal halves. The 

 rays pale yellow. Iris golden, with some fine black points. 



Not common. Eaten but not esteemed. Grows to six inches in length. 



Habitat— Seas of India, Malaysia and China. 



Genus DREPANE, Guv. and Val. 



Haepochieus, Cantor. 



Branchiostegals, sis : pseudobranchias. Body much compressed and elevated. Dorsal with eight or 

 nine spines receivable into a groove at its base, with a concealed spine anteriorly, and directed forwards. In- 

 terspinous membrane deeply notched. Anal with three spines. Pectoral elongated, falciform. Preopercle 

 spineless. No teeth on palate. Scales of moderate size. Air bladder prolonged into two horns pos- 

 teriorly. Pyloric appendages few. 



Drepane punctata. 



Ch^todon punctatus, Linn. Gmel. p. 1243. 



Latte-Terla, A. & B. Russell, pi. 79, 80, 81. 



Drepane punctata, Guv. & Val. vii. p. 132. pi. 179; Giinther, Catal. ii. p. 62. 



Drepane longimana, Guv. & Val. vii. p. 133. 



Harpochirus punctatus, Cantor, Catal. p. 162. 



Harpochirus longimanus, Cantor, Catal. p. 163. 



Piindthee, Mai, 



b. vi. d. ^:fi. p. 17. v. i a. t^ts- c - 15 - L - L 50 - L - tr - M- Coecal py lor - 2 " 3 - 



Length of head \, of pectoral rather more than \, of base of dorsal J, of base of anal \ of total 

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



total length. 



Eyes— Close to profile, diameter § length of head, § of a diameter apart, 1 from end of snout. 



The profile rises abruptly from snout to commencement of dorsal fin, whilst that of the 

 abdomen is nearly straight. The maxilla extends backwards to opposite the anterior margin of 

 the orbit, mouth small. Intermaxillaries protrusible. Preorbital very broad, entire. Preopercle 

 long and narrow, its horizontal limb is denticulated, and only one-third the length of the vertical 

 one which is entire. Sub- and interopercles entire. 



Teeth — Villiform in jaws, none on palate. 



Fins — Dorsal spines strong, compressed, pointed, their base equals one-third of that of the 

 entire fin, having a groove into which they can be partially received : the third spine the longest : 

 interspinous membrane deeply notched : the rays longer than the spines. Pectoral falciform, 



