THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 41 



Not uncommon in Malabar, whero it arrives about tho commencement of the monsoon. From 

 one, 21 specimens of tho Athcrina Forskulii were taken, so gorged was it, — its entire length being 

 only 11^ inches, — that the tail of ono was protruding from its mouth. Not esteemed for eating. 

 Length from eleven to twelve inches. 



Habitat. — Red Sea, and seas of India. 



Genus TETRAROGE. 

 Apistus, sp. Cuv. & Vol. 



Branchiostegals, from five to seven : pseudobranchise. Head and body compressed, naked or with 

 rudimentary scales. One dorsal with from seven to seventeen spines : no pectoral appendage. Preorbital 

 and preopercle armed. Teeth in jaws, vomer, and generally on the palatines. No cleft behind the fourth 

 gill. Air bladder present. Pyloric appendages few. 



* Tetraroge Belengerii. 

 Apistus Belengerii, Cuv. & Vol. iv. p. 412. 



D. L2. R 13. v. i. A. f. C. 11. 



Body elevated in the centre where its height equals one-third of its length. Profile oblique, 

 the mouth descending posteriorly. Preorbital spine hardly extends as far as the centre of the 

 orbit, with a small one in front of its base. Preopercular spine nearly equals that of preorbital, and 

 is directed backwards ; two very short ones exist on the lower limb. Opercle ends in three points. 



Fins — The first dorsal spine arises opposite the posterior border of the orbit, and is nearly 

 as high as the second. The interspinous membrane beyond the fifth spine is deeply cleft. Between 

 the last dorsal ray and the caudal there is an interval. Caudal cut square, and is comprised four 

 and a-half times in the total length. Pectorals slightly longer, ventrals rather less. 



Scales — Very small. 



Lateral fine — Parallel with the back, and marked by elevations which appear like little points 

 lying in the mucus. 



Colours — Grey, finely dotted with brown, except the chest and abdomen, which are whitish. 

 The fins are the same colour as the body, and there is a black spot on the dorsal from the fifth to 

 the eighth spine. 



Grows to two and a quarter inches in length. 



Habitat — Mahe in Malabar. 



Genus PROSOPODASYS, Cantor. 



Apistus, sp. Cuv. & Vol. 

 Prosopodasys, Cantor. 



Branchiostegals, five to seven : pseudobranchiffi. Head and body more or less compressed, naked, or 

 with minute rudimentary scales. Three anterior dorsal spines divided from the others by a deep notch. 



