48 THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



Upper jaw the longest, and in front forming a semicircle, the maxilla extends nearly half as far 

 as the anterior margin of orbit. Mouth small, upper jaw moderately protrusible. A large pore 

 under symphysis of lower jaw. Interorbital space flat or slightly convex, covered with small scales, 

 which do not extend over snout. Nostrils approximating and near to anterior superior angle of 

 orbit. Posterior limb of preopercle vertical, and only half as long as the inferior horizontal lirnb 

 which is covered by a row of large scales, angle rounded, its upper half crenated. Opercle with 

 a short sharp spine. Shoulder bones unarmed. 



Teeth — Villiform and numerous in both upper and lower jaws, and vomer, where they form a 

 crescentic band. 



Fi ns — Ventrals attached a little further back than the pectorals ; first dorsal arises opposite 

 centre of pectoral : anal opposite second ray of second dorsal. Spines of first dorsal weak, the first 

 three about equal in length, and one third longer than the fourth, from thence they gradually 

 decrease : interspinous membrane slightly emarginate. The first soft ray in second dorsal equals 

 the fourth spine of the first dorsal, from this they gradually decrease. Ventral spine weak, first ray 

 prolonged. Pectoral rounded. Caudal slightly crescentic. 



Scales — Rough on their free border, their longest diameter from above downwards, equal to 

 about twice their transverse length. They are placed in oblique rows on the body. Anteriorly 

 they extend to between the orbits, and cover the suborbital ring, and pieces of opercle. Each 

 spine in the fins has a very fine row of scales behind it, some exist on the pectoral fin, and over 

 the base of the caudal. 



Lateral line — First curves slightly upwards to upper fourth of body, then descends and when 

 opposite the middle of the second dorsal is below the centre of the body, and is continued on to 

 the caudal fin. The scales forming the lateral line are smaller than those above or below. The tube 

 is single and elevated. 



Colours — Greyish, lighter below than above, and with pinkish reflections, a silvery longitu- 

 dinal stripe below lateral line : very minute black points on membranes of dorsal and anal fins. 

 Pectoral, ventral and anal with a tinge of yellow. Iris pale golden. 



This fish, which is known to Europeans under the name of " Whiting," is excellent eating ; 

 it arrives in Malabar about January, and is never salted. It is said to grow to three feet in length. 



Habitat — From the Red Sea, through the seas of India, Malaysia and China. 



Genus UMBEINA, Cm. 



Branchiostegals, seven : pseudobranchiae. Body oblong, upper jaw overlapping lower, a short barbel 

 under symphysis of inferior jaw. Two dorsals, the first with nine or ten flexible spines, soft dorsal more 

 developed than spinous oue. Anal with one or two spines. Ventrals thoracic, with one spine and five rays. 

 Opercle unarmed, or feebly so. Teeth on jaws in villiform bands with sometimes conical ones intermixed, 

 none on palate. Scales moderate, lateral line continuous. Air bladder with or without appendages, or 

 absent. Pyloric cceca few. 



Umbrina Dussumieri. 

 Umbrina Dussumieri, Cuv. & Val. ix. p. 481. 



