THE FISHES or MALABAB. L9 



? Tmbrina Dussumieri, Gunther, Catal. ii. p. 278. 



B. vii. D. „]„. P. 17. V. -J. A.?. C. 17. L. 1.48. L. tr. ,",. 



Length of head \, of pectoral \, of base of first dorsal £, of base of second dorsal f, of base 

 of anal yV, of caudal -J of total length. Height of head J, of body £, of first dorsal \, of second 

 dorsal j^, of ventral ] , of anal ^ of total length. 



Eyes — Diameter ? of length of head, 1 diameter apart, 1 diameter from end of snout. 



Snout and cheeks much inflated. Lower jaw shorter than the upper which overlaps it : below 

 the symphysis of the lower jaw is a short fleshy cirrus about half the diameter of the eye in 

 length, with two pores external to it on either side, the outer of which is the largest. The maxilla 

 extends to beneath the anterior third of the orbit. Preopercle entire, its angle rounded. Opercle 

 without spines, shoulder bones entire. Nostrils close to the centre of the anterior margin of orbit , 

 the posterior oval and the largest. Preorbital rather produced in front. 



Teeth — Villiform in several rows in both jaws, with an outer strongly curved series in the upper 

 jaw. No teeth on vomer, or on palate. 



Fins — Origin of pectoral slightly in advance of ventral, whilst the first dorsal commences above 

 ventral. Anal commences opposite centre of second dorsal. Caudal cut square, in the young fish 

 its central rays are produced. Dorsal spines weak, the first very short, the second the longest 

 and equal to the height of the body. Interspinous membrane moderately esmarginate. Second 

 dorsal rays of nearly equal length in the entire fin. First anal spine short, second equals three- 

 eighths of the length of the head. 



Scales — Body and head scaled, on the former they pass in oblique rows backwards and 

 upwards. 



Lateral line — First in upper fourth of body, then gently curves downwards, and opposite end 

 of anal becomes central. 



Colours — Back and upper surface of the head and cheeks of.a copper tinge, which below the 

 lateral line becomes silvery. Fins reddish brown, first dorsal stained with black. Ventrals 

 yellow. In the dried specimens a brownish horizontal band is seen along the suborbital ring of 

 bones, and the fins are more or less dotted with black points. 



Captured of sizes up to six and a half inches in length. 



Habitat — Seas of India. 



Genus SCLENA. 



Sci^ena, sp. Cuvier. 

 Johnius, Block, Schn. 

 Leiostomus, Cuv. & Val. 



HOMOPFJON, Holb. 



Bola, pt. Ham. Buchanan. 



Branchiostegals, seven ; pseudobranchise. Body rather elongate, oblong, and compressed ; eyes lateral, 

 and of moderate size, interorbital space rather convex. Muzzle convex, mouth in front of snout, its 

 cleft horizontal or slightly oblique, with the upper jaw overhanging the lower, or else the two of the 



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