50 THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



same length anteriorly. Two dorsal fins, the soft portion more developed than the spinous or than the 

 anal. Anal fin with two spines of varying strength, the second the longest, and not above two-thirds 

 the length of the first ray. Teeth villiform in both jaws, with an external conical row, but without large 

 canines ; no teeth on the palate. Scales ctenoid. Air bladder with appendages. Caeca pylorica in 

 small numbers. 



ScLENA MACULATA. 



Johnius MACULATUS, Bl. 86hn. 75. 

 Sari kullah, Russell, pi. 123. 



CORVINA MACULATA, Cuv. & Val. V. p. 126. 



Sci^ena maculata, Giinther, Catal. ii. p. 291. 

 Cutlah, Mai. 



B. vii. D. 10 | 23^- P. 16. V. i A. f. C. 17. L. 1. 45. L. tr. Q. 



Length of head I, of pectoral \, of caudal \, of base of first dorsal \, of base of second dorsal 

 §, of base of anal Jq of total length. Height of head \, of body \, of first dorsal \ , of second 

 dorsal jq, of ventral \, of anal \ of total length. 



Eyes — Close to profile, oval, horizontal diameter nearly \, vertical diameter \ in length of 

 head, 1 diameter from end of snout, f of a diameter apart. 



Upper jaw the longest, overlapping the lower. Two large pores on either side of the symphysis 

 of lower jaw. Maxilla small, extending nearly to beneath centre of orbit. Preopercle with 

 its posterior margin nearly vertical, its angle rounded and with about six strong teeth : inferior 

 border only half the length of the vertical one, and with its edges crenated. Opercle with two 

 feeble spines. Interorbital space slightly convex. Preorbital large and rather inflated. Shoulder 

 bones entire. 



Teeth — In upper jaw villiform, with an external curved band of conical ones : villiform in lower 

 jaw, none on palate. 



Fins — The first dorsal and pectoral commence opposite each other, the ventral slightly behind, 

 the anal beneath centre of second dorsal, extending from about the tenth to sixteenth rays. Spines 

 of first dorsal ending in elastic points : second to fifth of nearly equal lengths : membrane rather 

 deeply cleft. Ventral spine weak, first ray prolonged. First anal spine very short, second 

 moderately strong and two-thirds the length of rays. Caudal rhomboidal. 



Air bladder with fourteen or fifteen lateral processes on either side. 



Scales — Cover the whole of the body, head, and lower jaw. A row exists at the base of the 

 second dorsal and anal, also over base of pectoral and caudal fins. Their longest diameter is 

 vertical. 



Lateral line — Has a very slight curve for little more than the first half of its extent ; it is 

 continued on the caudal fin nearly to its termination. 



Colours — Silvery grey, abdomen whitish. Five broad black bands extend over the back, the 

 first from the nape passes backwards and downwards, and shortly after crossing the lateral line 

 terminates abruptly. The second commences opposite from fifth to seventh spines of dorsal, passes 

 backwards and downwards, and terminates opposite base of ventral fin. The third commences oppo- 

 site second and third rays of second dorsal, and passes downwards parallel to the second band. The 

 luiu th commences below centre of second dorsal, and passes downwards as low as the lateral line. 



