54 THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



extending to below the middle of orbit. Four pores on lower surface of mandibles. Preopercle 

 with two or more small spines at its angle, the lowest being the largest, and four or five smaller 

 ones along its inferior margin. Opercle ends in two fine points. 



Teeth— Villiform. 



F ms — Anal spine striated, of moderate strength, two fifths of the length of the head, and 

 shorter than the first ray. Caudal rounded. Second dorsal covered for some distance with scales. 



Air vessel large, rounded anteriorly, ending posteriorly in a long and sharp point. 



Colours — Silvery, tinged with brownish towards the back. A black spot above the axil of 

 the pectoral. First dorsal blackish, the rest of the fins grey. 



Grows to three inches in length. 



Habitat — Malabar. 



* COEVINA ALBIDA. 



Corvina albida, Cuv. & Val. v. p. 93 ; Guniher, Catal. ii. p. 304. 



B. vii. D. 10 | jjJ^. P. 16. V. 1 A. f. C. 19. L. 1. 75. L. tr. T V 



Length of head § of total length. Height of body nearly equal to length of head. 



Eyes — Diameter \ of length of head. 



Snout rather obtuse and convex; jaws of equal length in front, five pores on the lower surface 

 of mandibles. Preopercle denticulated, most visibly in the young. Suprascapular crenated, 

 coracoid bone entire. 



Teeth — Villiforin, with an external larger row, in both jaws. 



Fins — Ventral and pectoral fins of nearly equal length. Second anal spine strong, slightly 

 shorter (in some specimens one fifth) than the first ray. Caudal rounded, or slightly pointed. 



Air bladder with fringed appendages on either side. 



Colours — Greyish on the back, silvery white on sides and abdomen : the centre of each 

 scale rather the darkest, forming lines. Fins clear white. 



Grows to two feet in length and termed " Sape-katele" at Pondicherry ; is good eating. 



Habitat — Seas of India and China. 



Corvina Belengerii. 



Corvina Belengerii, Cuv. & Val. v. p. 120 ; Giinther, Catal. ii. p. 303. 

 Johnius Belengeri, Cantor, Catal. p. 65. 



D. 9-10 I 2S.V1. P. 15. V. 1 A. f . C. 15. L. 1. 45-48. L. tr. T 6 T . 



Length of head §, of pectoral £, of caudal \ } of base of first dorsal \, of base of second dorsal 

 nearly \, of base of anal j 1 ^ of the total length. Height of head rather more than \, of body \, 

 of first dorsal \, of second dorsal ^, of ventral \, of anal \ of the total length. 



Eyes — Oval, horizontal diameter \, vertical diameter § of length of head, § of a diameter 

 from end of snout, | of a diameter apart. 



Snout hardly projects beyond the upper jaw, which is in advance of the lower : the posterior 

 extremity of the maxilla extends to beneath the centre of the orbit. Preopercle distinctly den- 

 ticulated. Five pores under the lower jaw. 



Teeth — In upper jaw are numerous and villiform, with an external series of curved conical 



