THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 55 



ones which arc rather wide apart. In tho lower jaw the teeth are villiform, largest opposite the 

 symphysis, those of the anterior row arc directed obliquely outwards, the teeth of the posterior 

 series are rather larger than the others. 



Fins — First dorsal slightly in advance of the pectoral : and tho ventral opposite its first 

 quarter : the anal arises under the fourteenth dorsal ray. Tho third and fourth spines of first 

 dorsal the longest, the membrane deeply emarginate. The second anal spine five-sevenths of the 

 length of the first ray, and rather longer than the base of tho fin, it equals the distance from the 

 posterior margin of the orbit, to the posterior extremity of the opercle. First ventral ray with a 

 filamentous prolongation. Caudal wedge-shaped. The shape of the fins much the same as in the 

 Scicena Dussumieri, but rather more pointed. 



Scales and lateral fine, as in the Scicena Dussumieri. 



Air bladder large, thick, lanceolate, with ten branching processes. 



Colours — Rather similar to the Sc. Dussumieri, but darker. The body is dotted with fine brown 

 spots, and all the fins with closely placed, minute, black points causing the first dorsal, the lower 

 half of the anal, and the posterior portion of the caudal to be almost black. A spot of brilliant 

 gold colour exists on the preopercle. Iris silvery, upper half bluish black. 



Grows to seven inches in length. Isinglass from this species is reputed to be good. 



Habitat — Seas of Malabar, and Malaysia. 



* COEVINA LOBATA. 



Corvina lobata, Cuv. & Vol. v. p. 122, pi. 107 ; Giinther, Catal. p. 304. 



B. vii. D. 9-10 | jg. 1 ^. A.f . Case, pylor. 8. 



Length of head § of total length. Height of head § of total length. 



Snout convex, upper jaw overhanging the lower, cleft of mouth nearly horizontal. Preopercle 

 appears entire. 



Fins — Second anal spine strong and two-fifths of length of head : first ventral ray prolonged 

 into a filament : caudal rhomboidal. 



Air vessel bulges out and appears as if it were constricted into two at its anterior part. 



Colours — Silvery, with five large rather obscure cross bands, passing downwards to slightly 

 below the lateral line. Fins yellowish. The anterior portion of the first dorsal, the external 

 margins of the second, of the caudal, anal, and ventral are blackish. 



Grows to five inches in length. 



Habitat — Malabar. 



Corvina Neilli.* 



B. vii. D. 9 | Jg P. 17. V. l A.f. C. 17. L. r. 53. L. tr. 24. 



Length of head \, of pectoral nearly \, of caudal fy, of base of first dorsal T 2 g, of base of 

 second dorsal ^, of base of anal y^ of total length. Height of head ^, of body \, of first dorsal ' , 

 of second dorsal T \, of ventral \, of anal \ of total length. 



* I have named this species after A. C. B. Neill, Esq., Eetired list, Medical Department, Madras 

 Army, from whom I have received most valuable assistance during the progress of this work through the 

 press. 



