56 THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



Eyes — Horizontal diameter fa vertical diameter ^ of length of head, 1J diameters from end 

 of snout, 1J diameters apart anteriorly, further posteriorly. 



Body most elevated opposite commencement of first dorsal, and gradually tapering towards 

 the tail. Profile from snout to dorsal rather convex : the upper profile more convex than that of 



the abdomen. 



Snout obtuse, upper jaw rather oblique, lower nearly horizontal. The large orifice of a gland 

 exists under the symphysis of lower jaw, which has two others of equal size on either side. The 

 maxilla extends to below the posterior third of the orbit. Posterior margin of preopercle vertical, 

 entire : inferior limb convex and also entire, very slightly roughened along its edge but 

 nowhere serrated ; its angle irregularly rounded. Interopercle entire, a very small portion visible. 

 Opercle ending in a soft extremity. Interorbital space convex, snout laterally rather bulging. 

 Posterior nostril transversely oval and the largest, situated close above the centre of the anterior 

 margin of the orbit ; anterior small, oval, nearer the orbit than the end of the snout. Supra- 

 scapular entire. 



Teeth — Villiform in both jaws, with an external row of curved conical ones in each inter- 

 maxillary, and a posterior row of larger ones on either side of mandibles. 



Fins — First dorsal and pectoral arise on a line, close behind the termination of opercle; ventral 

 slightly posterior : the anal commences opposite the middle of the second dorsal and terminates 

 opposite its fourteenth ray, thus leaving double the length on the abdominal surface of the tail finless, 

 compared to what exists on that of the back. First spine of first dorsal fin very minute, the next 

 four of about equal length, and the last hardly one quarter their height : the interspinous mem- 

 brane rather deeply cleft. Second dorsal with its posterior extremity rounded. Pectoral rather 

 pointed. Anal moderately square, its second spine very strong, four times the length of the first, 

 and nearly three quarters that of the first ray. 



S ca l es — Exist over the body, head, and jaws. They are placed in oblique rather irregular 

 rows above the lateral line as far as opposite the base of the anal, beyond which they become 

 horizontal. Below the lateral Une they are at first oblique, becoming horizontal beyond the base 

 of the anal. There are some at the base of second dorsal, anal, and caudal fins, especially over 

 the last. Their longest diameter is from above downwards. 



Lateral line— Consisting of single tubes dividing and subdividing posteriorly into numerous 

 branches. First curved to opposite the base of the anal, from thence straight to the caudal, on to 

 which it is continued to its termination. 



Colours — General dark greyish silvery, with the upper surface of the head of a beautiful violet 

 purple, which tint is continued, but less vividly, along its whole back : abdomen silvery with 

 purplish reflections. Upper edge of dorsal slightly stained with black. Scales rather darkest in 

 then- centres, forming oblique and longitudinal lines. Eyes silvery, purple above. 

 Common in Cochin, where it is found to two feet or more in length. 

 Habitat — Malabar. 



Genus OTOLITHUS, Cuvier. 



Branchiostegals, seven : pseudobranehise. Body oblong, compressed. Bones of head with muci- 

 ferous system well developed. Muzzle obtuse, or moderately pointed ; mouth in front of snout. Pre- 



