CO THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



along its sides and back. Pectorals deep black, a black spot on upper margin of opercle. All 

 the fins finely dotted with black points, the tips of the dorsal and caudal appear blackish, as do 

 also the extremities of the free pectoral filaments. 



No air bladder. 



Common in Malabar during the monsoon, but does not appear ever to exceed five inches in 

 length. 



Habitat — Seas of India, Malaysia, China, and the Moluccas. 



PoLYNEMUS SEXTARIUS. 



Polynemus sextaeius, Block, Syst. p. 18, t. 4; Guv. & Vol. iii. p. 388, vii. p. 514; 

 Cantor, Catal. p. 32 ; Gitntker, Catal. ii. p. 326. 



B. vii. D. 8 | T V P. 15, vi. V. l A. T 3 2. C. 17. 



Length of head ^, of pectoral -^ s , of caudal §, of base of first dorsal ^j , of base of second 

 dorsal \, of base of anal ^ of total length. Height of head more than \, of body § , of first dorsal T ^j, 

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



Eyes — Horizontal diameter J, and vertical diameter \ of length of head, f of a diameter from 

 end of snout, nearly 1 diameter apart. 



The posterior extremity of the maxilla extends to beyond the posterior margin of the orbit. 

 Preopercle, posterior margin strongly denticulated, with a very strong tooth just above its angle. 



Teeth — Villiform, in about three rows, none exist in the outer surface of either jaw. 



Fins — First dorsal arises slightly behind the pectoral, ventral opposite centre of first dorsal. 

 Second dorsal commences midway between sumn.it of preopercle and base of caudal. Anal arises 

 under third ray of dorsal. The outer pectoral filaments reach beyond the end of the ventral. The 

 fins are shaped as in the last species, with the caudal lobes pointed. 



Colours — The upper half of first dorsal black, also the remainder of its interspinous membrane 

 between the first and fifth spines, but not quite so dark. Pectoral and ventral dark-spotted, 

 nearly black. External half of second dorsal and anal, as well as most of the caudal finely dotted 

 with minute black points. A black mark on the shoulder. Palate covered with large black spots. 



Lateral line — Is almost straight as far as the base of the caudal, from whence it passes to the 

 posterior margin of the lower lobe. 



Air bladder — Very small. 



Not rare, up to four inches in length during the monsoon time in Malabar. Appears to be 

 quite a small species. 



Habitat — Seas of India, and Malaysia. 



Polynemus Indicus. 

 Polynemus Indicus, Shaw, Zool. v. pt. 1, p. 155; Cantor, Catal. p. 29; Gitntker, 



Catal. ii. p. 326. 

 Maga-boshee, .Russell, pi. 184. 

 Polynemus sele, Ham. Buck. pp. 226, 381 ; McClelland, Journal Asiatic Society, viii. 



1839, p. 203 ; Calcutta Journal of Natural History, ii. p. 450, iii. pp. 179, 181, 



pi. 6. 

 Polynemus ploteus, plebejus, lineatus, lt gelatinosus, McClelland, Ibid. ii. p. 



450, iii. p. 179, &c. 



