64 THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



Sphye^na JELLO. 



Jellow, Russell, pi. 174. 



Sphye^na jello, Guv. & Veil, vi. p. 349 ; Cantor, Catal. p. 24 ; Giiiither, Catal. ii. 



p. 337. 

 Cheelahoo, Mai. 



B. vii. D. 5 | l P. 14. V. \. A. ¥ L. C. 17. L. 1. 90-100. L. tr. -|-§. Vert. ff. 



Length of head nearly J, of pectoral yy, of caudal ^, of base of first dorsal TT , of base of 

 second dorsal T \, of base of anal y^ of total length. Height of head yy, of body T 2 j, of first 

 dorsal TT , of second dorsal J, of ventral -^, of anal | of total length. 



Eyes — Close to profile, oval, horizontal diameter ^, vertical diameter J of length of head, 

 2^ transverse diameters from end of snout, 1 diameter apart. 



Body elongated, tapering towards both extremities, head depressed, sides compressed. There 

 is a gradual rise from snout to first dorsal, from whence to termination of second dorsal the profile 

 is nearly horizontal. 



Mouth deeply cleft, jaws compressed, almost ending in a point, the anterior extremity 

 of maxilla having a shallow notch to receive the tip of the lower jaw : posterior extremity of 

 maxilla extending to beneath anterior margin of the orbit : lower jaw slightly the longest, with 

 a fleshy tubercle at symphysis. Preorbital produced, narrow anteriorly, with stellated ridges 

 arising from its posterior and extending towards its anterior margin ; the superior four are directed 

 horizontally, the inferior five downwards, or backwards and downwards. Preopercle, its posterior 

 and inferior limbs of nearly equal length, angle obliquely rounded. Opercle rather narrow, termi- 

 nating in two flat membraneous points and forming with the subopercle a semicircle posteriorly. 

 Upper surface of head has raised irregular longitudinal ridges. The gills are cleft to below the 

 anterior margin of the orbits. The branchiostegal rays are rather wide apart. The orifice of 

 the nostrils approximate, and are close to the angle of the preorbital. 



Teeth — An external series of numerous sharp teeth in the upper jaw, and two large canines 

 in the anterior portion of either intermaxillary. A row of large canines along the palate. Lower 

 jaw with large teeth placed rather wide apart, their size augmenting posteriorly, and with two large 

 canines anteriorly. 



Fins — Pectoral arises close to the anterior margin of the opercle, ventral on the abdominal 

 surface under its posterior third. First dorsal opposite ventral. Second dorsal commences 

 midway between the commencement of first dorsal and base of caudal ; the anal is placed beneath 

 it : there is a space between these fins and the base of the caudal equal to the distance from the 

 anterior margin of the orbit to the posterior margin of the opercle : whilst the distance between 

 the two dorsal fins is somewhat more. The distance from the base of ventral to the commence- 

 ment of anal, equals the length of the head. First dorsal square, spines weak, protruding beyond 

 the membrane, which is rather deeply cleft. Second dorsal produced in front, with a concave 

 superior margin ; the spine is rather more than one-third the length of- the first ray, which is rather 

 the longest. Pectoral rather pointed. Ventral abdominal. Anal of the same shape as the second 

 dorsal. Caudal lobed in its posterior two-thirds. 



Scales — Extend over the body and opercles, but there are none on the summit of the head, 

 preorbital, or on the jaws. 



Lateral line — Consisting of single tubes : at first slightly concave, forming an obtuse curve 



