68 the fishes of malabar. 



Scomber kanagurta. 

 Kanagurta, Russell, pi. 136. 



Scomber kanagurta, Guv. & Val. viii. p. 49 ; Giintlier, Catal. ii. p. 360. 

 I la, Mai. 



B. vi. D. 8-10. | J T | v. P. 21. V. -1. A. l.\ x \ | v. C. 25. Vert, if . 

 Length of head rather more than \, of pectoral j, of caudal J, of caudal lobes \, of base of first 

 dorsal \, of base of second dorsal (exclusive of finlets) \, of base of anal (exclusive of unlets) T V, of 

 total length. Height of head \, of body \, of first dorsal \, of second dorsal T V/, of ventral \, of anal 

 T 2 of total length. 



Eyes — Upper margin close to profile, diameter \ length of head, with an adipose lid on either 

 side extending across \ of the diameter : 1 diameter from end of snout : 1 diameter apart. 



Lower jaw rather the longest, with a tubercle at the symphysis : gape of mouth wide : the 

 maxilla extends almost to beneath the posterior margin of the orbit, it is concealed by a large ellip- 

 tical preoibital which has a line of pores opening along its upper third. Preopercle large, its posterior 

 margin oblique, its angle rounded and forming its widest part, its inferior margin horizontal and 

 about half the length of the vertical, the lower margin with about fifteen shallow canals passing 

 downwards. Opercle triangular, its base above, posterior border with an emargination as deep as 

 it is high. Upper surface of the head with a central ridge that extends from opposite the anterior 

 margin of the orbit backwards to the occipital : several other smaller ones run parallel with, or 

 towards it. Snout rather elevated. Nostrils midway between eye and snout. 

 Teeth — Minute in the jaws, vomer and palate. 



Fins — Pectoral arises below and a short distance in advance of the emargination of the 

 opercle : the first dorsal begins opposite middle of pectoral : ventral under first dorsal : the second 

 dorsal commences midway between opercle and base of caudal : anal under fourth ray of second 

 dorsal terminating opposite the end of that fin. First dorsal triangular, its spines weak, and it 

 can be received into a groove on the back : the second spine one quarter longer than the first, and 

 very slightly longer than the third, posteriorly they rapidly decrease in height, interspinous mem- 

 brane entire. The distance between the first and second dorsal fins equals half the base of the latter. 

 First ray of second dorsal the longest, upper margin of fin rather concave : the finlets commence 

 just posterior to second dorsal and anal fins and are opposite one another, they consist of a single 

 stem with branched rays. Pectoral short, nearly triangular. Caudal deeply lobed, each lobe being 

 pointed, and with two raised crests along either side of its base. 



Scales — Extend over body to between the orbits, also on the cheeks : they are smaller 

 above than below the lateral line, and largest just beneath the pectoral fin : the first few 

 rows below the lateral line run parallel to it, those under pectoral are irregularly concave : there 

 are some minute scales over second dorsal and anal fins. 



Lateral line — First describes a very slight curve, and then proceeds direct to the centre of the 

 caudal. 



Colours — Back greenish, sides and abdomen iridescent, a row of sixteen spots along the 

 back, close to the base of the dorsal fin. Summit of head spotted : sides shot with bluish 

 purple. Dorsal fins yellowish, tipped with black. Caudal bright yellow, stained with black 

 at its extremity. Pectoral bright yellow. Ventral and anal finely dotted with black, which fades 

 soon after death, when all the shot colours also disappear, and it becomes of a dull green with 

 the abdomen of a lighter colour. 



