74 THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



Elacate NIGRA. 



Scomber niger, Block, t. 337. 



Pedda-mottah, Russell, pi. 153. 



Elacate Pondiceriana, Guv. & Vol viii. p. 329 ; E. motta, ibid. p. 332 ; E. Mala- 



barica, ibid. p. 332 ; E. Atlantica, ibid. p. 334 ; E. bivittata, ibid. p. 338 ; 



Cantor, Catal. p. 116. 

 Elacate nigra, Giintker, Catal. ii. p. 375. 



B.vii. D.8| M V 6 . P. 21. V.J. A.25 2 2 _. 0.17. Vert. -ft. 



Length of head \, of pectoral \, of caudal 1 %, of base of first dorsal \, of base of second 

 dorsal f, of base of anal J of total length. Height of head \, of body \, of hard dorsal ^, of 

 soft dorsal -J, of ventral j^ of total length. 



Eyes — Close to line of profile, transversely oval, and each surrounded by a large circular adipose 

 membrane : horizontal diameter \, vertical diameter \ of length of head, 1 \ diameters from end 

 of snout, nearly 2 diameters apart. 



Mouth wide, maxilla extending to beneath the anterior margin of the orbit : mandibuke 

 flat beneath : a slight tubercle at symphysis. Preorbital small, narrow, and rugose. Preopercle 

 with its inferior and posterior borders of equal length, and meeting at right angles, its surface 

 rather roughened. Opercle also with rough lines which commence from its anterior superior angle, 

 proceed downwards and backwards, and expand into a fan-shaped form. Upper surface of head 

 flat and lineated from two points, both of which are behind the eye, separated from one 

 another by a slight interval, but still not far from the central line of the head ; from these two 

 points fine raised lines radiate, joining behind at the occipital crest, and in front opposite the 

 anterior margin of the orbit, thus enclosing a lozenge-shaped space. Nostrils have two orifices 

 approximating, and in the first third of the distance between the eye and the end of the snout ; 

 gills open as far forwards as commissures of lips. Coracoid bone rough and well developed. 



Teeth — In numerous villiform bands in both jaws, on a large oval space on vomer, and 

 in a long band on each palatine. There also exists an oval patch on the tongue which is wide : 

 skin of palate and side of tongue rough. Pharyngeal teeth villiform. 



Fins— The commencement of the free dorsal spines in a line with the bases of the pectoral 

 and ventral. ' The anal begins under about the twelfth dorsal ray. The dorsal spines are short 

 and sharp with a very small membrane to each, they can be laid flat and extend as far as the base 

 of the soft dorsal. The soft portion of the dorsal commences opposite the posterior margin of the 

 pectoral, its anterior portion is the highest, and its upper margin is thus a little concave, whilst in 

 the last three-fourths of its course it follows the curve of the back, the last rays which are a little 

 prolonged do not extend quite as far as the base of the caudal. The anal is of the same form as 

 the dorsal, and they terminate opposite each other, leaving about one eighth of the posterior 

 extremity of the body finless. The pectoral is situated low down and is rather large and pointed. 

 The ventrals are small and pointed, the spine fine and the external ray the longest. The caudal 

 emarginate, with the lower lobe the shortest. 



Scales — Minute, extending over the body, each side of occiput, opercles, cheeks, and base of 

 caudal, also a few fine ones over the soft dorsal and anal. 



Lateral line — With slight undulations, curved slightly downwards until opposite the com- 

 mencement of the anal from whence it is continued to centre of caudal and on to its termination. 



