7g THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



pointed and covered superiorly with numerous rows of villiform teeth in a triangular space in 

 advance of the upper jaw, which is pointed. The lower jaw has a soft tip. Opercle rounded with 

 some striated ridges on it. Nostrils rather nearer to angle of mouth than to the anterior superior 



angle of the orbit. 



p; ns Pectoral situated over the posterior margin of the opercle, and opposite posterior 



quarter of the bony disk. Ventral slightly posterior to it. Second dorsal commences midway 

 between anterior extremity and base of caudal, anal opposite to it. First dorsal forming portion 

 of the disk. Second dorsal and anal opposite one another, both highest in front with rather 

 concave margins, and the last rays slightly produced. Ventral pointed, and placed almost 

 horizontally. Caudal with its posterior margin straight, but having four short notches at its 

 extremity : one-ninth of the body fmless, between the last dorsal and anal rays, and the base of 



the caudal fin. 



g ca les — Minute, closely adherent to the skin, their longest diameter transverse. 



Lateral line — Eather undulating, passing slightly downwards to the centre of the body which 

 it attains between the anal and second dorsal fins. 



Colours Generally brownish grey, with the external margins of the caudal, and the anterior 



tips of the dorsal and anal fins edged with white. Pectoral of a deep brown, centre of caudal 



nearly black. 



Not rare in Malabar, where they are found of all sizes up to a foot, or even to two feet in 

 length. Are frequently captured attached to sharks, and eaten by the Natives. 



Habitat— Seas of India, and all those of temperate and tropical regions. 



Genus STROMATEUS, Artedi. 



Peprilus, Cuvier. 

 Apolectus, Cuv. & Val. 

 Rhombus, Cuv. & Val. 

 Seseeinus, Cuv. & Val. 



Branchiostegals, from five to seven : pseudobranchiae. Body compressed, more or less elevated. 

 Eyes lateral. Cleft of mouth narrow, or of moderate width. Infraorbitals do not articulate with pre- 

 opercle. A single long dorsal and anal fin having rudimentary spines anteriorly. No ventral fins in the 

 adult. Teeth in a single series on the margin of the jaws : palate and tongue smooth : oesophagus armed 

 with numerous bony barbed teeth. Scales small, covering vertical fins. No air bladder. Pyloric appen- 

 dages numerous. 



Stromateus SINENSIS. 



Stromateus sinensis, Euphrasen, Vetensk. Acad. Nya Handl. Stockh. ix. p. 49, t. 9 ; 



Bl. Schn. p. 492 ; Cantor, Catal. p. 140. 

 Atookoia, Russell, pi. 44. 



Stromateus atous, Cuv. & Val. ix. p. 389 ; Gilnther, Catal. ii. p. 399. 

 Stromateus albus, Cuv. & Val. ix. p. 388. 

 Vella arwoolee, Mai. White Pomfret. 



