THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 77 



B.vi. D. T3 l„. P. 23-27. V. J. A. ^.^ C. 17. 



Length of head J, of pectoral fa of caudal ^, of baso of dorsal upwards of J, of base of 

 anal ^ of total length. Height of head \, of body §, of dorsal \, of anal £ of total length. 



Ey es — Diameter \ of length of head, § of a diameter from end of snout, If diameters apart. 



Mouth in central line : the maxilla extends to beneath the anterior third of tho orbit. 

 Opercles striated from above downwards and backwards, the preopercle downwards and forwards. 

 Nostrils approximating, overhanging the snout, and placed above the level and in front of tho orbit. 



Teeth — A single row of excessively minute and closely set teeth in each jaw. 



Fins — Dorsal commences over the pectoral, and anal opposite the posterior third of the 

 pectoral. The dorsal rays gradually increase, the tenth being the longest, from whence the fin 

 descends, and has a concave upper margin : four spines are hidden in the flesh before the anal and 

 dorsal fins. The anal is the same shape as the dorsal. The caudal lobed, with the lobes of equal 

 size : the pectoral rather pointed. 



Scales — Small and very deciduous, extending over the vertical fins and head. 



Lateral line — In upper fifth of body, at first it irregularly ascends, and curves slightly upwards, 

 but opposite the end of dorsal it passes straight to the centre of the caudal fin. 



Colours — Upper surface of head and body as far as the lateral line of a deep neutral tint, the 

 rest of the body with a mixture of brownish grey, having metallic reflections, lighter and silvery 

 towards the abdomen. It is dotted all over with brown, the larger spots having a silvery point in 

 their centres. Fins silvery grey, marginal half blackish. Cavity of the mouth and tongue pale 

 bluish grey with brown dots, silvery in the centre. Iris reddish silver or copper coloured, minutely 

 dotted with brown. 



This species of Pomfret is that most esteemed for eating : in Malabar it is by no means rare 

 during the S.W. monsoon (from June till September). It should be cooked when quite fresh. 



Habitat — Seas of India, Malaysia, and China. 



Stromateus argenteus. 



Stromateus argenteus, Block, xii. p. 92, t. 421 ; Russell, pp. 31, 35 ; Cuv. & Vol. ix. 



p. 393 ; Cantor, Catal. p. 142 ; Gilnther, Catal. ii. p. 400. 

 Stromateus securifer, Cuv. & Vol. ix. p. 394, pi. 273 {young). 

 Stromateus candidus, Cuv. & Vol. ix. p. 391. 

 Tella sandawa, Russell, pi. 42. 

 Silver Pomfret. 



B. to. D. 5-9 | 3J.43. P. 25-27. A. 6 | v ^ fI . C. 16. 



Length of head f , of pectoral J, of caudal £ of total length. Height of body \, of dorsal \, of 

 anal \ of the total length. 



Eyes — Diameter f of length of head, 1 diameter from end of snout, 1 diameter apart. 



Lower jaw the longest, the maxilla extends to beneath the anterior third of orbit. Snout 

 projecting over the mouth. 



Teeth — In a close single row in either jaw, largest in the inferior. 



Fins — The second dorsal commences slightly posterior to the origin of the pectoral, and opposite 

 the anal. The spines of the first dorsal in the adult are truncated superiorly, as are also those of 

 the anal. The anterior extremities of the dorsal and anal are elevated and falcated, whilst the 



