78 THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



posterior portion of each is parallel to the profiles of the back and the abdomen. Pectoral rather 

 prominent in the adult, rounded in the young. Caudal deeply lobed. No ventral fin in adult 

 specimens. 



Scales — Small and very deciduous. 



Lateral line — As in the S. sinensis. 



Colours — Upper surface of head and back as low as the lateral line of a greyish neutral tint 

 with purplish reflections, sides of head and body silvery grey, fading to white on the abdomen, and 

 everywhere covered with minute black dots. A dark spot on upper portion of opercle. Dorsal and 

 anal grey minutely dotted with black, the outer half being the darkest. Caudal and pectoral yel- 

 lowish white also minutely dotted with black, the outer half being the darkest. Iris silvery. 



Grows to ten inches in length, and is much esteemed for eating, but is not so good as the 

 S. sinensis. 



Habitat. Seas of India, Malaysia, and China. 



Stromateus cinereus. 



Stromateus cinereus, Block, xii. p. 90, t. 420, {middle age) ; Cantor, Catal. p. 143 ; 



Giintker, Catal. ii. p. 400. 

 Sudi sandawah, Russell, pi. 45, {young). 

 Stromateus griseus, Guv. & Vol. ix. p. 395. 

 Grey Pomfret. 



B. vii. D. 7-8 | ■„*&. P. 23-25. A. 5. | w .^. C. 17-10. 



Length of head \, of pectoral f , of lower lobe of caudal \, of upper lobe of caudal \, of base of 

 second dorsal § , of base of anal \ of total length. Height of head y, of body ^, of second dorsal |, 

 of anal rather more than i of total length. 



Eyes — Diameter rather more than \ of length of head, ^ a diameter from end of snout, rather 

 more than 1 diameter apart. 



Lower jaw considerably the longest, the maxilla extends to beneath the anterior third of the 

 transverse diameter of the orbit. Nostrils projecting over the snout. 



Teeth — In a fine single row in each jaw. 



Fins — The spines of the first dorsal appear above the skin in a truncated form, as do also those 

 of the anal. Both the dorsal and anal are pointed anteriorly, the latter being the most produced. 

 The pectoral is long and pointed. The lower lobe of the caudal equals the length of the body and 

 head. 



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



Lateral line — As in S. sinensis. 



Colours — Upper surface of head and back, also the sides above the lateral line of a leaden grey : 

 cheeks and opercles silvery, an irregular black spot on opercle. Sides of body beneath the lateral 

 line light grey, becoming silvery white on the abdomen. Dorsal and anal grey with minute black 

 dots, their margins and points blackish. Pectoral buff. Caudal of a light orange with minute 

 black dots : margins and points of lobes blackish. Iris silvery, orbital half, leaden grey. 



Grows to eight inches in length : is good eating, but inferior to the £. argenteus. It is not 

 rare in Malabar. 



Habitat — Seas of India, and Malaysia. 



