THE FI8IIES OF MALABAR. 85 



Body elliptical, the upper and lower profiles equally convex, but its caudal end more produced 

 than its anterior extremity. 



Mouth oblique, upper jaw rather concave laterally : the posterior extremity of the maxilla 

 reaches to below the centre of the orbit. Preorbital wide, its upper portion having a festooned 

 edge of ridges directed downwards. Opercle, its lower margin straight. Subopercle high and 

 narrow. Preopercle rather concave posteriorly, owing to its angle being slightly produced, lower 

 margin forming a curve continuous with the angle. Nostrils approximating and near the upper 

 third of the orbit. Longitudinal crest along upper surface of head well developed, lateral ridges 

 but moderately so. 



Teeth — In young specimens several rows of villiform teeth in upper jaw, with an external row 

 of strong ones : a single row of irregularly sized ones in the lower jaw : small and villiform on 

 vomer and palate. Cantor observes that when " nine inches in length no teeth appear except a 

 small distinct one on either side of symphysis of the lower jaw." 



Fins — The pectoral arises under the inferior third of opercle, and extends posteriorly to oppo- 

 site the second anal ray : the first dorsal commences over the first third of the pectoral, and the 

 second rather nearer to the snout than to the base of the caudal : the anal begins under the fifth 

 dorsal ray. Pectoral pointed, scarcely falcate. First dorsal triangular, its spines weak, and its 

 membrane deeply notched ; a procumbent spine in front of its base very distinct in the young : its 

 first spine is half the height of the second, which is one third shorter than the third, the longest in 

 the fin. Second dorsal, with its first rays undivided and the highest portion of the fin, it decreases in 

 height as far as the ninth, from whence it is parallel to the back. Ventral spine weak. Anal free 

 spines, the second longest and strongest. Anal fin, its spine moderately strong and one-third the 

 length of the first ray, the first six of which are the highest portion of the fin, decreasing obliquely 

 and posteriorly, whilst the rest of the rays are parallel to the abdomen. Caudal rather deeply lobed. 

 The portion of the tail uncovered by fin equals in length the diameter of the eye. 



Scales — Small, extending over body, chest and cheeks. 



Lateral line — First proceeds obliquely upwards and backwards to opposite sixth spine of the 

 dorsal, it then curves downwards to opposite the sixth dorsal ray, from whence it becomes straight 

 and keeled, the size of the scales increasing in strength, and the edges more raised, the height of 

 the widest plate being equal to one-ninth of the height of the body. 



Colours — Generally of a beautiful bright golden, having a greenish tinge along the upper 

 surface of the back : six vertical greenish grey bands pass downwards to the abdomen, and a 

 seventh is situated at the base of the caudal : the first vertical band commences above the eye : the 

 upper and posterior part of opercle with a dark spot. The first dorsal dark, minutely and closely 

 dotted with fine brown points, the centre of the last five interspinous membranes having the least. 

 Second dorsal and caudal tipped with darkish grey. The anal golden. Eye with a shade of brown. 

 As the age of the fish increases its colours fade considerably. 



Grows to three feet in length. 



Habitat — Eed Sea, Seas of India, Malaysia, and Philippine islands. 



* Caeanx para. 

 Caranx para, Guv. & Val. ix. p. 58. 



B. vii. D. 7 | 2 V A. 2 | 2 V L. 1. 36-40. 



