88 THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



attain to two feet and a half in length, are captured in the deep sea. When taken it gives a 

 grunt like a young pig, and this is repeated whenever it is moved as long as it has any life remain- 

 ing. It is first captured at the end of the S. W. monsoon, and continues off Malabar through the 

 whole of the cold months. 



Habitat — Seas of India, Malaysia, and China, through the Pacific to the shores of Australia, 

 and the Atlantic coasts of temperate and tropical America. 



2. One or more of the dorsal or anal rays elongated. 



Caranx atropus. 



Beama atropus, Bl. Schn. p. 98, t. 23. 



Mais-parah, Russell, pi. 152. 



Caranx nigripes, Cuv. & Vol. ix. p. 122 ; Cantor, Catal. p. 129. 



Olistus atropus, Cuv. & Vol. ix. p. 141. 



Caranx atropus, Cantor, Catal. p. 130; Giinther, Catal. ii. p. 450. 



B. vii. D. 8 | ^L. P. 19. V. i. A. 2 | T L C. 16. L. 1. 32-35. Vert. |£. 



Length of head \, of pectoral f , of caudal \, of base of first dorsal ^, of base of second 

 dorsal 1 of base of anal 1 of total length. Height of head 1, of body f , of first dorsal y^, of 

 second dorsal \, of ventral i, of anal \ of total length. 



Eyes — Large and round, diameter t 3 q of length of head, § of a diameter from end of snout, 

 § of a diameter apart. 



Body compressed, with an elevated crest commencing from the anterior extremity of the 

 frontal bones and extending over the occiput. Ventral fins elongated and occasionally some of the 

 rays of the dorsal, especially in male specimens. 



Cleft of mouth very oblique. Lower jaw much the longest : the upper appearing as if it had 

 been partially cut off. The maxilla extends to beneath the anterior margin of the orbit. Pre- 

 opercle high and narrow, with an oblique rounded angle, its horizontal limb only half the length 

 of its vertical one. Opercle short and high, sub- and interopercles rather broad and large. Gill 

 openings very wide. Intermaxillaries slightly protrusible. Nostrils large and opposite the anterior 

 superior angle of orbit, behind them is a rather high narrow crest. 



Teeth — Villiform in jaws, a triangular patch on vomer, and a narrow band on the palatine 

 bones. 



Fins — Pectoral and ventral arise on a line, and the first dorsal rather posterior to them ; the 

 second dorsal commences opposite the centre of the pectoral, and the anal opposite about the 

 eighth dorsal ray. The first dorsal fin, and the two spines before the anal, can be received into a 

 groove at their bases. First dorsal triangular, its spines very weak, and the membrane rather 

 notched. The second ray of the second dorsal the longest, the upper margin of the fin is at first 

 concave, and subsequently straight. Pectoral falciform, third and fourth rays the longest, it 

 extends to opposite the thirteenth dorsal ray. Ventral spine weak, the rays elongated. Second 

 anal ray the longest, the inferior border of the fin is at first concave, subsequently straight. 

 Caudal deeply lobed. 



Scales — Fine, and extending forwards to between the bases of the pectoral and ventral fins ; 

 the head, nape, and chest scaleless. 



