92 THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



or semi-detached. Two spines in front of, but separated by an interspace from, the anal fin. Ventrals 

 thoracic. Teeth villiform on jaws, vomer, and palatine bones. Scales small. Lateral line continuous, 

 not keeled. Air bladder bifurcated posteriorly. Pyloric appendages numerous. 



Chokinemus LYSAN. 



Rcomber lysan, Forslx., pi. 54, no. 67. 



Chokinemus lysan, Cantor; Catal. p. 118 ; Gunther, Catal. ii. p. 471. 



Chokinemus lyzan, Cuv. & Vol. viii. p. 387. 



Chokinemus Commersonianus, Guv. & Veil. viii. p. 370. 



? Chokinemus Farkharii, Cuv. & Vol. viii. p. 388. 



Chorinemus aculeatus, Guv. & Vol. viii. p. 384. 



Aken parah, Russell, pi. 141. 



B. viii. D. 7 | J ff - p - 19- V. J. A. 2 | j%. Vert. if. 



Length of head J, of pectoral -^, of caudal A, of base of first dorsal ^, of base of second 

 dorsal J, of base of anal J of total length. Height of head ^g, of body ^, of first dorsal ^, 

 of second dorsal A, of ventral y^, of anal A. of total length. 



Eyes — Transversely oval with an adipose lid on each side, diameter § of length of head, J of 

 a diameter from end of snout, rather more than 1 diameter apart. 



Body elliptical, and compressed, jaws compressed and sharp. 



Mouth large, the lower jaw the longest. The maxilla extends to a distance, equalling 

 one-third of the diameter of the orbit, behind its posterior margin; the interniaxillaries 

 are rather convex in their first third, concave in the last half of their extent, and equal tw 

 thirds the length of the head. Symphysis of lower jaw slightly tubercular. Preorbital narrow 

 the width of its upper portion equal to that of the lower end of the maxilla. Preopercle long and 

 narrow, its lower margin nearly horizontal and only one quarter the length of the posterior, which 

 is rather oblique, making a gradual curve at the angle, its limbs forming an arc of a circle. 

 Opercle with an obtuse point. Nostrils large, and close to the anterior superior angle of the orbit, 

 with a very slight crest over them. Central and side crests of skull moderately prominent. 



Teeth — In two rows in both jaws, the external row in the lower directed upwards and outwards, 

 and the internal one upwards and inwards : near the symphysis and close to the end of each row, 

 there is a large canine like tooth, and also an additional row of smaller ones. The upper jaw 

 has two rows and numerous villiform ones near its centre. Teeth on the vomer in a spot largest 

 in front, and in the palate a long band which narrows posteriorly. 



Fins — Ventral commences slightly in advance of pectoral ; first dorsal over posterior third of 

 pectoral, second dorsal opposite anal, at an equal distance between the snout and base of caudal. 

 Spines of first dorsal strong and pointed, flattened anteriorly, and sharp at the sides, whilst they 

 can be received into a groove at their bases. No interspinous membrane. The horizontal spine 

 before the first dorsal can scarcely be seen in the adult fish, being hidden by the integuments. The 

 first soft ray of the second dorsal is the longest, the superior margins of the first seven are concave, 

 and the last half of the rays are joined very slightly to each other, almost forming finlets, the last 

 two rays are rather prolonged, and reach to the base of the caudal. The anal free spines are 

 triangular, the second rather the longest. The anal fin opposite the second dorsal and of the same 

 shape. Caudal deeply lobed, in its posterior three-fourths. Pectoral rather pointed. Ventral, 

 first ray very strong, flattened towards its base, and connected to the body by two membranes ; 



