9-4 THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



B. viii. D. 7 | ^. P. 20. V. i A. 2 | ^j. C. 19. 



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

 \, of base of anal \ of total length. Height of head J, of body f , of first dorsal £%, of second 

 dorsal £, of ventral ^, of free spines ^, of anal £ of total length. 



Eyes — Diameter, \ length of head, rather more than ^ a diameter from end of snout, 1 dia- 

 meter apart. 



Body elliptical, compressed, and rather extended towards the tail. There is a gradual rise to 

 the first dorsal. 



Mouth wide and obtuse. The maxilla extends to below the posterior margin of the orbit. 

 Upper jaw rather wide, slightly convex towards its centre, and more concave inferiorly : inter- 

 maxillaries equal to two-thirds the length of the head. The symphysis of the lower jaw, when 

 the mouth is closed, is received into an emargination in centre of upper jaw, and so forms a portion 

 of the superior profile. Preorbital narrow. Preopercle narrow, the lower limb hardly more than 

 a fourth the length of the posterior one, it is finely lineated inferiorly ; the lower portions of the 

 posterior limb and angle rounded. Opercle triangular and slightly produced in the centre of its 

 posterior edge. Nostrils approximating, large, and surmounted by a crest. Central and lateral 

 crests of the skull distinct. 



T ee th — Two or three rows of sharp ones in both jaws, but those in the lower having the outer 

 row directed rather outwards, as well as a large canine on each side. Fine teeth on vomer and 

 palatine bones, on the first in the form of a circular spot, and on the latter in that of a long ellipsis. 

 The upper surface of the tongue is covered with teeth. 



Fins — Pectoral arises opposite the ventral, first dorsal opposite the posterior third of pectoral, 

 and second dorsal midway between the snout and the base of the caudal. First dorsal with a flat 

 recumbent spine in front, equal to the third spine of the fin in length : the dorsal spines are sharp, 

 strong and moveable, flat anteriorly, cutting laterally, and receivable into a groove at their bases : 

 the first is the shortest, and the last three about equal in length, the interspinous membrane is 

 deeply emarginate, and connects each spine with the one posterior to it. Anterior portion of the 

 second dorsal the highest, its spine equals one third of the length of the first soft ray ; first and 

 second rays the longest : upper margin of the second dorsal at first concave, but from twelfth 

 ray equal, and having rather the appearance of Unlets. The first soft ray of the anal is the longest, 

 then they decrease to the eighth, from whence they continue as in the second dorsal. Both the anal 

 and second dorsal have their three or four last rays with sheaths covering a small portion of their 

 bases. Of the free anal spines the second is the longest, being equal to one-sixth the height of 

 the body, they have a short connecting membrane. Caudal rather deeply lobed, but not so much 

 so as in the C. hjsan. Ventral triangular, and the membrane the same as in the C. lysan. 



Scales — Small and oval in their exposed portion, none on the head or fins. 



Lateral line — Irregular and jagged, rising to a sharp angle under the first dorsal spine, then 

 gradually sinking to opposite the third dorsal ray, from thence continued straight. 



Colours — Bright orange over the whole surface, with a slight greenish tinge on the summit 

 of the head, and along the back nearly as low as the lateral line ; from six to eight circular, 

 dull, almost indistinct spots on the side a short distance above the lateral line, commencing at the 

 shoulder. Pectoral, ventral, and anal bright orange. Dorsal and caudal diaphanous stained with 

 greenish brown, and the lower lobe of the caudal with yellow : a spot of a darkish colour at the 



