THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 95 



tip of the lower jaw, which when closed comes on to the profile of the back, Iris silvery, with a 

 purplish tinge. 



Grows to two feet in length. It appears in Malabar during the S.W. monsoon, and is itkm !■ - 

 rately good eating. 



Habitat — Seas of India. 



Chorinemus Sancti Petri. 



Chorinemus Sancti Petri, Cuv. & Vol. viii. p. 379, pi. 230; Giinther, Catal. ii. 



p. 473. 

 Chorinemus moadetta. Cuv. & Vol. viii. p. 382. 

 Chortnemus Mauritianus, Cuv. & Vol. viii. p. 382. 

 Chorinemus tol, Cantor, Catal. p. 119. 

 Pallagay, Mai. 



B. viii. D. 7 | ^.Vr- P. 17- V- h A. 2 | T V C. 15. 



Length of head j\, of pectoral £>, of caudal -ft, of base of dorsal spines ■^ 3> of base of second 

 dorsal -*, of base of anal -'- of total length. Height of head 1 of body •£-, of dorsal spines ^ of 

 second dorsal r lj, of ventral r Vj, of anal ^ of total length. 



Byes — Diameter J to ^ of length of head, nearly 1 diameter from end of snout, f of a diameter 

 apart. Dr. Giinther observes that " the snout in mature fishes is nearly twice as long as the 

 diameter of the eye." 



Body long and flat ; the upper profile rather concave opposite the orbits, then horizontal to the 

 base of the first dorsal. 



Mouth deep, the maxilla triangular and nearly flat posteriorly, extending to beneath the 

 centre of the orbit : a tubercle on each ridge of the symphysis ; intermaxillaries half the length of 

 the head : their posterior processes large and broad. Preopercle with the posterior limb nearly 

 vertical, and the angle rounded ; the inferior Umb one third shorter than the posterior, and nearly 

 horizontal, with some openings of glands which pass in narrow shallow grooves downwards, and 

 divide into numerous branches, taking the same direction. Opercle triangular, base above, pos- 

 terior margin with a slight emargination. Preorbital narrow. Central and lateral crests of the 

 skull scarcely elevated. Nostrils situated midway between the orbit and the commencement of the 

 intermaxillary process. 



Teeth — Numerous and sharp in several rows, the posterior ones being curved backwards. 



Fins — Procumbent spine in front of the first dorsal, usually concealed. First dorsal spines 

 free, broad, strong, sharp, and can be received into a groove : they commence over the posterior 

 third of the pectoral ; the interspinous membrane when it exists is very small ; the last spine 

 reaches as far as the second dorsal, which commences half way between the snout and the base of 

 the caudal ; the first soft ray is the longest, and the first portion of the fin the highest, and concave 

 above. Anal opposite the second dorsal; the two free spines are strong, and do not quite reach 

 to the anal fin. Pectoral triangular and commencing close to the opercle, just below the emargi- 

 nation ; ventral long, and can be received into a groove : it extends nearly to the orifice of the 

 anus. Caudal deeply lobed and pointed. 



Scales— Minute, rhomboidal, appearing like the points of needles, none on the head. 



Lateral line — Consists of single tubes, and makes a very obtuse angle opposite the third dorsal 



